Styles-Landgraf Honored for Her Years of Service

Kathy Styles-Landgraf said Monday evening that it had been a privilege serving on the Galloway Township Board of Education these past five years. She was presented with a plaque for her years of service after announcing she will resign from the board as of July 1.

The daughter of a former Council member and mayor, Kathy Styles, Styles-Landgraf said she learned from her parents the importance of giving back to the community.

Serving on the Board of Education was her way of doing that, she said, noting that she doesn't align herself with any political party. She is registered Independent.

As for getting on the school board, Styles-Landgraf said there was an opening on the board at the time she came on board. She wanted to ensure that the township youth had the skills needed to succeed, but also that the district's teachers had the tools necessary to prepare their students for the future.

Additionally, she believed that "a member of the Board of Education should be an educator."

Styles-Landgraf is indeed one. She teaches seventh- and eighth-grade social studies in Margate.

She said the reasoning behind her resignation was due to a move she and her husband are making. They recently bought a house in Ventnor and are in the process of moving the rest of their belongings to their new home over the summer.

She contacted the district this past week noting that her resignation would take effect July 1.

However, she is not the only person within the Galloway Township School District to render their letter of intent. Two district employees have notified the district that they, too, will be resigning.

Galloway Township Middle School Assistant Principal John Billen will resign as of Aug. 1, and sooner if a suitable replacement can be found.

Board Administrator Vickie L. Tomasco will also be stepping down. However, her resignation will not take effect until Dec. 1, 2011. The district has started the process of finding Tomasco's replacement.

Nonetheless, in regards to her resignation, Styles-Landgraf said she wanted to make sure the district had time to find a replacement in time for the upcoming school year.

Superintendent of Schools Annette Giaquinto said that an advertisement will be put forth soon, asking anyone who would be interested in fulfilling the remainder of Styles-Landgraf’s term to submit a letter of interest.

The board would then go through the applicants, interview the candidates and, from that pool, select Styles-Landgraf's successor.

Giaquinto said that she is unaware of any time frame mandating board action on a replacement by a certain time. However, the hope would be to have the individual on board by one of the two August meetings.

The Galloway Township Board of Education does not meet in July. There is a work/action meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 15. On Aug. 22, the school board meets for its regular meeting.

During Monday's meeting, board members wished Styles-Landgraf well and thanked her for her length of service.

"We're going to miss you," fellow board member John Knorr said, noting that Styles-Landgraf will likely miss the jovial comments he is known to make.

Styles-Landgraf smiled, saying just prior to that, "It's been a privilege (being on the board) over the years. That's all I'm going to say or I'm going to cry."