South Brunswick BOE Elects President, Vice President For 2025

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — The South Brunswick Board of Education held its reorganization meeting last week, electing a new president and vice president.

Two board members — Lisa Rodgers, and Rajesh Soni — who were voted into office in November, took their oaths of office. Deepa Karthik, who was not present on Jan. 9, will take her oath at the next board meeting.

BOE member Smitha Raj nominated Laura Hernandez for president saying she was a diligent member who was on top of all communications and training. “She’s a proven leader, has been in the field of education for the past 25 years serving in many capacities,” Raj said.

Hernandez was elected by seven votes, with two members — Julie Ferrara and Karthik — being absent.

Although absent, Karthik was nominated for the role of vice president by Mike Mitchell. She was elected to the role unanimously. Karthik will not take her seat until she reads her oath of office, Business Administrator David Pawlowski said.

Hernandez received her BA in Elementary Education and American Studies from Rider University. She then worked as an elementary school teacher, followed by a middle school teacher for 12 years.

She then received her MA in Educational Administration from Rider and served in Randolph School District as principal, vice-principal, director of testing and assessment, and supervisor of World Language and ESL.

Hernandez worked for Rutgers University in Newark supervising student teachers who were obtaining their teaching certificates in Social Studies. She then worked at Thomas Edison State University where she trained teachers on the issues of diversity.

She is currently employed at Trenton Board of Education.

Karthik is a Program Manager at a pharma company. She is an active community volunteer with two children in the school district.

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