We are writing to support Dr. Yingchao “YZ” Zhang in his pursuit to become a member of WW-P Board of Education. We represent United Moms Charity Association (UMCA, njumca.org), a non-profit charity whose missions include providing local community services and natural disaster relief, helping children in impoverished areas around the world, and promoting the great values of American cultures.
We are fortunate to have received Dr. Zhang’s continued support over the years. He has donated money but also dedicated his time to help organize fundraising events, invited his friends to participate, and performed his amazing one-man-band to entertain the audiences. With the help from him and many others, we raised more than $100,000 in our annual fundraising picnic at the Mercer County Park this summer. We are deeply impressed not only by his talents in many areas, but even more by his passion for community service. We are certain Dr. Zhang will be a great asset to the WW-P School District.
Chun-Hwa Chang
UMCA Founder & President
Hardley Drive, Cranbury
Wan-Lin Chyan
UMCA Board Member & Vice President
Wilson Way North, West Windsor
YZ has all the qualities of a good school board candidate — focus on the highest quality education for all students, ability to collaborate well with others board members, past experience volunteering in the public schools, and best of all the ability to be an effective link between the community and school officials.
At a personal level, I had the pleasure to interact with YZ last year when there was wide-ranging disenchantment in the WW-P community regarding the biology pilot program at High School North. I found YZ to be a natural leader. He brought together parents and students grappling with this issue and channeled their ideas and concerns in a most effective manner. He established a clear and effective channel of communication between the parents, board officials, and school administrators; and consistently followed up on the matter to everybody’s satisfaction.
In a nutshell, YZ did everything that I would like my school board representative to do, and this is why my vote is with YZ.
Deepak Nautiyal
Evans Drive, Princeton Junction
I had the opportunity to meet and know YZ when the unhappy parents and students of Bio Honors (including me) were looking for a proper forum to communicate their concerns to the administration. YZ contacted so many parents personally and brought together a large group of around 100-125 parents in front of the superintendent. His respect for due process as well his remarkable ability to bring a diverse group together were instrumental in getting the voice of the parents across. YZ’s concern for the students as well as his ability to communicate even thorny issues without making anyone defensive, will stand him in good stead once he is elected.
Uma Shankar
York Road, West Windsor
Yingchao “YZ” Zhang is smart, accomplished, and cares deeply about the quality of education in our school district.
What impressed me more than the significant time and energy he spent helping solve the honors biology problem — despite having no children of his own in the class — was the way he worked within the system. Many parents were extremely angry and frustrated, yet YZ correctly felt that the best way was not to create an adversarial relationship with the school administration, but rather to work together to bring about the best results for our children. This caring and collaborative approach will benefit all of us if Dr. YZ is elected to the Board of Education.
Adam Berger
Park Hill Terrace, West Windsor
Yingchao Zhang, “YZ”, would be an asset to the WW-P Board of Education because he has demonstrated the leadership qualities, commitment, and dedication needed to effectively advocate the concerns of parents, students, and the faculty in WW-P, while remaining balanced in his approach for improvement and changes that may best serve the district.
I had the opportunity to see YZ in action when he organized and led the Biology Honors Focus Group during the months of April through June, 2014. As a result of YZ’s leadership efforts, the Biology Honors pilot program that caused great distress and concern to parents and students in the district is no longer being implemented. I am very grateful that YZ took the initiative to organize the parents and senior administrators.
Angelita Caldwell
York Road
I have known Dr. Zhang for the past four years. He is known as a great father, husband, friend, and volunteer to the community. He is always willing to help when you ask and never puts less than 100 percent effort in every task he completes.
He has served as a board member of the Central Jersey Chinese American Association for the last seven years. He assists in organizing all events coordinated by CJCAA.
I know he is also very conscientious of our education system. He wants our children to have the best education allowed within the budget of our local residents. I truly believe he will make a positive change for the future of our children.
Evelina Chung
President, Central Jersey Chinese American Association
West Windsor
