Meet The Gloucester Township BOE Candidate: Matthew Jefferson

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Matthew Jefferson is one of five candidates pursuing three open seats on the Black Horse Pike Regional School District Board of Education.

Patch sent questions to all candidates in the race, and is running profiles for each candidate that returned a response. Responses run exactly as they were submitted, with minor edits for grammatical errors.

Read below to learn more about Matthew Jefferson and his platform for the upcoming election, which takes place Nov. 2:

Name: Matthew Jefferson

Age (as of Election Day): 32

Town of residence: Erial

Position sought: BHPRSD Member

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Family: Mother (deceased), Father, Step-Mother, Brother and Sister.

Does anyone in your family work or attend school in the district?: No

Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Occupation: Security Officer

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: BHPRSD Appointed Member

Why are you seeking elective office?
I personally am seeking elective office to bring a breath of fresh air to the ideas of the school district. A younger mind set with newer ideas that may assist or even better the old ones.

The single most pressing issue facing our board right now is the Covid-19 pandemic and re-adjusting our students, as well as faculty, to the in person school year.

What I intend to do about it is ensure the safety of all individuals entering our buildings, while making sure our students achieve the same educational opportunities I was given a choice to partake in. They deserve that opportunity.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

As aforementioned, I can bring newer and fresher takes on certain ideologies that help our students achieve their full potential while they will be given a plethora of opportunities that will help benefit their futures and the futures of students after them.

Experience: Sufficient BHPRSD student graduate and appointed board member experience

Equality in education: Equality to me means hiring individuals based on our students needs rather than their qualifications. Someone may not have the best credentials, but they may be the best fit for the job and student needs. It also means making sure that all students are provided with the resources to give all of them the same level of educational opportunities no matter what.

School funding: Seeing as though I am still learning, when it comes to school funding, I would have to consult with the finance committee to see that our allocated funds are given to the schools and students, on a first-come, first-served but as needed basis.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? Determination to graduate from high school and college. Awards along the way from jobs for leadership qualities and ability to establish professional rapport with anyone.

The best advice ever shared with me was, “When you know better you do better so don’t ever stop learning and growing as an individual.”

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I navigated through the BHPRSD myself as a student that started with Ann A. Mullen Middle School. I then graduated from Timber Creek with my diploma, received my Associate's Degree from Camden County College and Bachelor’s Degree from Rowan University. I am a product of our own educational system, and I would like to see that current and future students receive the same opportunities I have.