Meet The Metuchen Board Of Education Candidates

METUCHEN, NJ — Metuchen voters will head to the polls this November to elect new Board of Education members, and Patch caught up with them ahead of the election.

Michele Cook, Chris Alan Derflinger, Justin Manley, and William Waldron are all listed on the ballot this November. The four candidates are running for three seats on the board. Those elected will serve for three years. We asked all candidates the same four questions:

• Why are you running for Board Of Education?
• What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?
• What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?
• What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

All candidates were sent the questions at the same time, and were given the same deadline to submit them. They were given no minimum or maximum word count, and encouraged to write as much as they needed, or to keep the answers brief if they wanted to. Answers were submitted by email and are presented here as submitted. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Lisa Hyman has withdrawn from the race, she told Patch. Because she withdrew after the filing deadline, her name will still appear on the ballot this November.

Michele Cook

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

At the core of a school district are our students. Our students seek to grow, learn, and become their best selves. While the needs of kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school students vary greatly, a district must strive to provide all of the students with the best possible practices and resources. My decision to run for the Metuchen Board of Education came after I became very involved with the Metuchen schools through both PTO and attending the majority of the Board of Education meetings this past year. My increased involvement helped me learn more and more about our schools, students, teachers, and the needs of all. As a parent, an attorney, and a recently certified teacher in New Jersey, I feel that it was my duty to run for the Board of Education, and to bring my skills and experience to the board to assist in its continued support of all of our students.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

Just like every district in New Jersey, Metuchen faces a multitude of challenges in our schools. From balancing increased state and federal legislation, meeting new accountability requirements, implementing ever-changing developments in educational practices and theory, to concern about the burden on the town’s taxpayers and the costs of implementing additional programs, Metuchen faces many hurdles each year. However, one of the overarching challenges in Metuchen is the overcrowding of our schools. I led a lengthy submission to the Board of Education regarding the increased enrollment in the District, and I believe that we need to bring this conversation to the forefront and take action to solve this problem. This includes building a stronger relationship between the Board of Education and the town council in order to work together to expand and create the educational spaces needed to benefit all of the students in the district. Working together to discuss the challenges and the available options, and bringing multiple perspectives and varied stakeholders to the table will increase the likelihood of reaching solutions to the challenges that benefit all of the residents of Metuchen.

Further, it is very important to me that the district continue its work to advocate for all. From special education services to cultural diversity/awareness, and from advanced academics to increased mental health resources, the district must continue its work to focus on the whole child. The development of a growth mindset in the younger years must be accompanied by services that support the students’ non-academic needs. The increased focus on social-emotional learning and mental health services in the 2018-2019 district goals is a strong start, and I believe that we can do more to help our students grow into adulthood with a strong foundation created in Metuchen.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Accessible, Respectful, Industrious

What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

My background includes not only my recent certification as a social studies teacher, but also over 17 years as an attorney in New York and New Jersey. I have participated in high-profile litigation, supervised teams of paralegals and staff, and managed thousands of clients and significant caseloads. Assimilating information from multiple sources, working to understand people’s needs and concerns, and finding ways to resolve disputes within specific boundaries are skills I have been honing for almost two decades. As an attorney, listening and gathering information are essential skills that directly translate to serving on the Board of Education. Decisions must be informed by research and discussion, and I believe that my experience as an attorney brings a powerful skillset to the district. Most recently I have been on the board of the Campbell-Moss PTO, and have been an active volunteer in our schools. These combined experiences provide me with a deeper understanding of the needs of our students, and a greater comprehension of the need for strong leadership in planning for our students and their future.

Chris Alan Derflinger

Why are you running for BOE?

Student success and implementing best educational practices are at the top of my passions. I have been a dedicated and successful teacher for more than a decade. With the experience I have and the insights into educational policies and programs that I have inherited throughout my career, I felt that it was part of my parental and professional duty to run for the Board of Education. I have three young children that will be going through the Metuchen Public Schools (as I myself did, graduating from Metuchen High School in 2003). It is only natural for me to be a part of the educational conversation in the town.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

Ultimately, every school district faces overwhelming obstacles. With more and more state legislation holding school systems highly accountable, districts, like Metuchen, are required to provide the best programs and curriculum for students, while also remaining dedicated and committed to the tax payers of the town. That being said, Metuchen faces issues with overcrowding of schools. I have attended nearly every single board meeting for the last two years (when we moved back to Metuchen) and the resounding concern is the overcrowding issue. I would like to see more of a relationship between the town council in Metuchen and the Board of Education. Considering that expanding the school system will most likely require plans for building construction, it is imperative that the town council and the Board of Education work together to create a collaborative plan of action. Working as an isolated entity can limit itself to one lens of perspective. Having multiple stakeholders (including town council representatives) be a part of the conversation may bring light to multiple solutions. Additionally, it is imperative that Metuchen Schools remain committed to advocating positive change for all students. We must remain diligent in making education decisions that promote growth and positivity for all students. Being considerate of how we speak about our amazing and diverse students, communicating frequently with parents, teachers, and community stakeholders, and remaining sensitive and humble to the difficulties many Metuchen families face every day will allow the Board of Education to remain receptive and open-minded. Without these essential variables in place, the Board of Education loses touch with the students and families that are part of the Metuchen school system.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Respectful, receptive, and enterprising

What experiences in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

As part of my professional experiences, I am a member of multiple committees and have had many perspective experiences at my own school district - from School Safety, to School Improvement Planning, to Student Council Director, to Professional Development Supervisor, to Curriculum Writing initiatives, to executive secretary and association representative of my local union, representing almost 400 nurses, teachers, custodians, secretaries, and guidance counselors, and to co-teacher in an inclusion classroom. These experiences have given me a fundamental understanding of how leadership plays an incredible role in decision-making and planning for a successful educational community. Additionally I possess a bachelors degree in elementary education, a masters degree in Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction, and a second masters degree in Educational Leadership (Principal Certification). The courses of study for these programs have granted me the opportunity to learn first-hand the power of effective leadership in education.

Justin Manley

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

I am seeking re-election to my current seat as I feel there is still work to be done on the 3 main goals I set for our schools, and promised the electorate I would work on, during the my initial campaign in 2015. They were space and facility plans, investing in and ensuring a positive and attractive work environment for our teachers and investments in advanced science and technology programs. We have made great progress on all 3 but there remains work to complete. I feel that the knowledge I have gained by serving will help keep the momentum going in all 3 areas.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

I think there are many challenges facing our school community, including the continued social and emotional learning of our students in a fast-paced, ever connected society, and preparedness of our graduates to compete in a highly technical world. At the same time, our goal is to protect their physical and emotional safety while learning. From my perspective, the challenge that touches all of these, and helps preserve the continued success of the Metuchen school system, will be the planning and execution of a district wide facility modernization plan that modifies and creates the safe spaces to learn and grow. We have a bond from a previous referendum expiring in 2024 and we need to begin the work today to prepare the community to invest. We should update our facilities so we can provide the educational opportunities and whole-child learning environments our community desires in a safe and comfortable way.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Father, Metuchenite, Leader

What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

In my professional life, I serve as the Chief Operating Officer of Berkley Environmental Insurance where I am responsible for technology, marketing and our real estate operations. Berkley Environmental is a $350M operating unit of the WR Berkley Corporation.

I am completing my first 3-year term on the Board of Education where I have served since 2016. During my term I have been chair of the technology committee while serving on the finance and facilities, athletics and policy committees

I served one 3-year term Metuchen Borough Council from 2009-2011. This included time as liaison to the Youth Municipal Alliance on Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

I have served on the planning committee and as chaperone on 3 First Presbyterian Youth Mission trips to do Habitat for Humanity in Roanoke Virginia since 2016

I am a founding volunteer and former commissioner of the Metuchen Recreation Floor Hockey League. Coached and Manager of Metuchen Little League and Tournament/Travel Baseball 2007-2015

President Board of Directors for Community Nursery School 2007-08 school year

William Waldron

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

It is a very exciting and daunting time for education in the Borough of Metuchen and I believe I have the experience, perspective, and skills necessary to be an effective member of the Board of Education. My wife Liz and I have lived in Metuchen for the past 20 years. I am the father of three daughters who have had the privilege of receiving their kindergarten, primary and secondary schooling in Metuchen. One of my daughters graduated from Metuchen High School last year and another one of my daughters is entering her freshman year at Metuchen High School. They are the love of my life and have been the beneficiaries of the outstanding educators, administrators, and student population we have in Metuchen. There has been such tremendous progress in our schools during our time here, I am running to assist in guiding the progress that has been made and which will continue. I am running for ALL students in all of our schools. I presently serve on the Board of Directors for Kiddie Keep Well Camp in Edison. Kiddie Keep Well is a camp which serves at-risk children in Middlesex County. There are Metuchen students who attend the camp. I have been pained by seeing energetic, appreciative, and seemingly happy children struggle to read and write. These children do not receive the proper support they need to succeed in their home schools. I want to ensure that Metuchen continues to succeed in its curriculum but maintains its focus on all students and sharpen its processes to identify students who are struggling to ensure that the necessary skills and knowledge are possessed before advancing in school. We do not serve the interests of our students or their families if they do not leave our schools prepared for the next challenge in their journey. The school district must continue to identify those learners in need and dedicate the resources to support them so that they can achieve both their own personal goals and those of our district.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

There are multiple challenges. The biggest challenge that Metuchen faces is to ensure there are opportunities for everyone to succeed while achieving the goals of the district. This requires vigilance and commitment to achieving the desired outcome. All learners must be afforded with the breadth of resources available in our school district to achieve academic success, while also respecting others and developing as young persons, in a safe and nurturing environment. We must ensure that all of our learners achieve the learning standards set for them so that they have that opportunity to reach their fullest potential.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Sensible, Candid, Effective

What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

In order to have the opportunity to lead, I believe one has to be an active listener and learner first. The ability to understand the perspective of others and to look at multiple sides of an issue requires the ability to appreciate the points of views of others and the ability to understand the issues presented. As a husband, father, and professional, I listen well in order to provide valuable advice, guidance, and/or perspective. I hope to join our talented Board of Education members and work with our distinguished administrators, faculty, and professionals, and expect to grow into the position of a contributor/leader by working with them and listening to all sides of all issues brought before the Board. While my experience with our school district reveals a very deliberative process which has yielded tremendous results for many, we have to make sure our policies an procedures are maximized to deliver consistent results for all.

All candidate images submitted by the candidates and used with permission. Main image via Shutterstock