Election 2020: Parsippany School Board Candidate John Titus

NEW JERSEY - In a few short weeks what is expected to be one of the most charged elections in modern history is set to take place and Patch has asked local candidates to share their thoughts before the Nov. 3 election.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the county 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) can contact Russ.Crespolini@patch.com. What you see below are their answers with mild style edits.

Bio: My name is John Titus. I have been a resident of Parsippany since 2008, I graduated from The College of New Jersey in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in history with teaching certifications in Social Studies and Elementary Education. In May of 2014 I earned a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Centenary College. I served as the Head Volleyball Coach at Caldwell University for eight years. I am now the Associate Director for the NJ/NY area for paralympic development with USA Volleyball, serving the needs of our disabled members and veterans. During the daytime, you can find me teaching 4th grade in a general education - behavior disable inclusion model classroom for Rockaway Township.

1. Why are you running for the board of education seat?

A school board must be responsive and receptive to parents, staff, students and the community by encouraging an open dialog. The board must take direction from all groups and weigh all the facts before making decisions. And you must go to them; engage with the community, not just your local neighborhoods. Leaders go to where they are needed. A Board member is a trustee of the community. That Trustee must be accessible and willing to collaborate with all members of the community; that includes all district staff. Anyone that comes before the board has the right to be heard; not just to speak. A school board member must build public trust, empathy, support and participation.

My main objective as a board member would focus on serving all of the children in the community; one child is no more important than another. We are a diverse community and have to celebrate that diversity. Our schools are here to serve the educational needs of all the children. All stakeholders; parents, all district personnel; teachers, administrators, and educational support staff professionals, as well as students must be partners in this effort if we are to be successful.

2. What makes you qualified for the position?

I have been a teacher for over sixteen years. I have been a coach for over twenty years. Five of those in district and ten of those at the college level. I know quality positive leadership is where everything starts. I know Parsippany students and staff are ready to learn and grow if given the right tools. When a student knows their voice matters, and they are safe they will do amazing things, but we must give them the means to do so.

If you want someone that checks all the boxes:

• I have sat on numerous hiring committees for administrators.
• I have been a department lead teacher and maintained those budgets.
• I have developed and created curriculums for various subjects in accordance to state standards.
• I have been on the instructional council to drive curriculum and district strategic plans.
• I have been an educational technologist; overseeing our middle school’s
• network and computer systems.
• I have developed and maintained hundreds of IEP and 504 plans for our special education students.

3. What is the most pressing issue facing the school district and what will you do about it?

First, Social Emotional Needs of Our Students:

Due to Covid, parents are now required to take on an even greater part of managing their child’s education by facilitating online learning activities. Many families are struggling to balance these tasks with their other responsibilities. Our children are noticing and feeling these stresses as well. Ensuring families have access to proper support can improve coping with stressful situations. Even after the pandemic passes, the emotional needs of the community must remain at the forefront. Instilling a sense of safety and security will foster the ideal learning environment.

• Technology:

With the sudden shift to a hybrid teaching model we have to continually assess its effectiveness. Unfortunately, our students and teachers are telling us, “that their educational needs are not being met.” This does not sit well with me as a teacher that takes pride in our educational system. We have a dedicated teaching staff throughout the district, but our delivery system for education has not kept up. We must make sure we are reaching every student in school and at home during hybrid learning. The district’s technology plan recognized these problems in their September board meeting. However, the issue is we have now been in a remote or hybrid model for the last half of the year. This has taken far too long for our district to remedy, and our students are hurting because of it.

• Special Education and Support Services:

These cannot stop or be minimized during this challenging time. Schools must get creative in reaching the needs of all their students. I am aware that the Governor cited that we are in an emergency and our special education services may be more challenging to accommodate, but too many districts, like ours, have used this as coverage for not offering proper individual education plans (IEPs) and 504s with updated goals and objectives.

5. What do you hope to be your overall impact on the BOE if you are elected?

We need to protect the health and safety of all our students, faculty, families, and support staff. This is most easily seen from the side of pandemic with PPE and social distance measures, but that is the easy stuff. We need to do the hard stuff as well. Our emotional support for students well beings is still not where it needs to be. When we have board members voting against state policy towards civil liberties protections for minority students that does not send the message of uniting Parsippany and its students for a better tomorrow. We need to send a clear message that every student has a voice, and that their voice matters.

We need to establish and enrich our curriculum with integrated technologies for all students. We are currently in a model that sends some of our best and brightest to Morris County Vo-Tech. I propose that we look to focus more of our Science and Technology programs towards our district schools rather than outsourcing just for a select few. We have the teachers to offer many of those advanced placement courses right here in our own town.

We must demand a dollar’s worth of value for every dollar spent. We have a fiscal responsibility to the taxpayer. It pains me when I see air conditions sitting out in the parking lawn of Brooklawn school for weeks. It hurts my core when I see our fields mistreated and garbage left out by our community. These are just a few things over the past few days where resources were mismanaged in our school system. We must do better as a school district to protect your tax dollars.

If you share these ideals with me and want someone that checks all the boxes, vote for John Titus.

Since the change to this year's election was announced by Murphy, there have been many questions about how the process will work. Below is some further reading on the Nov. 3 election process:

• Here's How NJ's Mail-In General Election Will Work: What To Know

A primarily vote-by-mail election means a lot of changes to election day. See what you can expect this November.

• What's A NJ Provisional Ballot? How Does It Work? Patch Found Out

Those not needing an ADA compliant booth will need a provisional ballot to vote in-person. Here is what that will look like.

• Do Mail-In Ballots Force NJ Voters To Lie? Here's The Answer

There was language on the primary ballots asked voters certify they requested the ballot, even if they didn't.

• How Are Election Signatures Verified In NJ? Patch Found Out

Voters wondering how their signatures are checked before the upcoming election can see the process for themselves.

• How To Register, Track Your General Election Vote Online In NJ

Need to register for the upcoming election? Want to track your vote once you do? Read on to learn how.

• Key 2020 Voting Deadlines In New Jersey

Here is a recap of important dates to remember with upcoming election, all in one place.

• NJ: Get A Wrong Or Duplicate Ballot? It Is Probably Your Fault

Confusion and concern has reigned as ballots arrive, here Patch got some answers from a county clerk.

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