Holmdel Board Of Education Election 2026: Alison LoPresti

HOLMDEL, NJ — Incumbent Alison LoPresti is running for re-election to the Board of Education in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

In November, LoPresti will run for one of three open full term seats on the board with Anthony Libecci and Peter Hayden under the "Protecting What Matters" campaign.

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The three will face off against Jayme Lowenstein, Jen Ashkar and Deborah Wilson, who are running under the "Advocates for Education" campaign.

Ahead of the election, Patch posed several questions to LoPresti about her campaign platform, experience and what sets her apart from other candidates running. Her replies are below.

Editor's Note: The following article contains information about one of the candidates running for the Holmdel Board of Education in 2026. Responses are written as received by Patch and only edited for style.

Patch has contacted all other candidates in this race with the same questions and will post replies as they are received.

Are you running for election in Holmdel? Contact Sara Winick at sara.winick@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Alison LoPresti

Age: 46
Town of Residence: Holmdel
Education: B.S. West Virgina University
Occupation: Former Financial Services Compliance Professional | Board of Education Member | Youth Sports Coach

What drove you to seek public office?

As a parent of two children attending Holmdel schools and a resident for nearly 16 years, I have a deeply personal investment in the future of our district.

I first ran for the Board of Education in 2023 because of concerns surrounding Policy 5756 and my strong belief in parental rights, transparency, and age-appropriate education. I also wanted to bring my professional experience in financial oversight, risk management, and accountability to decisions affecting our students, schools, and taxpayers.

What began as a desire to advocate for those principles has grown into something much broader.

Over the past three years, I've genuinely loved serving on the Board. I've learned an incredible amount, built meaningful relationships, and developed an even deeper appreciation for our dedicated educators, administrators, talented students, and the exceptional opportunities that make Holmdel so special.

I've also seen firsthand both the tremendous strengths of our district and the significant financial and operational challenges ahead.

I'm seeking re-election because I believe our schools are worth protecting, and I'd argue the next three years may be among the most consequential our district has ever faced. The decisions ahead will directly affect our students, schools, and taxpayers.

My commitment to this community is stronger than ever, and I believe the experience, relationships, and institutional knowledge I've gained during my first term will be particularly important as we navigate those difficult decisions while preserving the educational excellence our community values.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I bring a combination of more than 20 years of professional experience in financial oversight, risk management, and regulatory compliance, along with three years of firsthand Board experience, including service as Board Vice President and Chair of the Budget and Finance and Personnel/Negotiations Committees.

Beyond that experience, I've built strong working relationships with district administrators, teachers, and Township leaders. I've also engaged with county and state officials because I recognize that many of the financial challenges facing Holmdel extend far beyond our district and require solutions at the state level.

I bring institutional knowledge, an understanding of the district's financial and operational challenges, and established relationships that are important to navigating the difficult decisions ahead.

Responsible leadership requires more than identifying problems or promising solutions. It requires understanding the facts, building relationships, asking difficult questions, and making informed decisions.

What are past accomplishments or experiences that make you qualified for this position?

Professionally, I spent more than 20 years in financial services compliance, including 16 years at FINRA, where I examined complex financial operations, analyzed risks, and worked to strengthen accountability and transparency. I've brought that same disciplined, data-driven approach to my Board service.

Since joining the Board in 2023, I've served in leadership roles, participated in contract negotiations, and helped navigate significant financial and operational decisions.

One of my priorities has been improving financial transparency. I spearheaded an effort to compile and analyze 15 years of district financial, staffing, and enrollment data to help the Board and community better understand long-term trends and the challenges ahead.

During my tenure, our district has also made meaningful academic progress. Indian Hill earned National Blue Ribbon recognition, Holmdel High School achieved Gold status on the AP School Honor Roll, AP participation and performance have grown, and dual-enrollment opportunities have expanded to 18 courses. We've also continued strengthening STEAM, computer science, robotics, and other future-ready learning opportunities. None of these accomplishments would be possible with our amazing students, faculty, staff and parents!

I've worked collaboratively with district leadership and Township officials to address financial challenges, including efforts to secure additional municipal support for our schools. I've also engaged with officials beyond Holmdel to advocate for greater awareness of the structural funding challenges facing New Jersey school districts.

I'm proud of our district's progress and the role I've played in supporting it, while recognizing that significant work remains.

If re-elected, what will be your top priorities in your new role?

My biggest priority is ensuring that Holmdel continues to offer an outstanding education while finding a financially sustainable way to deliver it. That's becoming increasingly difficult, and I believe the decisions made over the next several years will have a lasting impact on our district.

We need to take a hard look at how we operate, where we spend money, and where we can do things differently. That means challenging assumptions, exploring efficiencies, and having candid conversations about what we can realistically afford. It also means continuing to press our elected officials in Trenton for changes to a funding system that places enormous pressure on districts like ours.

At the same time, I don't want our financial challenges to define the future of Holmdel schools. We've made meaningful academic strides, and I want to see that momentum continue. That includes maintaining rigorous academics, offering diverse opportunities for students, and adapting what we teach and how we teach it to a world increasingly shaped by technology and artificial intelligence.

I also care deeply about the everyday experience our children have in school. Academic achievement matters, but so does feeling safe, supported, included, and excited to learn. I want our schools to be places where students can thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

Parental involvement will remain important to me. Families should know what's happening in their children's schools, have opportunities to be heard, and be included in significant decisions affecting their children.

Finally, I want to continue strengthening the relationships I've developed with educators, administrators, families, and government leaders. I've learned that meaningful progress rarely happens in isolation. It takes people willing to listen, work through disagreements, and find common ground.

Ultimately, my goal is to help Holmdel remain a district that families are proud to be part of, without losing sight of what it costs our community to sustain it.

Name one thing about Holmdel that always makes you smile.

That's easy — the sense of community! Whether it's cheering on our kids at a sporting event, attending a school performance, or seeing familiar faces around town, I love how Holmdel brings people together.

After nearly 16 years here, some of my favorite memories are the everyday moments that remind me why we chose to raise our family in Holmdel.

We're fortunate to live in a community where families take pride in their schools, support one another, and genuinely care about the place we call home.