Election 2024: Shenwei Zhao For Princeton Board Of Education

PRINCETON, NJ — Shenwei Zhao is seeking a seat on the Princeton Board of Education this November.

In a Q&A with Patch, Zhao talks about why he is seeking public office and his plans for tacking some district issues.

The general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 5

Patch has sent out a questionnaire to all BOE candidates. They will be published as we receive them. If you are a candidate and haven’t heard from us, please contact Sarah Salvadore at sarah.salvadore@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements.

Name: Shenwei Zhao

Age: 49

Town of residence: Princeton

Education: MS, Ball State University

Occupation: IT Systems Engineer and Business Owner

1. Why are you seeking a seat on the Princeton Board of Education?

The district had a few challenging years that affected pretty much every school. From the elementary schools' after-school program to PMS’s “proposed” math curriculum change to the abrupt firing of a Princeton High School principal, and the unexpected departure of the PPS superintendent, who throughout her tenure seemed to be fully supported by the BOE. The fact that there has been so many new BOE candidates running for seats shows Princeton parents and taxpayers are fully concerned. I share those concerns and would like to help.

2. What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I have been an outspoken critic of the BOE over the past few years, as I believe it is both a right and responsibility for citizens to hold this elected body accountable. My professional background as an IT engineer and a business owner, along with my personal background as a first-generation immigrant, which is shared among many members of this diverse community, puts me in a unique position to serve the BOE. I am hoping to bring different perspectives to the decision-making process.

3. What, according to you, is the biggest issue facing the school district?

Trust. The instability of the senior leadership has a long-lasting effect on any organization. PPS has had so many superintends in the past few years and the instability has accumulated for so long it has started to erode the trust relationship among stakeholders in the PPS, the PPS administrations, BOE, and the community at large. When was the last time that thousands of Princeton parents showed up in the school auditorium and online to voice their anger toward the BOE’s decision? Now, with everything quieting down, thanks to Dr. Foster shifting the schools’ focus back, it’s time to reflect on those instabilities and rebuild trust. That is also something I am hoping the new superintendent can do. PPS needs to go back to normal.

4. Council plans to buy Westminster College saying it could benefit the school district. Do you think it aligns with the district’s needs?

On the face of it, it certainly is not a bad thing that the council is stepping in to address the district's needs. However, the district has a referendum and BOE has since issued a statement stating they still believe the referendum offers a better way to address the district’s need. Based on that, I am not sure how the plan will be implemented between the two governing bodies of Princeton. On top of that, there are ongoing litigations at Westminster College and most, if not all, buildings probably will need to be demolished for PPS to use, if the deal would go through. These are all obstacles ahead.

5. The district is set to grow over the next few years. What will be your budget/spending priorities?

As I stated in many other forums, three priorities:

• Educational needs

• School’s operational needs

• The long-term financial stability of the district

6. What other aspects need to be improved in the school district?

Remove bureaucracy, let students thrive, and not impede them because of “policies”. One of the things I listed on my website is “allocate resources for all”. Resources do not necessarily mean financial resources, they also include personnel, the mentality to help students succeed at their levels, and the reduction of bureaucratic hurdles for teachers, staff, and parents. I have heard a few stories about how school policies create stress for families and students. And one of the things to start cutting down bureaucracy is as simple as enforcing communication policies in the district.

7. Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your campaign?

As a long-time critic of the BOE, I do not pretend to have easy answers to many of the problems the district faces. And just like many other parents and taxpayers in the district, I appreciate board members’ hard work in leading the district. The reality is there will always be challenges in finance, operations, and personnel. Aside from those, I hope to see the schools focus on the core educational missions in the changing environment.

I listed many specific items on my campaign website ShenweForBoE.org. Here are a couple that I feel passionate about:

• Schools need to function as community connectors, not a place for divisiveness. This can be reflected by offering age-appropriate teaching materials. There have been materials introduced by third-party vendors at the middle school level emphasizing people’s differences that they have no control over. Most children at this age are not mature enough to grasp complex social science concepts that were meant for seminar-level discussions at graduate schools. Teaching middle schoolers to appreciate diversity and be kind to each other despite these differences is absolutely necessary and valuable, yet amplifying these differences or even instilling the idea of potential conflicts caused by power structure is not only inappropriate but also not helpful in a diverse community like ours;

• Enforce critical thinking skill teachings in the era of AI. With the proliferation of technologies, schools need to equip students with critical thinking skills based on balanced facts and open debates. Diversity not only means people look different, it also means people can and will think differently. A school needs to promote such diversity, not in favor of one over another.

I am open for Princeton voters to reach out to me for discussions and clarifications. And I wish to earn their support in this election after these conversations.

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