Election 2022: Cherry Hill School Board Candidate Sunny Reed

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 Sunny Reed, running for 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 the 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: Sunny J. Reed, she/her/hers

Age: 38

Town of residence: Cherry Hill, NJ

Position sought: Cherry Hill Board of Education member, three-year term

Family: I live with my husband, eight-year old son, and various pets.

Education: Rutgers University-Camden, Childhood Studies, doctoral program (in progress); Drexel University, Master of Library and Information Science

Occupation: Graduate student at Rutgers University-Camden; Graduate Assistant in the Rutgers University-Camden Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civic Engagement

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

None.

Why are you seeking to run for the school board?

I am here to campaign and represent those in Cherry Hill who feel underrepresented in the school districts. Those families who feel forgotten because school participation means attending meetings and events during working or caregiving hours. Those families where a parent or caregiver faces illness or disability and cannot involve themselves because of accessibility. Those families whose children act as translators and cannot attend functions because of language barriers. All of those families who feel like their children are a part of the school system but they are not a part of the school community.

If elected, I would work tirelessly for all students in the district, while giving voice and providing access to those who often feel left out. That absolutely starts with education.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I believe sharing knowledge is the true antidote to misinformation. I also believe that tough questions, when asked in good faith, deserve answers. I will always do my best to share resources (books, articles, etc.) that help people tackle hard conversations. It is something I love to do, and it is something I will make key to my role.

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

I can appreciate the personal financial costs associated with the bond’s passing; however, a strong school infrastructure will help reduce student distractions, increase student safety, and improve the lives of Cherry Hill residents overall. Good schools attract diverse families. Their physical conditions are certainly an integral part of showing our children and our town that we truly care about their education.

If the bond does not pass, money might be saved but at the cost of our children’s educational experiences. Buildings will continue deteriorating and morale will continue to decline.

Strong communities require strong schools (literally).

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

I would have abstained and solicited feedback from the students on their opinions. I would have also asked for additional clarification on the nature of these transfers.

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

Sexual education and sexual health impact not just the well-being of our students, but our community, as well. Knowledge empowers students of all ages, so that youth can make healthy decisions and feel comfortable having dialogues about difficult topics.

Students who don’t have trustworthy or safe adults in their homes or family can also use school sexual education as a way to gain access to information they might otherwise never obtain. Without this information, students are more at risk of making destructive decisions that can put themselves and others in harm’s way. Education is a crucial component of building strong and confident children.

I am pleased that the Cherry Hill school district is making the curriculum available for our diverse families. I am equally happy to see that it is made optional, so that families of differing religions, cultures, etc. have the power to choose what works for them.

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

Accessibility and inclusion for families who work odd hours, are full-time caregivers, have sick or ill parents, speak multiple languages, and feel underserved and underrepresented by our school board.

We have fantastic programs and parental involvement, and those are wonderful traits in a school district. However, events and offerings that are not offered virtually, that occur during working hours, or do not offer translators can make it seem like “not everyone” is interested in being involved. To be truly inclusive and equitable, we need to make sure all families are able to attend or take advantage of the school community’s services.

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?

At some point, I would like to engage with special education parents in the district, to better understand and help advocate for their needs.

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

To say that child advocacy and rights is my passion would be an understatement. Our children face an educational system in which the prime decision makers are adults. Very rarely do children themselves have control over their lives, despite being the ones who must suffer (or enjoy) many, many adult-led decisions every single day. Instead, children and youth are not simply "adults in training," but they are real people whose lived experiences should be what guides the strategies made FOR them.

We do our children a disservice when we "forget" that their perspectives matter. This is why I'm here. We must remember what it was like to be a child or a teen and make it better. We must include our children to empower them, to show them that they count. The first step to transforming society and seeking social justice for ALL is to remember that our youth's voices should always be included.

Finally, my work revolves around DEI. But this doesn't mean creating echo chambers, excluding 'unpopular' perspectives (whatever that may be), or disregarding anyone who seeks to learn and improve themselves. This means that we work collaboratively, as a community, toward a vision of racial healing, equality, and justice that is most inclusive for us as Cherry Hill residents. It especially means modeling inclusivity and equity for our children.