A Teacher’s Perspective: Experience, Collaboration, and a Commitment to Holmdel’s Students

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Why I'm Running for the Holmdel Board of Education

I am Deborah Wilson and I have lived in Holmdel for 18 years. I have two sons in Holmdel High School. Max is a junior and Nate is a sophomore and they have attended Holmdel schools since their first day of kindergarten at Village. As a parent and an educator, I have experience with every school in our district, from elementary through high school.

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I grew up in Colts Neck, earned my BA in Education from Loyola College, taught in Baltimore for four years, and then returned to New Jersey to earn my Master's in Education Administration and Supervision from Rutgers. For 21 years I have taught in the same Freehold Township elementary school, from Kindergarten through fourth grade. For the past six, I have served as our ELA interventionist, working with students who need extra support in reading.

Doing More With Limited Resources Is Nothing New to a Teacher

Holmdel is a high-performing district, and we should be proud of that, but we are also facing a real budget deficit. Taxpayers deserve thoughtful, responsible decisions about how their money is spent. Fiscal responsibility and strong schools are not competing ideas. I have spent years using data to determine where time and resources make the biggest difference. Outcome data, enrollment numbers, and direct feedback from students and families show us where programs are working, where they're underused, and where they might not be delivering.

As an interventionist, my job is to identify which supports truly move students forward and which do not. I know what it means for a struggling reader when early intervention is available, and what it costs down the road when it is not. Early support is often the most cost-effective investment a district can make because it reduces the need for more intensive, expensive services later. My professional experience would allow me to bring a student-centered perspective to the Board, helping us understand the impact of every trade-off on students and make sure we are getting the most out of the programs we already have in place.

Listening and Collaborating to Find Solutions

I have served on the school safety team, the intervention and referral services team, the school improvement panel, the crisis team, and countless curriculum committees. I have sat with families, worked alongside colleagues and specialists, and helped find solutions for students facing academic and behavioral challenges, often with limited time and

resources. Tough budget decisions require this same kind of collaboration and a willingness to listen before deciding.

None of this happens in a vacuum, and I do not claim to have all the answers. That is why I will start by listening to students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members about what is working and where they see opportunities to improve. Families deserve to know they have been heard, especially when difficult choices are on the table.

Keeping Students at the Center

I chose to spend my career working directly with students rather than moving into administration, and I bring that front-line perspective with me. When money is tight, it is easy for decisions to become purely about numbers. My experience keeps me focused on the question that matters most: how will this affect our students?

Since moving to Holmdel in 2008, my family and I have been fortunate to meet so many wonderful educators, neighbors, and friends. I value the partnership between our schools and our community, and I am running to help us navigate this challenging time with transparency, strong data, and a steady focus on students.

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