We are the parents of Jordon DeGroote and we strongly endorse his candidacy for school board. We do not do this lightly, but have given serious consideration to the best interests of the community. Our reasons:
Qualifications: Jordon is bright, mature, and very well informed. He brings dedication and competence to everything he does. That is why he has been elected to: football captain; Model UN president, and at the recent American Legion Boys State convention he was elected governor by 1,000 of his select peers from across the state. Jordon is qualified for this role and will attend college locally (within 50 miles) to devote the attention to the position that it deserves.
Fresh Perspective: Jordon will bring a fresh “insider’s” perspective to issues: What motivates and engages students? How do students respond to curriculum changes? How do teachers respond to weaknesses in the current evaluation system? There are issues of substance at stake. To see Jordon’s perspective, please see his Forum Q&A in the October 9 issue of the News, available online.
Communication: There has been an erosion of dialogue and transparency between the school board and the community. Jordon, meanwhile, is a natural communicator. He co-founded a non-profit public speaking program that has served students in West Windsor and Trenton. And he has been actively meeting with voters during this campaign. As Jordon said in the forum, the communication issue goes beyond the board’s decisions per se (e.g. curriculum options terminated, midterm and final exams eliminated), to their process. That these decisions were outright surprises makes no sense; there should be an opportunity for community dialogue and input.
Jordon is qualified, brings a fresh perspective, and will improve communication between the board and our community. He cares deeply about our students and our schools, and he will work hard to serve all constituents.
Stan & Michelle DeGroote
West Windsor
I find Jordon DeGroote to be quite objective, straight forward, and to the point on the many issues the district is facing.
On the issues of the PARCC mandate and implementation, for example, DeGroote speaks from his own real experience and that of his peers. His account is very substantial and to the point.
On the videotaping of Board meetings, he is very clear and adamant about his support for this proposal. He understands dearly that much of the inefficiency of school policy making and management is due to the lack of Board transparency and the poor communication between students, teachers, parents, Board, and the administration.
Jordon DeGroote will bring immediate energy to the Board and positive impact to the district.
Sean Fang
West Windsor
As a former teacher in the WW-P district I would like to draw your attention to the inspiring school political story that is unfolding. A former student of mine, Jordon DeGroote, is running for a seat on the school board. Though this is an unorthodox situation, it is one that speaks deeply to me as a teacher who cares for the students and the future of the district. I also have the hope that other school districts will come to see the positives of having student members sit on their boards of education and will follow suit. Please consider this as a formal letter of support for Jordon DeGroote.
If we as a community want to create contributing members of society, we need to foster and encourage that drive in our students. It’s about time that they are given the opportunity to actively engage in their own education. The students are the ones who are in the classrooms, day after day, year after year, and are affected by the decisions made by the Board of Education. They are the ones who feel the effects of changes regarding curriculum, staffing, and programs. Jordon DeGroote’s policies and ideas reflect a deep, unrivaled understanding of quality education and the steps that need to be taken in our district to provide that.
Kelly Wilson
The writer is a former teacher at Thomas Grover Middle School.
Jordon DeGroote’s sensible statements about school issues, combined with the indisputable fact that he will bring a fresh, unique perspective to the school board, make him the best candidate.
I am impressed by his insights into both the long-term planning and the immediate action needed here, and by the clarity with which he expresses his ideas. As a retired central administrator who worked in an award-winning school district for more than 30 years, I believe we are fortunate to have the opportunity to vote for Jordon DeGroote.
Amy Fisher
Sunflower Lane, West Windsor
A series of controversial changes has hit West Windsor schools, leaving students and parents stunned in their wake. Many parents were surprised and felt neither they nor students were given the chance to provide any input. It is not clear who made these decisions and how they were made. There is little if any transparency in this process. Residents were further exasperated when some of these decisions were found to be based on questionable analysis.
The call for transparency and public input on the board is nothing new, but it has historically met strong resistance and never came to pass. Now our children are bearing the consequences. This community urgently needs board members who will listen to the public and implement a transparent decision-making process in our schools.
I am so glad to see that Jordon DeGroote, a courageous young man with vision, vows to “give students and parents a voice,” establish transparency on the board, and revisit those questionable changes that resulted in public outcry. West Windsor voters, if you don’t want to see our schools deteriorate and our property values plunge, please consider voting for Jordon DeGroote.
Yunqing Li
West Windsor
When I first learned that Jordon DeGroote is an 18-year-old Board candidate, my immediately question was: is he serious? However, after I read his answers to the questions in the last issue of the News, I found the answer: Yes, he is.
Not only is he serious about this election, but he has all the right answers to the questions raised. I am actually a little surprised that I, in my 40s, share so many opinions on school issues with him. Such issues include the ineffectiveness of Common Core standards, the lack of transparency of the decision-making procedures currently employed by the school administration, and unreasonable cutting of programs such as Independent Study. I particularly applaud his open-mindedness that is reflected by his support of educational opportunities in all subjects.
When I re-read his statements I realized something else: Instead of being politically correct and offering hollow promises, Jordon gave us a very specific and feasible plan of what he would do if he gets elected.
Helen Ming
West Windsor
Our family has known Jordon DeGroote since he moved here six-plus years ago. Over the years we have watched him grow into a mature young man, with a bright intellect and a strong interest in community service. We know that he will bring a new and constructive perspective to the school board, especially regarding transparency, and he has our full support.
Alan Paley
Yeger Road, Princeton Junction
As a father of two in WW-P school district, nothing has kept me more sleepless than the recent sweep of moves — to cut back on the opportunities for students to advance in areas of interest or talent. It hurts the students in too many ways for hair-pulling reasons and largely doubtful benefits. And without these very programs that help our district stand out among great many, the educational excellence of WW-P will be badly hurt. So will the overall strength of the community, home values, and every resident.
The district needs, urgently, a new vision.
That’s why I support Jordon DeGroote, who vows to make the system transparent, responsive, and accountable, to represent the voice of students, parents, teachers, and taxpayers, and to reflect the “actual” rather than “perceived” student experience on the board.
Ming Pan
West Windsor
When I first came to High School South as a freshman I decided to try out for High School South’s prestigious Model United Nations team — one of the best in the nation — and ended up making a conference. Through this program, I met Jordon DeGroote, who is now its president. I didn’t know much about him then, but he left me with a powerful first impression.
He came off as very regal, mature, and diplomatic, but his most important trait is genuinely caring about others. He would sacrifice his own time to help the other members of the team by training them or helping them come up with solutions, even if it meant he ended up getting less sleep finishing his other work. He even co-founded a program that teaches public speaking to high school and middle school kids for no cost. He also spends a lot of time tutoring high school kids for free.
Now, after knowing Jordon for more than a year, I can say whole heartedly that he is the best choice for the School Board. He will make sure that the school district continues to be one of the best in New Jersey.
Gregory Petrov
Student, High School South
Jordon has a caring heart. He cares about students. He cares about high quality education. He cares about the future of our school district. He pays attention to what students need and how students think. Though young, Jordon is one of the people who knows the current issues in our school district the best. Luckily he has stepped up for all the students and parents. He has courage. He works very hard. He will impress everyone with his great insight on the issues and his determination and dedication to fix the issues in the system.
Bringing the voice of students, parents, and teachers, Jordon will help to bridge the gap between the administration, board of education, and the public. He will help the administration and board of education develop accurate understanding of the issues, not just perception of the issues.
Jordon has great communication and collaborative skills. He is good at communicating with people with different opinions and has an open mind to listen to and understand the concerns and opinions from other people. He will work together with members of the board and administration to come up with the best solutions that reflect the needs of students and parents.
Jordon will be a role model for younger generations. He has conducted much wonderful community service. He will continue dedicating himself to serving more people. He will inspire more young people to step up and contribute. From him, I see the future of the United States.
Aaron Yang
Rosewood Court, West Windsor
I didn’t believe it when I was told by my kid that there would be no more midterm or final exams at high schools. I called my friends who were apparently as shocked as I was, and we all wondered the same thing: Had there ever been a public discussion (or even mentioning) of this issue? Did the board know this decision by the school administration?
Then another friend of mine reminded me that the Option II pathway was also restricted without warning or discussion, and the grade 4-5 A&E program was recommended by the school administration to be cut, and the chamber orchestra was moved to after school without a late bus. So I guess I would have to agree with Jordon DeGroote that there is a (serious) lack of transparency and communication between the school administration and the students/parents.
When I asked my neighbor’s son what he thinks of Jordon, he answered without any hesitation that Jordon is a role model of many students. He is the captain of the football team at High School South. He is the president of the Model United Nations club. He tutored and volunteered in many programs including the Boys and Girls club and the Special Olympics. He also founded the non-profit organization Interactive Public Speaking, which provides public speaking courses to community youth.
Who can better represent the student body than Jordon DeGroote? Vote for Jordon since young, intelligent, thoughtful, and responsible leaders like him are the future of this country.
Christine Zhou
West Windsor
I met Jordon DeGroote at board of education meetings and learned about his policy and ideas. What strongly resonates with me is his strong advocacy for improving transparency in decision making processes and communication between the board and the students/parents, which is urgently needed in our district.
For anyone who has been following the school news, there is an increasing tension regarding the reform actions that the school has been taking. Many excellent programs have been eliminated or are on the edge of being eliminated soon. These changes made me confused, but the fact that some of the changes happened without solicitation of input from the community is an even bigger problem. It demonstrates that there is a huge gap between the board’s perception of the issues and the reality of the issues themselves.
It is about time that we have some new blood on the board of education, someone who can communicate better with students and parents, someone who is willing to take input from the community. The only way to reconcile different opinions and beliefs, the only way to resolve the issues that the district is facing, the only way that all students benefit and receive better education is through effective and open communication.
Jie Gao
West Windsor
There are increasing concerns regarding the reform actions that the school district has been taking. Many excellent, proven, successful educational programs have been eliminated or are on the edge of being eliminated soon. Those changes worried me and many fellow parents students and teachers. Further, many of the changes occurred without input from the community. There is a huge divergence between the board’s perception and the reality of the issues themselves.
Jordon DeGroote talked about his position, vision, and ideas at the Board meetings. I am impressed by his clear picture of his aspiration and his strong belief in improving transparency in decision making processes and communications between the board, school officials, and the students/parents. As we all know, this is imperative in our school district now.
It is time to introduce fresh blood to the Board, to have someone who genuinely cares about the schools, who knows what the students need, who is willing to be the true conduit between students/parents and school officials, and take input from the community. I truly believe, with Jordon DeGroote in Board, there will be better communication between the Board, school officials, and students/parents. That is one step towards solving the problems this school district is currently facing.
Sophia Xu
Plainsboro
