Meet The 2019 Washington Board Of Education Candidates

WASHINGTON, NJ — There are open seats on the Washington Township Board of Education and the Wet Morris Regional board, and Patch caught up with the candidates ahead of the general election.

Two people are running for one seat on the regional board, while five people are running for three seats on the local board. We asked all candidates the same four questions:

• Why are you running for Board Of Education?
• What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?
• What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?
• What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

All candidates were sent the questions at the same time, and were given the same deadline to submit them. They were asked to keep answers to a maximum of 200 words each. Answers were submitted by email and are presented here as submitted.

Local Washington Township Board of Education

Jessica DeCicco

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

I am running for the BOE in hopes to help WT Schools reach their full potential. I have lived in Long Valley for the past 12 years and I’ve come to love the town and it’s people. I have 4 small children ages 11, 8, 7 ,and 2, so I will be in district for quite some time. In my times as a mother of 3 school aged children and as a past substitute teacher in district, I’ve seen both our strengths and our weaknesses. I also feel like there is a huge disconnect between the administration and the teachers and parents. Because of my extensive involvement in the town and in the school, I believe that I am very in tune with current issues and parent’s concerns. I am honored to be running as a slate with Kelly DeMayo and Kiera Mitchell who have not only been as active within the schools and at the BOE meetings as I have, but they also share my passion for seeing our town reach its potential. We have all worked in tandem towards common goals and make an amazing team.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

I think the biggest challenge facing our town currently are the budget cuts. I do believe though that we can work around them, we just need to think outside the box. For example, I’d like to look at the technology we spend money on and look at alternatives as well as available grants. I’d like to overall see where we can streamline, cut costs, but focus on the children’s needs first.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

The 3 words that I would use to describe myself would be loyal, ambitious, and dynamic.

What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

I’ve always had a very good work ethic, Ive never been afraid of challenges. I’ve managed to achieve any goals that I’ve set for myself or that have been set for me. I’ve been effective in working with very diverse personalities and have had formal corporate training in both leadership and communication. I have my Associates in Speech and am a strong public speaker. My experience as a financial Analyst for McKinsey & Co would serve well for budgetary purposes. My 11 years in high profile companies has paved the way for my problem solving skills and creative thinking. In conclusion, My life experience has made me a very ambitious, well- rounded, and creative leader with effective interpersonal skills.

Kelly DeMayo

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

As someone who was born and raised in Long Valley and is a mother of two young girls who are currently enrolled in the school system, I care deeply about the quality of educational experience the children of this community receive; and very much want to see the Washington Township School District live up to its excellent reputation. Over the past year I have learned a great deal about the school district through regularly attending Board of Education meetings, serving on the Superintendent’s Environmental Task Force and consistently asking questions of district administrators and current board members. My experiences have led me to the realization that we, as a district, not only can do better, but have the obligation to do so; and I want to be a part of the process. I am very proud to be running as a slate with Jessica DeCicco and Kiera Horutz-Mitchell with whom I share many common goals with for the future of Washington Township Schools. Together we will set the bar higher.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

One of the five District Goals adopted by the Washington Township Board of Education for the 2019-2020 school year is “ensuring that its facilities are secure, clean, well maintained, and environmentally sound.” With our district facing a projected loss of roughly $5 million in state aid over the next seven years, this poses a significant challenge. The reality is that many of our district facilities are in need of significant, costly repairs and upgrades; and with nearly 72% of taxpayer dollars going to the school district, it is time for prioritized and responsible spending to ensure we can find the means within our budget to enable the Washington Township School District to fulfill the very important, yet basic responsibility of maintaining safe, secure and healthy school buildings for its students and teachers.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

I would describe myself as passionate, honest and dedicated.

What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

In October of 2018 I joined the Superintendent’s Environmental Task Force and successfully advocated for district wide radon testing, environmental site assessments, as well as the public posting of all Task Force agendas and meeting summaries. I also collaborated extensively with my fellow Task Force members and represented the group in formally presenting our recommendations to the Board of Education. Throughout the past year I have worked tirelessly to foster transparency from and open communication with top district administrators, have developed an effective working relationship with the Superintendent, and look forward to continued collaboration with the administration. Also, as a former middle school teacher, I have many years of experience in the educational community which provide me with a valuable sense of perspective as a potential member of the Board of Education. I have always been deeply connected to the New Jersey public school system and am excited to continue my path in the educational world in a new and challenging way.

Kiera Horutz-Mitchell

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

Growing up in Long Valley and going through the school system I find it important that my children have the same quality education as I did. My husband is also originally from Long Valley and when we had our two boys we moved back here because of the schools and because this town is our home. It is important to me that the children of Washington Township receive the best education possible while being mindful of how taxpayer dollars are spent. I have the desire to unite individuals for the betterment of the Washington Township School District. I will always ask questions and demand answers when it comes to supporting the students, teachers and budget of Washington Township. In the past two years, I have attentively attended each Board of Education meeting where I have learned about how our district operates. I believe that our district can do better, and should do better because our children deserve the best education. I have the pleasure of running on a slate with Kelly DeMayo and Jessica DeCicco. Together we have the opportunity to make our district proud by putting the children and their education first.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

The $5.1 million reduction in state funding is going to be our biggest challenge. As a member of the Board of Education, I would like for us to collectively look at the budget and make fiscally responsible decisions about how we can ensure a high level of education for each child while also staying within our budget. In essence, if our district doesn’t have the funding to support the academic and emotional needs of our children then our district doesn’t have the money for unnecessary spending.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Reliable, Motivated and Conscientious

What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

I have been very active in both the Benedict A. Cucinella PTO and Long Valley Middle School PTA. I served as the Cucinella School PTO treasurer for five years while my children were in elementary school. I also chaired several programs for students and ran numerous teacher appreciation events. As a local entrepreneur who runs my own business, I have developed strong leadership skills to help my business thrive.

John Gorman

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

I am currently on the board and feel that my experience and talents have been beneficial to Washington Township. I am a strong component of the students, teachers, and administration and strongly believe that I am able to impact the board in positive ways.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

The biggest challenge is the loss of state aid over the next three to five years. We are currently working with the school administration to develop a progressive budget that does not negatively affect our students and staff.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Dedicated, Supportive, Knowledgeable

What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

I have over 30 years of experience in the profit and non-profit service industry. I have managed several facilities while maintaining a positive budget. Not only am I currently on the school board, I am on the finance committee, personnel committee chair and previously on the negotiation committee that effectively settled the current teacher contracts. Besides being an active participant in the Washington Township school board, I am on the Community in Crises Board that focuses on the battle of Opioid addition in Somerset County. Through my work experience, I have an extensive background in youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

Kathleen Koop

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

I am running for the Board of Education because I care about children and I believe that every child deserves an education that supports their academic, social, and emotional growth. I am deeply privileged to be a current member of the board of education, and part of a functional board team dedicated to the achievement of all students. Our schools are the focus points of our community, and I am very proud to be a member of a board that works collaboratively together to ensure that we continue our progress for the benefit of the students. All four of my own children have benefitted from the top-notch educational foundation that they received from our excellent educators and programs in our K-8 school district. I want to continue to be part of the team that supports the policies and provides the resources so that the Washington Township children will continue to receive the high level of educational services that they deserve.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

The reduction of our state aid in the upcoming years will certainly be one of our greatest challenges. Education is always evolving which will require new resources, facility modifications, and academic programs. Balancing the loss of funding with the everchanging needs of our students will require that the board of education continues to work collaboratively, respectfully, and productively to address budgetary challenges, continue our successful programs, and progress forward with new initiatives.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Authentic, Trustworthy, Dedicated

What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

I am serving in my fourth term as a school board member. My roles as a board of education member have included education committee chairperson, vice-president, and currently the president. In addition, I have thirty years of experience in the field of education as a teacher and administrator in public school districts. Recently, in the May of 2019, I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education with a doctorate in educational administration. My dissertation topic was on school board governance and professional development. I have presented at the New Jersey School Boards convention, and at a Morris County School Boards Association meeting about the importance of school boards focusing on student achievement.

I believe that every board member should participate in continuous professional development to be an effective board of education member and leader. To continue my growth, I have attended many professional development sessions presented by the New Jersey School Boards Association focused on school board leadership and other important governance topics. As a result of my dedication to continuous growth, I was asked by the New Jersey School Boards Association to serve as a trainer during the new school board governance training weekend and leadership training weekend.

Here are the candidates running for the regional seat on the West Morris Regional school board:

Clayton Zdroik

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

Hello, my name is Clayton Zdroik. I am running for the Board of Education because I want to give back to my alma mater, and as a college student studying Computer Science and Finance, I believe I have something genuine and important to offer to our district.

As a young person who's been through our district, I offer valuable insight into what our schools did right and what we can do even better looking forward. Technology is one area I'm very concerned about. Taxpayers invest a significant portion of the school's budget in emerging educational hardware (smartboards, the library media center, etc.) and Chromebooks. It's important to prepare students for the digital age and to benefit from technological advancement where possible, but buying expensive gadgets is not the cure-all. Our Computer Science curriculum is a laughingstock. One introductory class designed for young children and one modest intermediary class are not sufficient. Students would benefit much more from a curriculum overhaul than anything, and as a young person, I know this.

Our district is really strong, but there are still new things to do and new ideas to explore. I want to be that person who offers insight into the modern college application process, youth culture issues, technology, or whatever else comes up that a young person lives and breaths.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

The biggest challenge facing our schools is teaching in the digital age. We want schools to train students in marketable skills, foster personal talents and interests, and produce responsible citizens. Technology changes the landscape for each of these responsibilities. The marketable skills are different than they were 20 years ago, the arts and athletics are not encouraged like they used to be, and the advent of "fake news" and social media each have a devastating impact on American citizenship. We can make changes that address each of these areas.

To enter the workforce, students must develop a balance of soft skills and technical understanding. Technical development needs the most work in our district. As I mentioned earlier, we invest too much in Chromebooks and other technologies not be teaching interested students about coding. I want to work on that.

I support the Athletics and Arts Departments in their mission to inspire and encourage students to pursue their interests. A dollar spent in football, art, or band goes a lot further for the students than a dollar spent on laptops. It's important not to get lost in the times.

In addressing "fake news" and social media misinformation, we need to supplement the work of our excellent librarians in fighting this menace. History curriculum must be amended to include an analysis of the role media plays in social movements and how this has changed over time. If the students know why they should look for citations, maybe they just will.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Thoughtful, Caring, and Intelligent

What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

I am an experienced leader through my lifelong commitment to community service in our town.

From a very young age, I've been deeply involved in leading through service in 4-H. Here, I organized groups to entertain the elderly, led workshops to teach young kids about finance and science, held chairman positions at our fair, learned about civic leadership in DC, and then again in Atlanta. In all my years in this program, I also held treasurer and presidential positions. Whether it was preparing dues for the annual chick order or running meetings to pick charities to fundraise for, I learned to lead by helping the community.

In my last summer of high school, I also went to a conference called New Jersey Boys State, run through the American Legion veterans' organization. Here I learned even more about civic leadership and what it means to serve the community in an elected office.

These aren't things most people do. I dedicate myself to service, and I lead to help others. I am prepared to lead, and I am prepared to serve our town. I am proud of the work I've done, and I'm proud of our district.

Please vote Clayton Zdroik on November 5th, 2019. Thank you for your time.

Lisa Woodring

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

I have always been interested in the issues surrounding public education. I began attending high school board meetings when my oldest son (now age 27) was an 8th grader. Years later, when I became a Board of Education member, I saw how important it is for representatives from our five different communities to work together, discuss and debate, and support our school staff, in order to provide the best education possible for our tax dollars. Over my seven years on the West Morris Regional HS Board of Education, the district has made a number of great strides, including hiring and retaining talented teachers, enhancing our buildings and grounds and increasing the variety of academic and extracurricular offerings, to name just a few. I am running for re-election to the Board so that I can continue to support West Morris Central’s upward trajectory. I will continue to keep the district focused on student wellness as well as college/career readiness, and will strive to provide the best possible high school experience for all our students.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

As is the case with other districts in New Jersey, West Morris Regional has financial challenges, the solutions for which require vigilance and creativity. Looking ahead, the greatest challenge facing WMR is to determine how we will continue to provide our students with a top-notch education and superior college/career readiness despite ever-increasing budgetary restrictions.
The good news is that the Board of Ed has budgeted strategically over past years, and will do so in the future. We are in the position to continue to attract top talent, provide students with engaging academic and extracurricular offerings, maintain and improve our facilities, and effectively integrate technology in our classrooms; all of this against the backdrop of a 2% tax levy cap, forecasts of declining state aid, and ever-increasing health care costs. As a member of the Finance Committee, I will work with my peers to keep WMR on a solid financial footing, in order to provide a great product for Long Valley families, and to maintain our many high rankings, such as our #1 ranking out of 46 regional districts in New Jersey.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Fair: Knowing that there are always many sides to every issue, I present a fair and balanced viewpoint in discussions. Whether I’m talking with my sons about how the “older generation” might view things, or discussing multi-faceted issues in Board of Education committee meetings, I intentionally view issues through various lenses as I deliberate with others.

Caring: Many years ago, when I left my corporate career, I felt the pull of community engagement. I began volunteering at our neighborhood elementary school helping students who needed remediation in Math. I then became involved with the Long Valley Middle School PTA while my sons attended. For the last several years, I have volunteered my time and efforts on the WMR Board of Education, and as Treasurer of LVCAP, the organization that runs our local food pantry. I am truly passionate about the welfare of Long Valley families and our schools!

Committed: In all of the organizations, non-profits and boards that I’ve served on over the past 22 years, I have taken on leadership positions. Whenever I get involved with a group of people working toward a common goal, I am “all-in”. This is especially true on the WMR school board.

What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

As co-captain of the Bucknell swim team, I learned how to motivate and support my peers through the highs and lows of athletic competition. In my first job post-college, I was promoted to a position where my charter was to facilitate understanding and synergy between the business side and the operations side of a Fortune 200 company. In this position, I often served as a buffer and consensus-builder among my peers and between others in more senior positions. I also have many years of experience managing volunteer efforts as VP and then President of the LV Middle School PTA. As a PTA leader, along with supporting academic and extracurricular programs and running social events for students, I also led a committee that worked with outside vendors to renovate the music wing and the media center of the building. The sum of these experiences has prepared me to excel in leadership positions on the WMRHSD Board of Education. I currently serve as Vice President, unanimously elected by my peers in each of the last five years. As Board VP, and as chairperson of the Education Committee, I often call upon my past experiences to bring my peers to consensus.