Anne Marie Hornyak Mendham Borough School Board Candidate

MENDHAM, NJ — The Mendham Borough Board of Education has a contested election on Nov. 2, with four candidates who filed to run for three available, three-year seats.

One of those candidates is Anne Marie Hornyak, a current member of the board.

The other candidates on the ballot for a three-year seat include:

• Sean Havey
• Cristin Adinolfi
• Deborah D'Urso

Editor's Note: Are you a candidate on the ballot? Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk. The responses received will be published between now and the General Election. Candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) may contact jennifer.miller@patch.com.

Below are Hornyak's responses:

My name is Anne Marie Hornyak. I am a candidate for a fifth term on the Mendham Borough Board of Education. My background includes a BA degree in Elementary Education with a minor in French and a MA degree in Math Education. I served 40 years as a teacher K-8 in the Mendham Township School District. Presently I am an adjunct professor in mathematics and education at the University of St. Elizabeth, Morristown, New Jersey. I believe strongly in servant leadership and have served as a very active and dedicated community volunteer and leader. I am the President of the Ralston Historical Association and encourage student participation in activities sponsored by this group. Through this organization I have continued to teach and serve the children and adults of this community. Recently I have begun writing articles of local historical interest for the magazine, “Mendham Neighbors.” As I have done on my twelve years on the Mendham Borough Board of Education, I approach every endeavor with commitment, an open mind, and a strong work ethic. I thoroughly enjoy serving the community and am very proud to be a member of this diversified and dedicated Board of Education.

I am seeking reelection so that I may continue to serve the children, the school, and the greater community in working cooperatively together with other Board members and the community at large to maintain the excellent and diversified programs offered through our schools. I bring to the Board a strong background in education at all levels, experience at various levels on the Board, and a desire to do what is best for all children in our community.

My stance regarding some of the current issues effecting schools today:
Mask Wearing - This is a state mandate in New Jersey for the safety of our children. Since we are a public school, we must follow the state guidelines and hopefully soon this pandemic will end, and we will return once again to normal. We must do everything we can to keep the children in school, and if that means wearing masks to keep everyone safe, then that is what must be done.
Virtual Learning - A virtual learning option has certainly helped to keep our children involved in learning throughout this pandemic, however, based on my own experience at the university level, virtual learning does not provide the same level of instruction, learning environment, social and emotional development as does in person education.
Inclusion and Equal Opportunities - All children learn differently and must be provided with an educational program that meets their needs and prepares them to become knowledgeable, confident, respectful, and caring global citizens. Inclusion is a fundamental right.
Declining Enrollment and Budgetary Restrictions - We must not cut anything in the budget that restricts our children’s ability to learn. One of the biggest challenges facing our district is to devise ways to maintain the excellent and diversified programs and staff in our schools despite declining enrollment and budget restrictions. I have been chairperson of the curriculum committee for several years. I plan to continue in this capacity as we review student achievement, curriculum, and standardized test results. I have been actively involved twice during my tenure on the Board in developing multiple year strategic plans.

I have worked with the many Mendham Borough Board of Education Members over the past years, and it has been an honor. We work well together as a collective unit and the individual’s opinions are respected. I would like to continue to serve the community in this way for another term. I have the ability to listen objectively, work collaboratively with all constituents, and creatively solve problems. I look forward to serving another term on this Board.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.