Bernards Township School Candidate: Suzanne Schafer Skalski​

BERNARDS TOWNSHIP, NJ — Suzanne Schafer Skalski is one of the four candidates running for election in the uncontested Bernards Township School Board election being held on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

There are three three-year seats open with Robin McKeon, Timothy M. Salmon and Karen Richman running. There is also a one one-year unexpired term with Suzanne Schafer Skalski running.

Get to know Schafer Skalski:

Suzanne Schafer Skalski

Description:

My name is Suzanne Schafer Skalski, and I am running for the 1 year term on the Bernards School District Board of Education. I am 49 years old, and have lived in the township for five years.

What experience do you have that would help you serving on the school board?

I have a degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University, and a Masters in Higher Education Administration from University of Rochester (NY). I began working with a BOE before I came into this district, when I became aware of the challenges districts face with state mandates, budget caps, and lack of state funding support.

Why are you running for the school board?

I worked closely with the BOE in Morris Plains to found an education foundation to provide alternative funding support. My interest in working with the Bernards BOE germinated with a concern about student stress in the district. This is an issue that touches so many areas of the district, and how we address it is going to be critical in the coming years. My area of concern in this broad subject is the constant focus on preparing for the next level, especially for higher education, and the pervasive concern over outside evaluation.

What issues would you like to see addressed if elected?

I believe that we as a district need to support students, teachers and the administration to strike a balance with the desire to cater to goals set by outside groups, and make decisions that are best for our students despite these pressures. I am in a somewhat unique position to contribute and add much to this discussion on the board. I do actually understand what colleges are looking for in students, because I have spent my career focusing on just this. I have been an admission counselor at Carnegie Mellon, Lehigh, Drew University, and currently Rutgers; I also spent 14 years as a high school college counselor, advising students about the college admission process at two New Jersey independent schools.

We should, as a district, be most focused on what are the best educational decisions for our students. This is what I would stand for as a member of the Board of Education: decisions that are supportive of our students, their education, their teachers, and a positive experience while they are members of our district, and a focus on creating of love of learning, not a dread of failure due to externally set ideals.

— (If you are a candidate and would like to participate in the profile, email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com)

(Image provided: Suzanne Schafer Skalski)

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