Meet Jamie Fisher, Running For Secaucus School Board

SECAUCUS, NJ — Seven people are running for Secaucus school board this fall; voters will be asked to choose three.

Patch asked all seven candidates the same set of questions, and all seven responded. We are publishing the candidates' answers in the order they were received.

Can you give a brief bio on who you are: How long you've lived in Secaucus, your career experience, where you currently work, your age.

I am 43 years old and I’ve lived in Secaucus for nearly my entire life. I left a few times here and there, but always seem to find my way back. Secaucus will always be home to me. I am a registered nurse. In addition to spending over 10+ years working in inner city emergency rooms, I have also spent time as a school nurse and working in case management. Additionally I am the founder and owner of an independent business. This has armed me with skills in assessment, planning and coordination, resource management, advocacy, education, compliance and collaboration.

Do you have kids or had kids in the Secaucus school system? Have you served on any prior school boards, or worked in education?

I have two boys who are recent graduates of my alma mater, Clarendon School. I am expecting my third boy in March and look forward to having another Clarendon Bee in our line-up. For full transparency, neither of my boys currently attend Secaucus Middle School. I believe not currently having children in the school system gives me the freedom to be vocal about issues without worrying about consequences for them. It also assures community members that my decisions are independent of any self interest.

I have not served on a Board of Education before, but I have been employed by several. I’ve worked in several school districts (including here in Secaucus), which gives me a strong understanding of how schools operate, and the challenges students, parents, educators and administrators face on a daily basis.

What do you think have been the biggest mistakes or failures made in the past four years on the Secaucus school board/in the district? How would you have done things differently?

In the past four years, I believe one of the failures has been allowing our district to become a revolving door. This, coupled with a lack of transparency and communication, have been detrimental to the reputation of our school district. I would work on advocating for more effective communication with our community, prioritizing transparency and improving resource allocation.

If redistricting is again brought up — a proposal last year to put K-2 in Clarendon, and 3-5 in Huber — how would you vote for it? Yay or nay?

I am not for or against redistricting at this time, but I maintain that it needs comprehensive planning. There are many questions and concerns surrounding this particular subject that need to be addressed appropriately. All perspectives should be considered and most importantly, the inputs of all parents and community members should be taken into account. I would want all scenarios considered prior to any implementation and contingency plans put in place to deal with any issues that might arise from such an impactful change.

Where are Secaucus schools doing well? Where can they be improved?

I’ve been fairly vocal about how I believe our schools have made great strides in areas such as technology integration and the implementation of social emotional learning. However, there is always room for improvement and in my opinion, the vital need for the return of some core educational values. I am deeply disappointed in the removal of libraries and access to physical books within our schools. I am also immensely invested in advocating the need for additional resources for our educators, especially those who work with our special-needs population.

What do you see are the biggest issues facing the Secaucus school district in the next 2-5 years? How are you going to prepare for them?

One major concern ahead of us is the population growth, causing problems like overcrowding and financial limitations. I also see the growing dependence on technology in education presenting obstacles. Getting ready for these concerns involves taking steps to enhance resources, additional support for our educators and infrastructure preparation.

Who's running for Secaucus school board this year:

• Melissa Howard - "Advocate for Education." Currently on the Board, seeks re-election.
• Audry Yule - "Community Winning Resolutions"
• Valerie Giraldo - "Community Winning Resolutions"
• Tatiana Geller - "Excellence in Education"
• Gerald Lyons - "Excellence in Education"
• Jamie Fisher - "The People's Voice"
• Monica Berckes - "A Winning District"

Meet Valerie Giraldo, Running For Secaucus School Board

Meet Tatiana Geller, Running For Secaucus School Board

Meet Monica Berckes, Running For Secaucus School Board

The election will be Nov. 5, but you can vote early in person at the Secaucus Rec Center from Oct. 26 - Nov. 3. Hours will be Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary. And there is also mail-in voting.

There is a candidates' forum scheduled for Oct. 24 at the high school PAC, moderated by Secaucus Spectator publisher Don Evanson. Evanson says it will be recorded so people can watch later. Patch will be there covering it and attempting to livestream it.