Election Profile: Heather Tormey For Colts Neck BOE

COLTS NECK, NJ - Three seats are up for grabs on the Colts Neck Board of Education this year, according to the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office. While current board of education president Katheryn Gizzo is the sole name listed on the ballot, two others - Heather Tormey and Tracy Kramer - are running for a seat as write-in candidates.

18-year Colts Neck resident Tormey previously served on Colts Neck Board of Education from 2015 to 2018. She has three children, two of whom are still students in the district. They both attend Cedar Drive Middle School. Tormey’s older son graduated from the district and now attends Colts Neck High School.

Tormey holds a a B.S. in Elementary Education/Special Education from Seton Hall University. She currently teaches a kindergarten pod in the district. She previously taught in East Brunswick and Old Bridge.

Are you running for a spot on the board of education? Contact Nicole Rosenthal at nicole.rosenthal@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Why are you seeking a seat on the school board:

When I learned there were two vacant Board seats and no prospective candidates, I became concerned about who would fill those vacancies since anyone could write themselves in, including those individuals with no children in the district. In my opinion, it is of the utmost importance that the Board of Education consist of at least a majority of members with a vested interest in the operation of our schools. Equally important is someone who knows the importance of responsible spending with our residents' tax dollars. As an 18-year resident of Colts Neck and former Board of Education member, I am confident that I am that person.

The single most pressing issue facing our school district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it:

The single most important and controversial issues currently facing our school district is the global pandemic and its impact on our schools and our community.. We all agree that, ideally, the children in our district would be best served being back in the classroom full-time. However, it will be up to the Board in the coming days, weeks, and months to establish the appropriate criteria and protocols that will allow our district to move forward during this unprecedented time, in the best interest of not only our students and staff, but our community as well. My goal is to protect the health and safety of every member of our school community while safely maximizing in-person learning, especially for our youngest learners.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking to serve on the school board seat?:

To my knowledge, there are three other individuals running a write-in campaign, two of whom have no children in the school district. Tracy Kramer, a parent of a first grader in our schools and a very accomplished financial entrepreneur, is the only one I can truly speak to in terms of her stance on issues. She and I share the belief that we want to navigate this current education model with caution and ensure that the best interest of our students and staff continue to be at the forefront of board discussions.