Get To Know Garwood School Candidate: Mary Ann Kjetsaa

GARWOOD, NJ — Mary Ann Kjetsaa is one of the five candidates running for election in the contested Garwood School Board election being held on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

There are five candidates vying for three three-year seats on the board with candidates including: Mary Ann Kjetsaa, Maureen Scepkowski, Joseph Miceli, Ralph Trentacosta and Denise Ridente.

Mary Ann Kjetsaa

Mary Ann Kjetsaa, Ph.D. has been a resident of Garwood for more than 40 years. She previously served on the Garwood Board of Education and is currently serving on the Garwood Board of Education. Dr. Kjetsaa is a retired educator who had a more than 45 year career in education. She began that career in the classroom as a teacher and went on to serve as an administrator and educational leader in a K-12 public school district where she served as a supervisor of a variety of departments.

She is familiar with educational practice and state education requirements and programs. She also has experience with the use and application of technology in the classroom and educational support areas.

On the Board of Education Dr. Kjetsaa serves on the Education/Policy and Public Relations Committees. Along with her fellow committee members, she has provided oversight for instructional programs, policy review, and discussions regarding ways to increase public relations and community involvement. In addition, she has participated in board member training sessions presented by the New Jersey School Boards Association thus meeting training requirements set by the state of New Jersey for Board of Education members.

Dr. Kjetsaa believes that community service is important and that serving on the Garwood Board of Education is a way of giving back to the community. She feels that as a Board of Education member she can utilize her professional career experience in education to assist her community and the children of Garwood. Dr. Kjetsaa looks forward to the opportunity to continue to serve on the Board of Education by providing oversight of the educational system of Garwood, and helping to provide the children of Garwood with the best possible educational experience in a safe environment while keeping a critical eye on budget concerns.

Three future topics that will need consideration by the Garwood Board of Education include:

1. Participation with the community and staff in the important task of developing an Education Strategic Plan for the future;
2. Continued budget oversight; and
3. Any potential enrollment increases resulting from redevelopment plans in town.

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

(Image provided: Mary Ann Kjetsaa)

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