Lacey's Longest-Serving School Board Member Honored For 33 Years

LACEY, NJ — After 33 years of serving on the Lacey Township Board of Education, Linda Walker is stepping down.

Walker decided not to run for re-election this past November, ending her term as the board's longest-serving member.

In a video played for the board at their latest meeting, Walker, herself a retired educator, was described as a "catalyst to get people to work together."

"She was always calm. She was always steady. She maintained all the qualities you'd want a leader to have and and gained the respect of almost all the board members over those 33 years," former Superintendent Richard P. Starodub said in the video.

Walker served continuously 11 terms as a board member of the Lacey Township Board of Education since 1992, being reelected in 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023. During her tenure, she served as Board President multiple times.

She "was guided by a greater mission to always focus on what was important and Linda's passion for doing what was right for the kids and helped others others to see what she saw as most important," a resolution celebrating her read.

Walker said her top priority now was her husband, who is battling stage 4 cancer. She also thanked voters for trusting her for many years.

"Even in the face of unjust recalls and disrespectful actions, I have always prioritized the children of this district," she said.

Come January, the board will see some fresh faces.

Cheryl Armato also did not seek re-election, while Harold "Skip" Peters recently stepped down, and Jack Conaty lost his bid for re-election.

Being sworn in at January's reorganization meeting will be election winners Megan Forney, Brandon Hurley and Steven P. Gouin, along with Kerry Opitz, selected by the board to fill Peters' empty seat.