Meet The 2019 Morris School District Board Of Ed Candidates

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Candidates from Morris Township and Morristown are running to represent their towns on the regional Morris School District Board of Education, and Patch caught up with the candidates ahead of the general election.

Four candidates are running for two open three-year terms to represent Morris Township, while two candidates are running for one seat to represent Morristown. 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.

Peter E. Gallerstein, Morris Township

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

Having been a member of the Board for several years now, this is a question that I am often asked by friends and family. Why do you do this? I do this because I’m a “doer” and believe the public school system is a centerpiece of every community. My wife and I both graduated public school systems and my 3 sons are graduates of the Morris School District. We specifically moved to Morris Township because of the school system and the opportunity for our children to interact with a wide and diverse variety of students. Yes, I known that the term “diversity” can be tossed around and, in many instances, means nothing. But diversity, socially and academically, is at the very heart of our school system and community. We celebrate it and work with it and, frankly, at times it can take extra effort to succeed. But boy does it feel great when it works and I believe that, for the most part, it does.

Progress? Absolutely. Perfect? Not yet. I believe that I have made significant contributions and I look forward to continuing to do so in the future

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

We have been very fortunate in our district to be on a great upward trajectory in so many ways. We have to continue to offer a first-class education to a diverse group of students which both benefits our children and, at the same time, makes us one of the more complex school districts in the state. It is imperative that we prepare all our students for a rapidly changing world. We must continue to attract first rate staff and I am speaking of all of our employees be they administrators, teachers, administrative assistants, drivers and those who keep our schools safe and functional. They all touch our students’ lives. You can’t talk about these challenges without talking about finances. We must continue to spend wisely within our budget as we have done for a number of years now. We have managed to make our district completely free of long-term debt as of 2019. In summary, we have about 5,300 individual students to take care of during a good part of their waking hours as they journey through the most formative years of their lives. Now that’s a challenge!

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

Honest, forthright, respected

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

I can say without hesitation that the years and experience that I have had on the Board of Education are the best preparation that one can have to be an effective leader in this position. I have held leadership roles ranging from Board Vice President to Chairperson of the Finance and Human Resources Committees. I have been an essential member of the Negotiations Committee that recently reached an agreement on a four-year contract to the benefit of the district and its employees. I have played an integral role in the planning, implementing and overseeing the goals set for our district. In addition to identifying our strengths, I am keenly aware of the areas where additional support is needed.

Other leadership positions which I have held have been as a senior partner in a medical practice and Vice-President of the Medical Staff at Morristown Medical Center.
I recognize that “CHANGE” and, “FRESH FACES” are words that are constantly bandied about during an election but “EXPERIENCE” and “PROVEN SUCCESS” are of great benefit and that is what I can offer as a leader.

Melissa Spiotta, Morris Township

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

I am running because I believe the most important role of any society is to educate its children. My career didn’t lead me directly to education so instead I have been supporting the educational community in other ways. I am a former HSA President at Hillcrest and just entered my 7th year serving on the Morris Educational Foundation board. I have also tutored and mentored students along the way as well as supported the school district serving on other committees. I am also a proud graduate of MHS where my daughter is a Sophomore.

Being on the school board was a goal of mine for years. I was just waiting for the right time to run. (A three year expat assignment in Singapore put a snag in my plans.) Last year was the year I had decided to put my name on the ballot and then I ended up being appointed to the board instead.

Serving on the board this past year has been a real honor. Seeing it from the inside has given me a lot of confidence in the direction we are headed under the direction of our exceptional Superintendent. I am running now to keep my seat.

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

Improving our support for college-bound students is a top priority. Ensuring that we have the breadth and depth of AP and Honors classes for our students. We have greatly expanded offerings but we need to continue to expand in this area. We want our amazing students to get into the top-choice colleges after working so hard at MHS. They deserve our best efforts.

Giving our students earlier access to STEM offerings will also drive this success. Now that we have a Director of STEM education that covers Pre-K to 12th grade, we will continue to see these programs grow. The growth at FMS has been expansive in the past 3 years but we need to make sure it continues.

We are in the second year of a multi-year preschool expansion that is being funded by a grant from the NJ Department of Education. One of the things I am very excited about this is the opportunity for early detection and intervention for our students who have special needs or learning differences. This is so key. The earlier we can support our kids the more successful they will be.

Another big challenge is safeguarding the physical and emotional well-being of our students. We have made significant investments in our security way ahead of other districts. And our focus on social-emotional learning has been a tremendous support to our children. We are continuing to add to the curriculum in this area as well as adding counselors to support our children in each school. Like everything else, we will continue to evaluate and enhance what we are doing to ensure its success.

The residents of Morris Township have my commitment that I will do my best to ensure a learning environment that enables students to be future-ready while spending our tax dollars wisely.

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

Advocate, Champion, Leader

Advocate: Last January I wrote this for Morristown Green.
(https://morristowngreen.com/2019/01/18/commentary-time-for-greater-morristown-to-crack-down-on-teen-vaping/) It was clear to me that vaping was a huge issue and I would need to advocate for our kids by spending the next 3 months ensuring that parents understood the consequences of the proposed vaping ordinances. I am proud to say that Morristown passed a very strict vaping ordinance in May.

Champion: I love our community. I am a proud MHS grad and like many of us have always felt that our school district doesn’t get credit for all of the great things that happen here. In 2010, I created the “I LOVE The Morris School District” Facebook page to share good news. We just reached 1,000 members and I couldn’t be a prouder champion of our district than I am now.

Leader: In August of 2018, I was appointed to the board of ed because I was seen as a leader in our community. In January I was chosen to chair the Human Resources committee for the board. Then in March I was asked to be part of the community-wide Equity and Inclusion Alliance. I couldn’t be prouder to serve in these capacities.

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

As I already mentioned, I have been actively involved in the district for a decade. I am also the chair of the Junior League of Morristown grant committee. In addition to that, I am membership chair of the Hillside Hose Ladies Auxiliary, am serving on a grant committee for Impact 100 and am serving on the Mansion in May committee again for this coming year.

From a work-perspective, I have led many successful organizations with large teams and sizable budgets. I understand the importance of making research-based decisions that make good fiscal sense. I have a Masters Degree in Organizational Behavior so I understand how organizations work. My Human Resources background helps me to understand the importance of sound hiring and retention practices as our teachers and administrators are the bedrock of our school district. My Learning and Development background gives me the ability to understand the skills that our grads needs to be successful.

Susan M. Pedalino, Morris Township

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

I am running for the Morris School District Board of Education because I can bring an invaluable perspective and a fresh voice when setting policies and goals. As an educator, I understand how District initiatives translate into real-life experiences. I am in the “trenches” everyday, immersed in molding young minds and nurturing a life-long love of learning. I have my finger on the pulse of what’s new in education and where it is headed. My experience in education makes me uniquely qualified to endorse a 21st Century curriculum that will ensure our schools are future-ready and will challenge students to be independent learners; leading them on a successful path to career readiness. I want to be instrumental in the Morris School District’s upward trajectory of student growth and success, both as a parent of my three sons ages 12, 8 and 6 who attend schools in the District, and as an educator. I want to ensure that every child in our community has equal access to high quality education. I will work hard to make sure the Morris School District is even better than it already is.

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

Like many school districts across the country, the biggest challenge facing schools in the Morris School District is children and teen mental health and well-being. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of April 29, 2019, “7.1% of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 4.4 million) have diagnosed anxiety. 3.2% of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 1.9 million) have diagnosed depression.” With high expectations and pressure to succeed academically and/or athletically, fear of random acts of violence, and the stress of social media, children and teens are feeling more anxious and hopeless today than ever before. New Jersey recently instituted legislation requiring that mental health will now be included in K-12 health and physical education instruction. The Morris School District is making great strides in addressing this issue, but more should be done. The District should provide more outreach opportunities to parents in order to help them better support their children at home. I would also like to see more professional development to help teachers identify signs of depression and anxiety and provide wellness and mindfulness strategies so they can better assist and empower their students.

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

Approachable: I am a person who has a friendly disposition, is a good listener, and is easy to speak with. Board of Education members should be accessible and transparent. The District will continue to succeed when we maintain a strong partnership with our stakeholders by listening, understanding their concerns and valuing their input. I welcome the community’s ideas and feedback and promise to give a voice to all our stakeholders, especially those who feel underrepresented.

Dedicated: I am committed to ensuring the Morris School District continues to provide equitable and optimal learning experiences so students can reach their full potential. I am passionate about education, continually staying on top of best practices and the latest research in pedagogy. I truly want the best for our students so they can continue to ascend and thrive. I will work hard to set policies to advance excellence and equity in our students’ education.

Collaborative: Meaningful collaboration builds trust and instills teamwork and cohesiveness -- all important qualities for a board to effectively work together as a unit. Professionally, I collaborate with fellow teachers and media specialists regularly. We work together to share ideas, plan instruction and analyze student data to improve student performance. Collaboration in education doesn’t always mean there has to be total agreement, but it helps find common ground to better serve our students.

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

In addition to being an educator for the past 18 years and currently a school library media specialist, I have also taken on a leadership role in several ways. As a seasoned educator, I have been called upon by administrators to mentor new teachers and media specialists in my school district. I have also served on the School Improvement Panel. This TeachNJ Act provision was implemented to provide leadership in the areas of teacher evaluation, mentoring and professional development. I also served on the Principal Liaison Committee. On behalf of my fellow faculty and staff, I met with our principal regularly to discuss concerns throughout our school and collaborated to address and resolve these matters, as well as provide feedback to my colleagues.

Chris Crean, Morris Township

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

After moving to New Jersey 9 years ago, my wife Theresa and I struggled to address several educational challenges with our two young children. Searching for solutions necessitated moving them both in and out of several schools. By the summer of 2013, still not having found acceptable schooling, we truly felt at the end of our rope. It was at this point a friend of a friend told us about the Morris School District. Within weeks of learning how this district embraces its responsibility of educating all of its students, we put our house up for sale and moved to Morris Township; our 3rd move in 4 years. Now six years since that move, our kids are thriving. Joshua, who has Autism, has progressed further than we ever could have dreamed and Lily is flourishing as an Honors student.

Morristown's schools -- and more specifically its teachers and administrators -- are amazing. We truly have a rare and beautiful school district here. Our teachers don’t just teach the curriculum, they instill in our children how to be kind, inclusive, and empathetic human beings. Because of all this district has done for our children, Theresa and I feel we owe it a great debt.

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

Morristown is a shining example that communities can provide an excellent education for each and every one of its students. As a parent of an Honors student and a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), I understand how complicated it is to juggle the range of educational needs. What impresses me so much about this district is they are able to do this in a state where almost 20% of children have IEP’s and thus need its schools to provide additional educational accommodations. I view our district as a very delicate structure, susceptible to collapse if not properly supported. As a board member, I pledge I will tirelessly work to support our teachers and administrators as they continue to excellently educate our children.

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

Parent, Advocate, Doctor

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

As an Emergency Medicine physician, I am charged every day with the efficient operation of my hospital’s Emergency Department. I currently serve as the Director of Clinical Operations and as the Vice-Chairman of the Emergency Department, representing my staff on several committees where policies are created and re-evaluated.

As a doctor, scientist, and academic for the past twenty years, I have spent years critically analyzing data, applying best practices based on that data, then going back to evaluate the results. Making sound, evidence-based decisions is an essential skill for a School Board member as a trusted steward of your children’s education and frankly, your tax dollars. I will be looking for evidence on each school program to ensure our tax dollars are funding programs that help our children develop into intelligent, healthy adults.

Michael F. Rogers, Morristown

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

I am running for Morristown School Board because our parents, students and educators deserve members on our school board who understand how to initiate change, embrace innovation and ensure that our students have access to the best education.

I am a proud parent of a Normandy Park fourth grader. For 12 years, I have lived in the wonderful Sherman Park neighborhood with my wife Cynthia, raising our daughter and caring for my aging mother. Now I would like to devote my time and experience to our public education system and the families it serves. I have a deep connection to Morristown having served as Town Administrator from 2006 until I became Summit’s City Administrator in 2015. At work, I am an experienced contract negotiator, responsible fiscal manager, and solution-minded policy analyst who re-conceptualizes how service delivery can provide a better experience for customers. As a parent, I know that how we solve complex problems in our schools will shape our children’s future. The Morris School District already has a shared vision, policy goals and objectives. Now the Board needs members who bring extensive, proven work experience in problem solving and policy implementation.

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

The Morris School District faces many challenges. Not one particular issue facing our public school system stands out as the “biggest” challenge. Each school within the District has different student performance levels, facility and resource needs, parental involvement and teaching proficiency. However, one big challenge for the entire school district and its board is to ensure students receive as much time, opportunity and resources as possible to achieve a more balanced, customized approach between required curriculum areas of study and standardized test preparation. Educational needs continue to grow and change annually across the school district. With all these systemic demands, the school board needs innovative, solution-minded people to govern. My professional experience demonstrates I will be able to collaborate with board members and the school administration to develop and responsibly fund educational policies that meet this challenge and best prepare all of our children for their future.

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

Strategic. Innovative. Approachable.

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

My professional experience as a civic leader has prepared me to serve Morristown’s children and families. I am proud of my past collaborations with local elected officials in Morristown on various public policies and programs. My work has focused on economic and community development with an emphasis on safe neighborhoods, a stable tax base and a vibrant central business district. I have a Master of Public Administration from NYU with licenses in public finance and purchasing. In 2016 I received the New Jersey Municipal Management Association Outstanding Manager Award, followed by the 2017 Innovation in Governance Award from NJ Dept. of Community Affairs and League of Municipalities. I believe I am the candidate that is best qualified to represent students of Morristown, and create policy and fund initiatives to meet current and future challenges, and ensure achievement for all.

Nancy M. Bangiola, Morristown

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

I am running for the Morris School District Board of Education because I am passionate about delivering the best education to the students we serve. I have served on the Morris School District Board of Education for the past 15 years and am proud of the many things we have accomplished together. I am proud of this Board's ability to attract and retain the very best educational leaders in New Jersey. I am proud of our ability to nurture and maintain a collaborative and respectful relationship with our teachers and administrators. Under the leadership of our Superintendent and administrators our teachers have helped our students continue to ascend academically. Together, we have focused on academic rigor, social and emotional development, and equity and inclusion for all the students we serve. These are lofty goals and they require a focused and high functioning Board of Education. In the last two years, our Board of ten members has added five new members, leaving only five members with more than one term of service. The Board's ability to function collaboratively with our educational leaders takes experienced leadership from within the Board. I am running for another term on our Board of Education because I believe I can provide the experience and leadership necessary to preserve the unique forty-five year legacy of the Morris School District while we simultaneously address the current challenges of our community.

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

The greatest challenge facing our school district is also our greatest strength. We are a truly diverse community. We serve students from many cultural backgrounds. We serve students who face every economic challenge and who enjoy every economic advantage. We serve students whose academic abilities seem limitless. We serve students who face severe academic challenges and/or physical barriers to learning. We serve everyone in between and in every combination one can imagine. Providing the best education to all of these students is our greatest challenge. It takes constant attention and a willingness to learn, design, assess and learn again. It requires that we set clear goals, collaboratively with our Superintendent . it required a willingness to hold him to those goals. But, I believe, this diverse community is also our greatest strength. The opportunity for students to learn from each other, and for all of them to experience a real world setting where words like equity, and cultural awareness have everyday applications is invaluable. They and we are all richer for this shared experience.

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

The three words I would use to describe myself would be friendly, calm, and intuitive.

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

There are three experiences in my life that have prepared me to be a good leader. The first is my experience as the Executive Director of the Morris County Bar Association. In my work with the MCBA over the last ten years, I have lead two distinct Boards One Board serves The Morris County Bar Association and one serves the Bar Foundation. Each year I mentor new Board Members and a new President of each organization. I assist the Board in forming and then pursuing the Mission of the Organization. In addition, I have served as a Board Member on many non-profit boards and have often been nominated by peers to serve as President. I have served as a Trustee of the Morristown, Morris Township Joint Free Public Library for over a decade. I have been serving as President for many years and have led the Library through the explosion and its aftermath. Finally, I have served as a Board Member, Past President, current Vice President, and Chair of Negotiation for the Morris School District. In these various roles I have honed my abilities as a leader. I would define my leadership style as collaborative, respectful, and inclusive.