Election 2023: Jamie Herr, Manalapan-Englishtown BOE

MANALAPAN, NJ — Jamie Herr is one of five candidates seeking three full-term seats on the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional Board of Education in the Nov. 7 election.

Herr, of Manalapan, is seeking her first term on the board. Her campaign link is: Jamie Herr for MERS BOE: Commitment to Education - Vote Line #2.

Other candidates in the race are listed below. No incumbents are seeking re-election.

In these profiles, candidates provide voters with background about themselves and their positions on the issues, as they see them.

Herr is both a parent of children in the district and an experienced educator. "I am passionate about public education and committed to enhancing the educational experience for all students," she says.

She says her vision for the district includes empowering students to reach their full potential, improving services for special needs students and working collaboratively to address budget issues.

Read more from Jamie Herr:

Background:

Candidates were asked to provide their professional or volunteer information, school board experience and personal background.

I’m Jamie Herr, and I am running for Manalapan-Englishtown Regional Schools (MERS) Board of Education.

As a resident of Manalapan for over 16 years, a parent of children in the district and an experienced public-school educator, I have the professional and parental experience needed to address the challenges facing public education and impacting our local schools and students.

I am passionate about public education and committed to enhancing the educational experience for all students in Manalapan-Englishtown Pre-K to 8th-grade schools.

I have strong ties to our community and appreciate all Manalapan has to offer its residents – including its exceptional public school district. MERS has enjoyed a nationwide reputation for excellence and is known for teaching a leading curriculum in a positive learning environment. If elected, my focus would be on supporting these efforts.

Being a parent of children in the district and an active participant in their classrooms and various school initiatives, I see firsthand what is great about our schools. I also see where there is an opportunity to do more or, in some instances, get more for our tax dollars. As a board member, I want to pursue those opportunities.

My professional background includes 16 years experience as a teacher in New Jersey public middle and high schools. I’ve taught in Marlboro, Freehold and other nearby districts.

My commitment to education extends beyond the classroom. I’ve served as a volunteer teacher at St. Thomas More Parish of Manalapan, volunteered on the Special Education Parent Reopening Committee, and advocated for children with special needs. I look forward to working with the members of our community to ensure the focus of the district remains a commitment to education.

Top issues:

Candidates were asked about the important issues in their district, and how the school board can address them.

My vision for the MERS board of education is clear: Empower students to reach their full potential, work collaboratively to address budget cuts, improve services for students with special needs, and maintain the criteria needed for our schools to qualify as National Blue Ribbon Schools.

For the past several years, our district has lost millions of dollars due to (state) S-2 funding. Although the district has done a good job making the budget work without major losses, it has caused a pay-to-play scenario for all clubs, sports, and activities.

I would like to come up with creative ways to eliminate or reduce the costs for families so that it ensures all students have access to be involved in extracurricular activities and sports through the school.

Education extends beyond the classroom and being able to be involved in school-sponsored afterschool activities is not only beneficial for the overall education of the child, but it also helps add to their resume when it comes time to apply for magnet programs for high school.

Manalapan-Englishtown Board of Education (Full term; vote for three)

• Kelly Lukacs
• Jamie Herr: Commitment To Education
• Mark J. Santoro: Protect Parental Rights
• Matthew Borowski
• James Raffone

Freehold Regional High School District

Neither Manalapan nor Englishtown have seats open for the Freehold Regional High School District.

Note: Candidates who have not received their request for profile information from Patch should check their spam folders or can contact Pat McDaniel at patricia.mcdaniel@patch.com for the email with candidate questions.