Four candidates are running for three seats on the Lawrence Township Board of Education. Each seat has a three-year term. The candidates include: Glenn Collins, Dana R. Drake, Harriet W. Johnson and Max Ramos. Drake is the only incumbent; she was elected in 2013 to serve an unexpired one-year term.
Each candidate was given the opportunity to fill out a questionnaire and submit a statement about why they decided to run for a seat on the board and why they think Lawrence residents should vote for them.
Glenn Collins
Age: 55
Years lived in township: 26
Occupation: Senior Field adjuster Encompass Insurance Company
Education: Kean College
Family: Wife Bonnie and two children, Kelli and Liam
Previous public office: None
Previous unsuccessful bids for office: Town Council
Community involvement: Member of the Lawrence Township Planning Board and the Recreational Advisory Committee; Coached Township baseball, basketball, and Hamnett soccer; Member of VFW Post 3022; Sergeant-at-Arms for the SAL at American Legion Post 414; Member of St Ann’s Church; Den Leader for Cub Scout Pack 28; Member Knights of Columbus Lawrenceville Council
Connection to school district: Both my children go to the Lawrence school system. Kelli, 12, and Liam, 10.
Why are you running for a seat on the school board, and why should residents vote for you?
My fellow residents, parents, and taxpayers of Lawrence Township, please help me to get back what is rightfully ours. Over recent years, the numbers of concerns, complaints and claims filed against the school have increased at alarming rates. The administration, and the board, needs to focus on why this is occurring, especially within the Special Education Programs due to one out of four children within our school system receiving some form of educational assistance.
Our teachers are restrained by the shackles of the administration. Our teachers, who deserve all of our praise, do all that they can with limited resources and funding from the administration.
In previous years, tax payers had the freedom to host events at the school. However, this year the administration has banned such events. The outsourcing of events only adds to the financial burdens of the taxpayer.
If elected to the School Board I will make it a priority to have the administrative bans lifted in order to support the needs, and wants, of our community. We should have the right to host our events at our school based on the taxes that we pay.
While I do believe that the administration wants to help our community, I feel that it will take focus and determination to get the reform that we need. As a resident of Lawrence Township for twenty-five years, I am loyal to my community and to my voters. These are our tax dollars, our school, and our children.
Make them matter.
Dana R. Drake
Age: 35
Years lived in township: I’ve been a resident of Lawrence Township for 27 of my 35 years.
Occupation: Human Resource Professional
Education: BS in Business Management
Previous elected office: Was elected last year for an unexpired 1 year term (A board member resigned with 1 year remaining of the 3 year term.)
Previous unsuccessful bids for office: N/A
Community involvement: Was previously involved with the PTO at EPS.
Connection to school district: I am a product of the Lawrence Township Public School system (Class of 1996.) My son, Owen, is a 5th grader at Lawrence Intermediate School.
Why are you running for a seat on the school board, and why should residents vote for you?
I was born and raised in Lawrence Township. As a former student and now parent, I consider it a great place to live and raise a family. That is why my husband, Adam, and I chose to settle here when we moved to Central New Jersey in 2007. A big part of Lawrence’s attraction for us is the quality and potential for student success at Lawrence Township public schools. We have a good student-centered, innovative school system.
I have been a School Board member for the past 10 months. Working with other board members and administrators to limit expenses, while meeting state and federal mandates, and maintain innovation and creativity in our classrooms is a complicated balancing act.
The best school boards have members with a diverse set of talents and experience. With a background in Accounting and Human Resources, I provide unique and valuable skills in labor and employee relations and performance management to the board, which complement the varied skills of my colleagues.
I ask for the residents’ votes so I can continue to provide that expertise. I am proud of the Board’s accomplishments this past year but I can see that there is work to be done. We must continue to strive for academic excellence for all our students, and find ways to encourage new athletic, music and arts, and technology initiatives that are more cost effective and prepare our students for lifelong success.
Harriet W. Johnson
Age: 68
Years lived in township: 30 years
Occupation: Retired Elementary School Teacher after 25 years; former NAEP Test Coordinator; former Program Officer of Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science for the New Jersey Department of Higher Education; and currently employed part-time as a grant writer and Educational Consultant for non-profits and faith based organizations.
Education: Trenton State College: B.A., Early Childhood Education and M.A. in Elementary Education; Harvard University: Ed.M. in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy; State of NJ Teacher and Supervisor/Principal Certification
Previous elected office: None
Previous unsuccessful bids for office: None
Community involvement: Steward Board Member/Secretary of Mt. Pisgah AME Church; member and former Advisor, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; member, Trenton Historic Development Commission Steering Committee (THDC); member, Shiloh Community Development Corporation (CDC); member, Bellevue Avenue Civic Association; former church representative on Princeton Community Housing Board; poll worker, Mercer County Board of Elections 2012-2014; President of Church Women United Princeton Chapter, former Lawrence Recreational Tee-Ball coach.
Connection to school district: Son, Isaac Johnson is a 2001 graduate from LTPS.
Why are you running for a seat on the school board, and why should residents vote for you?
I have lived in Lawrence for three decades and know that it is a wonderful community to raise a family. Its schools have always ranked among the top in Mercer County and in the state. Isaac is a proud product of the Lawrence School District. His academic foundation has allowed him to succeed on the collegiate level and his athletic prowess in football and track earned him great recognition. Between his junior and senior year in high school, he traveled to Florida picking up national ranking in track; and traveled to Amsterdam medaling in track with the People to People young ambassador program. More importantly, his lifelong friendships not only enhanced his life, but shaped his affable personality as he maintains friendships and makes new ones in his various social circles.
For me, I chose Lawrence as a place that I wanted to raise Isaac. I have never been disappointed with my life here. The congeniality of the neighborhoods, the inclusive environment, the safe haven from less desirable aspects of society, and the broad spectrum of services available within our own little haven reassures me daily that I have made the right decision.
As a retiree, I sought out a plan to see how I still could be useful to society. Naturally, I became even more involved with my church, but as a resident of Lawrence, I wanted to do something to thank Lawrence for all it has provided to me and my family. As an educator, I thought that maybe I could utilize my talents as a school board member, especially with the new state and national tests on the horizon. This may be the unique skill that I can share with the School Board, i.e., one of easing the transitions to the new tests. This is why, among many reasons, I want to give back to this great community by running for the Lawrence Township school board.
Max Ramos
Age: 44
Years lived in township: 15
Occupation: Business Manager, Hewlett Packard Co.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Baruch College in New York, 1997. Masters’ Degree (MBA) from Rider University, Lawrenceville, 2009
Previous elected office: none
Previous unsuccessful bids for office: Lawrence Town Council 2013
Community involvement: Lawrence Township Growth & Redevelopment Committee (2013 – present), Coach Hamnett Soccer & Lawrence Rec Basketball, Knights of Columbus Lawrence Council #7000
Connection to school district: 2 children currently in school system
Why are you running for a seat on the school board, and why should residents vote for you?
I would humbly like to ask all Lawrence voters for their vote for school board on November 4th, 2014. It has been my honor to serve and represent my neighbors and my township in various capacities in the last few years.
From coaching on the soccer fields at Village Park, the Armory, and LIS, to drawing up plays on the basketball court in the LES all purpose room, to being appointed by Town Council to the Citizens Budget Committee and the Growth & Redevelopment Committee, I have expressed the desire and commitment to do my part to improve the outstanding quality of life in Lawrence Township, the best town in New Jersey.
Serving on the school board would be a dream for me. I have always wanted the best education for myself and my family and to be able to do my part to help the Lawrence Board of Education stand out as a model organization is a tremendous opportunity. I will use all my talents, knowledge, education, business background, tools, and relationships in order to fulfill my duty to the voters.
Please vote for me on November 4th. Thank you. I can answer any questions directly at jmaxramos@gmail.com.
Collins,
