Toms River School Board Election 2022: Lisa Magovern

TOMS RIVER, NJ ? When voters go to the polls Nov. 8, they will be asked to choose people to serve on the Toms River Regional Board of Education.

The seats open this year on the school board are representing Pine Beach, Beachwood and Toms River.

In Beachwood, Lisa Magovern, Melissa Morrison and Reuven Hendler are seeking the three-year unpaid term on the board.

Patch asked each candidate to answer questions to give voters information about who they are and their stances on various issues. We are printing their responses in full, unedited except for spelling or punctuation.

Here are the answers for Lisa Magovern, who is 50 years old.

Tell voters about your family: My husband and I are both graduates from Toms River HS East. My husband is a retired police detective of 28 years from Toms River Township. I worked as a 3rd grade teacher for the Jackson Township School District for many years before staying home to raise my children. I?ve kept busy raising my children and continued working with and for children as a West Dover PTO Corresponding Secretary and 1st Vice President. I was involved as a liaison for the District?s SEPAG group and a District Super Safety Committee liaison. I also volunteered as the Island Beach Civic Association?s Children?s Activity Chairperson for their biggest fundraiser, Girl Scout Asst. Leader, Cub Scout Asst. Leader, Boy Scout Committee Chairperson, softball coach and hockey team manager.

My husband and I have three children. My daughter is a recent graduate of Toms River HS South 2022. She was a 4 year Varsity Cheerleader, involved in many clubs/activities and a member of the Spanish Honor Society. My daughter is now attending the University of Delaware and majoring in the ?Three Languages? Program (Spanish, Japanese, and Arabic). My son is a recent graduate of Toms River Intermediate South 2022 and is now attending Toms River HS South as a freshman. My other son is a recent graduate of Beachwood Elementary 2022 and is now a 6th grader at Toms River Intermediate South. Both of my sons play ice hockey and hope to play for Toms River South East Hockey Team.

Tell voters about your education: I attended school K-12 in the Toms River Regional School District. I went to East Dover, Intermediate East and graduated from Toms River HS East. After graduation, I enrolled in college at Ocean County Community College and received my associate's degree. I transferred my degree into Jersey City State College. While enrolled, the name changed to New Jersey City University. I graduated New Jersey City University with a double major in education (urban studies) and psychology (mental health). I completed my junior teaching internship as a third-grade teacher in the Jersey City School District and later completed my student teaching in the Jackson Township School District. I completed my psychology internship at the A. Harry Moore School in Jersey City. I worked under the school?s social worker and taught self-esteem classes among many different age groups with disabilities. I continued to renew my education with professional development workshops and seminars.

What is your occupation? I was hired by Jackson Township School District after I completed my student teaching. I taught 1st grade, 2nd grade and 3rd grade. I left after 10 years of teaching to raise my children. I am very fortunate and excited to be hired back this 2022/23 school year at the same elementary school I started my career in Jackson Township Schools. My children are older and I couldn?t be happier to return to something I love doing, working with children.

Previous elective office, if any: The only elected position I have filled was Corresponding Secretary and 1st VP on the West Dover PTO Board.

Do you or anyone in your family work for the state, county or local governments? I do not have any family that I know of working for the state, county or local government at this time. I am currently employed by the Jackson Township School District.

Why are you running for the Board of Education? I always wanted to run for school board since I started my career in teaching. I decided to wait until my children were a little older and more self-sufficient. I can contribute in a positive way using my experience/perspective as a teacher and my experience/perspective as a parent of children who have been through all levels of schooling, such as elementary, intermediate, high school and college. I would like to be part of a solution in making improvements in our school district. At the end of the day, I want to always be proud to say my family and I are Toms River Regional School graduates. My goal is to put ?Our Children First? and for all of our children to be given the opportunity to succeed.

What do you feel is the most pressing issue facing your school district and what do you want to do about it?

The most pressing issues for the district are lack of funding, loss of learning/social skills and mental health due to virtual learning and consequences we are or will be facing due to S2. I have ideas that I would like to bring forth to the board/district that we can work collaboratively with and brainstorm to build upon all of our ideas. I am a reflective thinker and think if we can work together for the same causes, we will get positive, upward results.

Additionally, school security has to be continually examined. The Toms River, Pine Beach, Beachwood and South Toms River Police Departments provide outstanding protection for our children. We need to continue our support for these agencies and demand them and our school employees to continually educate themselves in their response to school emergencies.

The Toms River Regional schools continue to suffer cuts under S2. These cuts could cost the district dozens of teachers? jobs in the next two years. What do you think the district should do to address the financial crush the cuts are creating?

I applaud the effort our district, parents, students and community has put into the fight to get ourfunding back. The letters and State House protests gave us a voice. However, the ?Fair Funding Formula? is not fair for our district and many others. We must get out districts, state assembly people/governor and the State Board of Ed to work together to do what?s right for our schools. I think the lawsuit should be dropped to show we would really like to negotiate and collectively get a formula that is fair for all. Our district is losing money that could go to important programs but instead we are paying lawyers and this can go on for years.

The school district ? like districts all over ? has dealt with vocal criticism of curriculum, including social-emotional learning, which has been part of education for years. As mental health concerns and bullying continue to skyrocket, do you feel efforts to address kindness and empathy in school are misplaced?

I feel curriculums that are being considered should be decided with input from classroom teachers. I think parents should have a voice in their child?s education. After all, parents and teachers are with our students during the students? learning process. They know first-hand what is and what is not working.

Social-emotional learning and mental health are very important concerns of mine. As Psychology with a concentration in mental health is one of my majors in college, I care about this topic very much. Bullying, Harassment and Intimidation need to be addressed with a strict protocol and appropriate consequences need to be implemented. I also think programs, clubs, etc. ?can be implemented in which they reflect in a positive way. Instead of just focusing on the negative, let?s not only teach kindness but practice it too. Studies have shown children respond better to the ?do?s? rather than the ?don?ts?. I can?t stress enough that parent/teacher involvement plays a vital role on this topic.

If you could change one thing about how the Toms River schools are being operated right now, what would it be?

One thing I would change amongst others is transparency. If we are asking parents, teachers,
administration and the board to work together to make our district better than ever, then there needs to be transparency. Along with this, I would like to see our district website be easier to navigate through for anyone to find the information they need.