West Orange School Board Candidate Profile: Brian Rock

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange has a big choice to make in 2024: who will serve on the local school board?

There are four candidates competing for two open seats on the West Orange Board of Education. The candidates are: Adam Kraemer, Jeffrey Lichtman, Brian Rock and Eric Stevenson.

Patch reached out to each candidate with the same set of questions. Brian Rock's replies follow below.

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PATCH: What are your qualifications to run for office?

BR: “I'm an experienced educator, and I understand how schools work from a variety of different perspectives.

“I taught high school social studies in East Orange for twelve years. In that time, I taught every grade from freshmen to seniors, and I worked with all kinds of students. I learned first-hand the challenges that teachers, students, and families deal with. I also learned how important things like clubs, sports, and performing arts opportunities are for student success. Among other things, I also witnessed a revolving door of building and district level administrators, and I came to understand just how detrimental this is to the functioning of a school system.

“Throughout my career, I took my professional development seriously. I completed an Ed.M. at Rutgers, and I went back to school to pursue an Ed.D. I passed my qualifying exams, but I ultimately chose not to finish my dissertation. I also completed a Graduate Fellowship at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, and I spent time working at C-SPAN in Washington, DC. So my knowledge of schools isn’t limited to classroom experience. I have a research and policy background that helps me understand the bigger picture.

“I also spent several years working as a Uniserv Field Rep for the NJEA. In this role, I worked with the elected union leadership from school districts around the state. I provided them with support and advice while they advocated for better working conditions for themselves and learning conditions for their students. Along the way, I learned a great deal about school law and education regulations in the state of New Jersey. But most importantly, I learned that in the most successful districts, labor and management learned to collaborate. They may not always have agreed on everything, but they could set aside their differences and work together towards a common goal.

“Finally, I have spent the last three years serving on the West Orange Board of Education. For two of those years, I’ve been the President of the Board. In that time, I’ve attended NJSBA Workshop each year, and I’ve participated in numerous trainings for Board members. My first year on the Board, I sat back and watched more experienced Board members take the lead. Now, I’m the most experienced person on the Board – and I’m prepared to lead for a second term.”

PATCH: What is your campaign platform if elected?

BR: “My two priorities in a second term would be a) supporting our new Superintendent, Hayden Moore, and b) ensuring that we continue to invest in our schools.

“The night I was sworn in for my first term, Dr. Cascone called me to tell me that he was resigning to take a new position elsewhere. I hadn’t expected to be taking part in a Superintendent’s search, but this was an amazing opportunity for our district. We ultimately chose Hayden Moore, and he is poised to be the long term, homegrown leader that this district needs.

“I’ve been his partner as Board President for the last year and a half, and I will continue to support him and ensure that he has the support he needs to successfully lead this district for years to come.

“In the last three years, we’ve also been able to make several key investments in our district. We applied for and received additional state aid for universal preschool, and we just began the third year of that expansion. We also prioritized facilities improvements, including new classroom space at St. Cloud, several partial roof replacements, and the electrical upgrades necessary to air condition our schools.

“These investments were made in the face of cuts to our state aid, and we did so by making smart, long term decisions. We switched the district’s insurance provider to the School Health Insurance Fund, which limits our risk of premium increases in the future, and we utilized grant funds to absorb one time costs. By doing so, we minimized the negative impact to our core programming, and we were able to still make targeted investments.

“In the next few years, it’s uncertain how much state aid we’ll receive. We learned last year that the school funding formula is fickle. Perhaps we’ll get lucky next year. But if not, we need to be prepared to take the long term view and craft a budget that sets the district up for long term success instead of pursuing short term goals.”

PATCH: What is one thing that always makes you smile about the West Orange school district?

BR: “I love attending student performances and cultural celebrations at the high school. But it’s the Friday night football games that always make me smile.

“The stands are packed with fans. Kids are being kids, having fun by the concession stand. The football team, the cheerleaders, and the marching band all take their time to shine. Student photographers are on the move, trying their best to capture the action. And on the sidelines, you’ll always find Hayden and Oscar – usually with their kids in tow.

“It’s a perfect mixture of all the best parts of West Orange – and it’s a reminder that the schools are the heart of our community.”

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