Bridgewater-Raritan School Board Election 2024: Jennifer Loughran

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater Township's general election on Nov. 5 has five candidates running for three open seats for the Board of Education.

Incumbent Jennifer Loughran is running for one of the three, three-year seats with William Atkins. Opposing candidates include incumbent Ashish 'AJ' Joshi and newcomers Jeremy Li and Philip Jones.

Are you running for office in Bridgewater? Contact Alexis Tarrazi at alexis.tarrazi@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Bridgewater Patch.

Jennifer Loughran

• Age: Almost 48
• Town of residence: Bridgewater
• Position sought: Board of Education
• Family: My husband, Michael, and I met in Manhattan 18 years ago and were married in the backyard of my childhood home in Bridgewater. We returned to Bridgewater in 2013 to care for my gravely ill mother, and after her passing, we chose to raise our family here. We have four children: our daughters Eilish and Serafina, who are currently elementary and intermediate students in the district. Tragically, we also lost two children, Sylvia and Finnegan, to a rare genetic disease called Tay-Sachs.
• Education: I’m proud to be a former student of the Bridgewater-Raritan school district. Growing up, my family faced significant financial challenges and I contributed by sweeping sawdust in our family countertop business. In my free time, I took apart discarded office computers and rebuilt them and taught myself computer science before there were modern computer classes offered in schools.
• Occupation: My career began locally in high school and into young adulthood, starting with a job at Burger King in Raritan, followed by a position as a photographer in the Bridgewater Commons. Throughout young adulthood, I advanced from entry-level positions to a successful career in graphic design and e-learning in Manhattan, working across various industries, including accounting & finance and telecommunications and city government. A notable achievement was designing graphic tools distributed with Adobe’s Illustrator platform.
  While working full-time, I launched Uptown Skate School to teach skateboarding and organize programs for underserved communities. I’ve also been featured on a reality TV show and served as a stunt double in feature films. Currently, I am the founder of BR Skates Foundation, where I run recreational youth programs and advocate for parks and public spaces. I'm enrolling in the welding program at RVCC to work on public projects in collaboration with charitable organizations. Additionally, I’m participating in the year-long Somerset Leadership Program, where I designed the branding and fundraising campaign for “Restful Digs,” a project aimed at transforming living spaces at a Visions & Pathways shelter to create a safe and nurturing environment for at-risk youth.
• Previous elected/appointed office: I am currently the Vice President of the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education. I also serve as the Chair of the Parks Board for Bridgewater.
• Campaign website: N/A

Why are you seeking election for the Board of Education?

I am proud to have served on the Board of Education during a pivotal time when we successfully passed two key referendums. These initiatives have paved the way for much-needed renovations of our facilities and the introduction of long-awaited Full-Day Kindergarten. I recognize the financial burden this may have placed on taxpayers, and I deeply appreciate their support of our school district. I am seeking re-election for one more term to ensure these critical projects are completed and look forward to celebrating the launch of Full-Day Kindergarten in 2026.

I also believe it is essential for the younger generation's involvement in civic engagement. This conviction is why I chose to run alongside Mr. William Atkins, a recent BR Graduate. Young people in Bridgewater-Raritan have an incredible capacity for civic leadership, and their perspectives are invaluable which is why I am committed to ensuring they have a seat at the table.

This past summer the Board made enhancements to its security at schools in the district. How do you feel about the changes and do you feel enough was done?

I view these improvements as an important step forward. As Superintendent Beers noted in a recent meeting, the Board has been "incredibly proactive" in addressing security concerns, implementing upgrades like improved security camera accessibility and the addition of entrance vestibules.

While I support these ongoing efforts, we must continue to evaluate and enhance our practices to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Ongoing Collaboration with the Bridgewater Township Police Department is critical, especially through joint security drills. It's essential for the Board to maintain a strong working relationship with township officials and local law enforcement, focusing on constructive and solutions.

With the referendum passed, work is beginning to upgrade facilities in preparation for full-day kindergarten. How do you feel about the progress being made?

Big change is overwhelming. There are understandable concerns in the community about whether the work will be completed on time and within budget. However, similar doubts arose with the high school parking lot and Basilone Field Grandstands, and they were finished on time. I am pleased with the progress on the facility upgrades and believe this is an indication that the district is committed to staying on schedule.

What would you like to see improved in the school district?

Many parents and community members have expressed their pain and concerns about bullying and the rising use of discriminatory language.

I am a Jewish woman who descended from Holocaust survivors. I find the emergence of swastikas and anti-Jewish rhetoric deeply troubling. However, bullying and/or discriminatory behavior can impact any student. This problem is further complicated by the divisive national and geopolitical conversations that are amplified by social media algorithms, especially during a heated presidential election season.

Meanwhile, it is frustrating for parents and students; Administrators have to protect the privacy of all students, including those accused of wrongdoing, so it can often feel like “nothing is being done.” In addition, the Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) reporting process is unnecessarily long, but it is state mandated. That said, HIB Law does not address the underlying issues.

The district is working diligently to implement comprehensive character education and culturally responsive instruction throughout the district. Additionally, changes have been made to the code of conduct to enhance consequences for using discriminatory language and engaging in bullying. I support these initiatives.

What I would like to see improved is discussion at the board level on these issues. I believe we should advocate for legislative changes to streamline the HIB reporting process so that parents and students are not waiting longer than they need to for resolution. Also, it is imperative that there is comprehensive communication with students, parents and other stakeholders about how consequences are handled as well as what the district is doing to address the ongoing issues.

Ultimately though, the climate of our culture is a collective issue. We are all responsible for improving inclusivity and tolerance; Being upstanders against hateful rhetoric and discrimination whether it is in our homes, in our schools, or in our neighborhoods.

What other issues would you like to tackle if elected to the Board of Ed?

• Ongoing Professional Development for the Board: Just as we expect our educators and administrators to engage in continuous learning, we should hold ourselves to the same standard. As Vice President, I introduced the goal of achieving the NJSBA Board Certification for the entire board, and I’m hopeful we will achieve this milestone this year. The certification process requires rigorous steps, including group training, policy audits, and board self-evaluations. Moving forward, I’d like to set a new goal of attaining the Carole E. Larsen Master Board Certification, which would further elevate our commitment to effective governance.
• Improving Board Culture: A key change I’d like to see is a shift in the culture at the board level. It’s important that every board member feels heard, valued, and that we are able to work together effectively. Board leadership represents the entire board and speaks for the collective. By improving communication and collaboration, we can foster a more cohesive and productive environment.
• Empowering Board Leadership: Strengthening the role of leadership within the board is essential for representing all members and addressing the diverse needs of our district. I will continue to advocate for leadership that embodies the values of transparency and teamwork.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates?

What sets me apart is my commitment to fostering healthy civic discourse. This not only reflected in my professional work, but also in my ongoing engagement with local governments. I am enrolled in Somerset County’s Leadership Program, I serve on Bridgewater’s Parks Board, and have graduated from the Bridgewater Police Department’s Community Policing Program.

As a current Board of Education member, I’ve been involved in key initiatives like passing two referendums and preparation for Full-Day Kindergarten implementation. This gives me the insight to oversee the critical building renovations to completion.

What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign?

I am grateful to my family and friends for supporting me in my endeavors and to all of the women of Bridgewater that have helped me through the hard times and encouraged me to keep pushing forward.

I’d like to acknowledge fellow and former board members who have mentored me and entrusted me as a leader. Also to my fellow candidates. I believe that we need to elevate the voices of educators and young people on boards of education. I am so happy to see this represented in this election. This is why I chose to run with a promising young candidate, Mr. William Atkins. He led the effort to organize a team that successfully lobbied the state government, leading to the bipartisan passage of the ‘Involve Our Youth Act.’ His mission of engaging the youth in civic engagement aligns with mine. The Board of Education would be lucky to have him.

Thank you also to the voters who elected me. I am honored to serve the Bridgewater-Raritan School District. We are BR!