The West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District will interview nine residents who have expressed an interest in being appointed to fill part of the unexpired term of the late Plainsboro Township board member Yibao Xu. The appointment is for January through December, 2014.
The residents, who will be interviewed by the Board of Education in early January, were asked by the WW-P News to provide basic biographical information and a brief answer to the question, “what special expertise or experience would you bring to the school board. As of our December 19 deadline, five had responded:
#b#Ilya Gedrich#/b#, who has lived at the corner of Grovers Mill and Mayfarth Terrace since 2004.
Family: Wife, Zoya, works at Barclays Capital. Sons Mark, a junior at Rutgers, and Lev, a senior at High School North, and daughter Eva, 5, at Beth Chaim Pre-School.
Education: Bachelor and master of science in system engineering from Odessa State Academy of Refrigeration in Ukraine; master of science in environmental and occupational health sciences from Hunter College School of Public Health.
Career: Senior consultant with Bureau Veritas North America, an independent safety consulting company.
Statement: Although I do not pursue any business matters with the WW-P district, I can provide advice in the areas of indoor environmental quality, employee exposure assessment, and hazardous waste disposal. I also have experience as a partner in a wholesale business in Ukraine in the 1990s.
#b#A.F.M. Ziaul Haque#/b#, a Plainsboro resident for seven years.
Family: Wife, Shaila; daughter Maureen, a junior at High School North; and son Raikin, who attends a special needs school.
Education: Louisiana State and Tulane universities
Career: Medical director of the Drenk Behavioral Health Center in Burlington County and Children’s Home as well as psychiatrist in private practice in Princeton.
Statement: We must create healthy learning communities that enhance educational excellence and motivates children to grow into adults who are prepared to be good citizens. This requires an approach that incorporates respect for self and others, healthy behaviors, integrity, and a sense of commitment and contribution to the school and society. My goal is to ensure excellence and equity with a path to create productive citizens rather than focusing only on grades. I believe in active collaboration among the stakeholders to fulfill the promises we make to our children. Students excel best in a climate that supports positive, respectful, and meaningful relationships.
I have worked in the school as a child psychiatrist and appreciate the intricate challenges in the school system. Students do the best when they feel welcome, accepted, and valued in a safe environment. Open communication, thoughtful discussion and collaborative planning among schools, families and communities assist in creating an environment that enables all students to achieve their best potential. I believe that I can make a greater difference by bringing this approach to the school board.
#b#Rachel Puno Juliana#/b#, a resident of the Crossings at Grovers Mill East since 2007.
Family: Husband Chuck, an attorney, and children Charlie, 6, a kindergartener at Wicoff, and Bella, 4.
Education: Bachelor’s in rhetoric from University of California-Berkeley and law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
Career: Licensed lawyer in New Jersey and California, currently providing legal services to a Fortune 500 company based in Northern California.
Statement: I served on a school board in Northern California from 2002-2007, so I have experience with being a school board member. I understand the challenges that school boards face in providing the best possible education to our community’s children and also the importance of working together as a board to make decisions that best serve our students. I also believe that my experience as an attorney provides a different perspective that would be valuable to the board and to the school district. For every issue that comes before the board, I will strive to thoroughly understand the issues and the impact that it will have on our children and the school district. I will consider all points of view and work with my fellow board members and the school administration to make the best decision for the school district to advance its primary mission to provide the broadest and most diverse educational platform for the continued success of the district, its students and teachers.
#b#Manjula Khan#/b#, a resident of Grovers Mill East since 2000.
Family: Husband, Sarwar Khan; daughter, a freshman at Dartmouth; and son, a sixth grader at Community.
Education: Bachelor’s from Rutgers in computer science and economics.
Career: Worked as an analyst and later ran his own business.
Statement: I would bring years of experience of raising and educating my kids at WW-P. I have been an active part of the school system, volunteering for various school and class activities as well as chairing school committees.
Coupled with this is my work experience of both being an analyst and running my own business. I am a team player who understands the board’s constraints as well as parents’ perspectives. I also have a great deal of energy, enthusiasm, ideas and commitment for making our schools even better.
#b#Joelle McConlogue#/b#, a resident of the Princeton Collection since 2000.
Family: Husband of 17 years, Cary, works at Bristol-Myers Squibb. Three daughters, a sixth grader at Community, a third grader at Wicoff, and a kindergartner at Wicoff; and a son, 3, in preschool.
Education: BA, Brigham Young University, zoology with human biology emphasis; MD, Columbia University.
Career: Pediatrician at Princeton Nassau Pediatrics.
Statement: Childhood spent overseas in Seoul, Korea (eight years), and Paris, France (one year). Enjoy traveling, reading, and cooking.
I have a long-standing personal and professional interest in advocating for the benefit of children. I am a practicing general pediatrician, and my career has been dedicated to helping children strive to reach their full potential in growth and development. I am keenly aware that to do this, children need optimal health advantages, a nurturing social environment, and challenging educational opportunities. I feel fortunate to live in a school district that provides such academic excellence. I always appreciate opportunities to use my professional knowledge “outside the office” and in the community. I often speak in community forums on children’s health topics.
When I worked at the St. Peter’s Pediatric Faculty Practice, I started a Reach Out and Read program to help literacy in an under-served community. With my professional background as well as my personal involvement in the schools as a parent, I believe I can provide a valuable perspective and advocate for children in the academic arena.
#b#Uma Tewari#/b#, a resident of the Hampshire development since 2002.
Family: Husband, Vijay Tewari; and sons, Varun, in fifth grade at Millstone River, and Arjun, in second grade at Wicoff.
Education: Bachelor of arts in political science from Panjab University, India. Post graduate diploma in business management and administration from Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Chandigarh, India.
Career: I hold the position of PTA president at J.V.B Wicoff Elementary School. I have previously worked as a manager in Itekdata Systems Inc. — an IT consultancy service provider.
Statement: My decision to apply to the board is driven by my past experiences as PTA secretary, committee chair, and currently president of the PTA. I greatly enjoyed being a part of my children’s education and dedicating my services to the school as a whole. The best part about working at the PTA level is the ability to affect the education of 400 students in a meaningful way.
As a stay-at-home mother, I have committed most of my free time to working with my children’s school. I frequently work late into the night perfecting fundraising agendas and reviewing paperwork to ensure the PTA runs smoothly. If selected for the vacant board position I plan to show the same level of dedication. Parents and co-workers often comment about my friendliness and empathy for other people’s concerns and ideas. I am very open to outside opinions; therefore I can bring a down-to-earth approachability as a board member.
As PTA president, I have been involved in a number of policy decisions that have positively affected the school I work with. I understand my role as a board member is to make policy decisions and ensure that values of our community are reflected in any decision the administration and the board makes. If selected for the post, I will come with an open mind and support decisions that are in the best interest of our children.
#b#Other Applicants#/b#
Others who have applied for the seat include Anwar Al-Najjar, Pankaj Kumar, and Xian “Sam” Zhang.
#b#Editor’s note:#/b# The board applicants were identified less than a week before our print deadline, and five provided information in time for publication. We will update our website, wwpinfo.com, on December 27 if additional statements are received.
