Election Profile: Kristy O'Connor For Holmdel BOE

HOLMDEL, NJ — Three seats are open for the Holmdel Township Board of Education and six candidates are in the run.

Terence Wall, Surekha Collur, Kimberly Tuccillo, Weiping Wang, Jill Perez and Kristy O'Connor are all vying for a seat.

O'Connor, 42, is a stay-at-home mom who previously worked for a major company in construction management. Now she describes herself as the manager of the family, which includes her four children.

She was board president of the MOMS Club of Middletown/Holmdel in 2013 and has served on the leadership teams of Mothers of Preschoolers International in two local chapters, as well as secretary of a youth program for four years at a local church.

O'Connor also has a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Villanova University and is a Marlboro High School graduate.

Why are you seeking elective office?
I have lived in Monmouth County my whole life and moved to Holmdel 14 years ago when I was about to have my first child. Since then, my husband Sean and I have had four boys, Jackson, Tyler, Levi and Myles, and we couldn’t ask for a better place to raise our family. Holmdel is our home. I am seeking a position on the Holmdel Board of Education because my family believes in Holmdel and what it has to offer its residents and because I know that I can help to improve the high quality of our school district by giving both parents and teachers the tools needed to help students succeed. Every child should be able to get an exceptional public school education here in Holmdel and I am committed to helping to make that happen.

Why should you be elected over other candidates?

I feel I should be elected over other candidates because I am in touch with the families and students of this town. I know the tone of the community and Holmdel families because I have a child at every school level. My family has been committed to the youth sports programs for over 10 years and we have gotten to know so many wonderful Holmdel families with children of all ages. My professional and life experiences along with my passion and commitment to serve students, families, the community, teachers and school staff make me a strong candidate for the board of education.

What is the most important issue facing the school community and what are you
planning to do about it?

I feel that the most important issue facing the school community is transparency and communication. Transparency and consistent communication with the community, along with accountability and responsiveness, are critical to the health and success of a school district. Transparency develops trust and confidence in both our school board and school leaders which, in turn, fosters strong relationships between the administration, the teachers, the faculty, and the community. These relationships should be a model to our students of what makes a healthy, functioning society.

I also believe that transparency with our parents is imperative in regards to curriculum. Many people may not be aware of the new curriculum being incorporated into health and sex education throughout the state. It is possible that these standards may impact other classes and subjects as well. It is very important that the board is diligent in providing transparency to our families as these new curriculum standards are implemented in our district.

What are other important issues you are running on?

The Holmdel school district is currently searching for a new superintendent. This is a critical issue as the vision of the school superintendent has a direct impact on the overall environment of the schools. Our next superintendent should be experienced, visible, and must take an active role in the community. A qualified superintendent is a proven listener and strong communicator and must foster a positive work environment for their staff to ensure that all work together to achieve their goals and provide the best educational experience for the students.

Another important issue I am running on is academic excellence and meeting the needs of each student. When it comes to academics, each learner is different and each child should have their individual needs met. Each student should be challenged according to their individual abilities.

Where rigorous and more advanced courses are necessitated, these opportunities should be available to such students. Where special services or enrichment are needed, families should feel confident that those resources are being provided for their children by the most qualified teachers, aides and therapists. Here in Holmdel, these services should not just meet standards but exceed them. Learning loss and increased mental health issues have resulted from the pandemic. I intend to support programs that will address these issues, including as much individualized attention on the students as possible, and support our students academically, mentally and emotionally. Our students need to get back to as normal a school experience as possible for their educational development, their mental health, and their overall growth.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As the first person in my family to go to college, graduating from Villanova University with a bachelor of science in civil engineering was a big accomplishment for me and my family. I then spent eight years working in the fast-paced construction management industry in New York City. At Turner Construction Company, the largest general contracting / construction management firm in the United States, I worked in all areas of construction management including estimating, purchasing, cost engineering, project schedule, field coordination, and closeout. I can bring this experience and skill set to our board as we are always working to make improvements to our school facilities and must be fiscally responsible with our budget. When I left my career to stay home with my children, I always stayed involved in various groups such as the International MOMS Club of Middletown/Holmdel where I served as the board president in 2013. I have also served on the leadership teams of Mothers of Preschoolers International in two local chapters as well as Secretary of a youth program for four years at my local church. My family has been very active with both HYAA and Holmdel FC/NJX for the last 10 years. I currently serve as treasurer for the WR Satz School parent support group, the PSG.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I would like voters that don’t know me personally to know that I care deeply about our schools, our students, our families and our community. I am a common sense, critical thinker who understands that every decision has consequences. For me this election is not about politics or personal agendas but solely about the education of our children and their health and well-being. I would be honored to represent the families of this uniquely caring and connected community as a Board of Education member, and I ask for your trust by casting your vote for me on November 2nd.