Woodbury's Derek Packett Seeks Region 14 Board of Education Seat

The following is a letter from Derek Packett, a candidate for a seat on the Region 14 Board of Education. Woodbury and Bethlehem residents will go to the polls in their respective towns on June 30.

Greetings Region 14,

I would like to quickly introduce myself as a member of our community who is looking to join the Region 14 Board of Education.

My name is Derek Packett, and I moved to Woodbury with my family just about 8 years ago. Over those 8 years we have grown as a family and have naturally become more involved in our town. At this point, we are a family of 5, if you include the family dog. My wife, Kelly, has been a driving force over those 8 years, by making sure that we are socializing and giving back to the community. Her plate is always full, but when we discussed joining the BOE, we agreed it would be something that suited my personality better. Our children (Cameron 11, Delani 8) have become established in the current education system and as they work their way through the Region 14 schools, it would be a pleasure to contribute and make that education the best possible.

Why should you consider electing me to the Region 14 Board of Education? I would like to give you a couple reasons, that would include my past, the present, and our future.

Before agreeing to even run for a spot on the BOE, I talked to a few people who have had experience with similar opportunities. I wanted to see if they thought I would be a good candidate, and I wanted to hear about their experiences while on their respective boards.

From my Past: My father was a 4th grade teacher, at Eastham Elementary School for 28 years on Cape Cod and a member of our BOE for many years. We were a part of the Nauset Regional School system, which included 4 town elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. I feel that being a part of a similar school system and being a part of an educator’s family is part of my value. I can join the board with a general understanding of the underlying issues, which I feel would allow me to be a productive member of the team in a shorter period of time.

The ever changing Present: Over the last 8 years, I have coached Soccer, Hockey and Lacrosse. It is clear that once these activities resume, there will have to be changes in how we interact and conduct these events. Being a part of these groups allows me to hear different solutions that may assist in changes that will be made throughout our education system. With the introduction of distance learning, and the concern for the safety of our students and faculty, change is the only constant with today's learning. I feel that it is important to find the best way to resume our children’s education as soon as possible. As a family with two working adults, I have felt the stress and frustration in the household grow. As we conduct Zoom meetings with friends or share our thoughts while taking a “social distancing” walk, it is important to understand the concerns of all parents that are involve. Those parents that are busy working and now educating often don’t have time to express their concerns. I feel that by being a part of so many outside activities allows me to connect with more parents and listen to more of their concerns.

Lastly, looking toward the Future: We love being a part of our local community, and we are blessed to be able to raise our children in such a wonderful environment. Having the opportunity to help continue that for my children is why I am volunteering my time and experience.

One of my mentors has just complete his 2nd term as Chair of his local BOE in NJ. As a Financial Advisor such as myself, he was able to explain the underlying structure and pass along some of the lessons he learned from his time on the board. He also told me that it was one of the best decisions he made and felt that he was able to make positive contributions to not just the education system but to the town and the community as a whole.

Should I be elected, my goal is to listen and learn from those around me. I want to bring those concerns and ideas forward to continue the development of Region 14 for the benefit of our children and for the growth of our community.

Sincerely,

Derek Packett