Election 2022: Cherry Hill School Board Candidate Joel Mayer

CHERRY HILL, NJ — In the 2022 general election, residents of South Jersey will be voting for state and local officials. Patch has asked candidates in contested races to answer profiles about their campaigns.

Here is the candidate profile for Joel Mayer, running for another term on the Cherry Hill Board of Education.

Note that some voting locations have changed for the special election on October 6 in Cherry Hill.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk. The responses received will be published between now and Nov. 8 general election. Local candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) can contact Michelle.Rotuno-Johnson@patch.com.

Name: Joel Mayer

Age: 60

Town of residence: Cherry Hill, NJ – 24 years

Position sought: Member, Cherry Hill Board of Education, Unexpired 3 year term

Family: I’m about to celebrate our 20th Anniversary with my incredibly accomplished wife. Proud father of two daughters and one son – all students at Cherry Hill West HS. Our family is rounded out by our rescue English Bulldog, Emmie, and hyperactive Boston Terrier, Ginger.

Education: Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University School of Law; Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology from Syracuse University; Certificate Degree in Leadership from Rutgers Business School

Occupation: Compliance and Ethics Consultant; Former Prosecutor, Regulatory Counsel, and Higher Education Chief Compliance Officer

What previous or current elected/appointed offices have you held?

Appointed January, 2022 as a Member of the Cherry Hill Board of Education; Community Member, Safety & Security Committee of the Cherry Hill Board of Education (2018).

Why are you seeking to run for the school board?

I’m running for a full three year term to continue the progress I feel I’ve begun to make in collaboration with my colleagues on the Board and district administration. I was privileged to serve on the sub-committee that drafted the district goals for 2022-2023 and look forward to working towards the advancement of those critical goals, particularly in the areas of student and staff wellness, and academic achievement.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

Despite a lengthy and rewarding legal career as a prosecutor, trusted advisor to a Fortune 500 company through high profile federal and state investigations, and being recognized as a national authority and speaker on issues affecting Higher Education, I recognize that I don’t have all the answers and I’ve never been too proud to say the important words “I don’t know.” I value and solicit the perspectives, opinions, and experiences of others – including opinions that differ from mine. My sound and reliable judgment under pressure, strategic and detailed focus, and demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate across multiple projects has allowed me to hit the ground running this past year and will continue to support effective and impactful Board membership going forward.

Because I am a sitting Board Member I am required to provide the following disclaimer in accordance with relevant requirements of the State Code of Ethics for School Board members:
I am answering these questions in my personal capacity and not as a member of the Cherry Hill Board of Education, and this statement is not authorized or written on behalf of the Cherry Hill Board of Education. This applies not only to my responses to the following questions but also to all of my previous responses to this questionnaire.

What is your stance on the bond referendum that is before Cherry Hill School District voters?

I have publicly stated my support for the bond referendum on multiple occasions during Action Meetings of the Board and have participated in several elements of the process which resulted in the final bond referendum.

Would you have voted to transfer the teachers from Cherry Hill East to Cherry Hill West?

As a matter of public record, I did vote yes on the request to approve the transfers. While there was vocal opposition to the proposed transfers, my vote factored in all voices – including those who’s voices may not have been as loud or as well-organized, those who may have felt their voices and their needs would not have been heard, and was based upon my belief that the transfers are in the best interests of the students of the district as a whole.

What is your stance on the sexual education curriculum that Gov. Murphy put forth earlier this year?

The updated state guidelines don’t require a specific curriculum and are very much in line with the previous version of state guidelines for health education. I publicly support and voted to approve the health curriculum for the 2022/2023 academic year because it strengthens existing curriculum and expands education relating to overall student wellness and emotional health. As a former prosecutor, I’m all too aware of the increased risks of anxiety, depression, and addiction, faced by students who don’t feel welcomed and protected in their school environments.

What is the most important issue in your district and how do you intend to address it?

Student achievement is and will always be the most important issue. We, along with schools across the country, are experiencing academic and social challenges as we emerge from the pandemic. Ensuring student success will require a steady hand in working collaboratively with the administration to provide support and direction in using all available data to identify opportunities to improve student performance across all populations at all levels with an emphasis on implementing effective supports for populations in greatest need. Attracting and retaining outstanding educators – including outstanding educators with a wide range of diversity - to join the district’s exceptional staff is another critical element of promoting student achievement in and beyond the classroom.

What other issues do you feel must be tackled in your school district that have not been discussed already and how would you tackle these?

Ensuring, supporting, and celebrating diversity throughout our student and staff populations is important in providing a socially and emotionally positive learning environment by continuing to address and implement best practices in promoting cultural awareness in the curriculum and in professional development for staff. Strengthening communication and engagement with parents is also an important component in supporting improved student achievement. Identifying additional avenues to enhance dialogue with parents towards promoting positive engagement will be critical to that success. Alternative funding opportunities, regardless of the result of the vote on the bond referendum, must also be more aggressively and creatively identified.

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

Our three children have provided me with 33 “student parent years” in the district. Each of our daughters and our son learn differently and I bring that observation to bear in evaluating the issues confronting all of the District’s students at every level. Giving back to the community is something I began doing over ten years ago when I started coaching travel soccer. Helping our youth develop life skills beyond the sidelines or critical thinking skills beyond the classroom is something I passionately believe in. I wasn’t fortunate to have attended schools in Cherry Hill. I was educated in a neighboring public school system but my closest friends all attended high school at either Cherry Hill East or Cherry Hill West. I recall even then how much they loved and appreciated so many of their teachers. There was something special, something different about the Cherry Hill schools. There’s something just as special and just as vibrant now. I’m privileged to serve on the Board now and look forward to serving the next three years as we secure an even more special future for the schools and for all of our students.

I believe in asking better questions and in not settling for success, because settling for success will only hold us back.