Holmdel Board Of Education Election 2026: Jen Ashkar

HOLMDEL, NJ — Candidate Jen Ashkar is running for election to the Board of Education in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

In November, Ashkar will run for one of three open full-term seats on the board with Jayme Lowenstein and Deborah Wilson under the "Advocates for Education" campaign.

The three will face off against Alison LoPresti, Anthony Libecci and Peter Hayden, who are running under the "Protecting What Matters" campaign.

Ahead of the election, Patch posed several questions to Ashkar 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.

Jen Ashkar

Age: 48
Town of Residence: Holmdel, NJ
Education: Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geoscience, Boston College
Occupation: 15+ years in Environmental Education, Outdoor Leadership, and Community Outreach Programming; Citizens for Informed Land Use Board Member; appointed to Holmdel Township’s Open Space and Recreation Plan Committee

What drove you to seek public office?

My husband and I both grew up in Middletown and came back to Monmouth County to raise our three daughters for the same reasons so many families do: the bucolic, wide open spaces, the strong sense of community, and the quality of our schools. For over 17 years, Holmdel has been our home, and I’m proud to be raising my family here. I love our schools and want to give back to the community we’re so grateful for.

Despite the differences that sometimes divide us, I think Holmdel residents would rather spend their energy building bridges with each other than getting caught up in another political fight on social media. Most of us are neighbors first. We want Board members who represent the entire community, regardless of political party. We want our children to receive an excellent education. We want our teachers to have the resources and stability they need. We want to maintain the value of our homes and the quality of the community we have worked so hard to build. And we want to be able to afford to live here. We have so much more in common than we sometimes realize.

I’m running for the Holmdel Board of Education because I believe we can continue providing excellent schools while being honest, disciplined, and creative about how we pay for them. I want to put students back at the center of all decision-making, challenge ideas, listen to different perspectives, and make the most informed decisions possible for all of our kids.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

As the parent of three daughters in 6th, 9th, and 12th grades, I have a front-row seat to the student experience at every level of our district. Yet, of our nine Board of Education members, only one currently has a child in high school. The high school is the cornerstone of our district, and the policies and academic expectations established there have a ripple effect throughout all of our schools. It is important to have board members who understand the high school experience firsthand, recognize how those decisions affect students at every stage of their education, and can bring that valuable perspective to the table.

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

Fifteen years of experience in environmental education and community activism have taught me that an informed community is an engaged community.

I’ve learned how to make information about complex issues accessible, listen to different perspectives, and create opportunities for meaningful contribution. I want to bring that experience to the Board, not just to communicate decisions, but to help build understanding and bring stakeholders into the process. We may not always agree, but everyone deserves to have access to information, to be heard, and to be treated with respect.

For me, transparency isn’t simply announcing a decision to the public once it’s made; it’s engaging our community along the way. Whether we’re discussing a potential referendum, academic policies, tax revenue, the healthcare waiver, or other significant decisions, our community deserves clear information, thoughtful discussion, and the opportunity to participate in the process. These are challenging issues with real consequences for our students, families, teachers, staff, and taxpayers. I envision a Board of Education that works alongside our community, inviting stakeholders into the conversation and making important decisions with them, rather than simply for them.

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

Our slate is committed to developing a long-term financial plan that protects the quality of our schools and makes the most of every taxpayer dollar. Just as importantly, we want to put students back at the center of Board decisions and create a healthier, more balanced academic environment.

As a parent, I’ve spent years advocating for my own children, and I’d like to bring that same commitment to all Holmdel students. I’ll support policies that put learning ahead of high-stakes testing by better balancing major assessment weighting, reducing unnecessary summer assignments, and creating more consistent exam preparation periods. I’ll work hard to restore families’ voices in the course placement process and expand opportunities for students to create pathways that reflect their strengths and goals. High standards and student well-being are not competing ideals. Our children deserve an academic environment that challenges them while giving them room to grow.

Name one thing about Holmdel that always makes you smile.

Advocacy. There is something truly special about neighbors standing shoulder to shoulder for something bigger than themselves. And in Holmdel, we do this beautifully. Together, we’ve preserved open spaces and historic landmarks, called for transparency in local government, raised our voices to safeguard our natural resources, and worked together to protect the quality of our schools for our children. We educate ourselves, challenge ideas, and speak up for the things that matter.

There’s a kind of magic in solidarity, in that moment when one voice finds another, and then another, until what began as a single concern grows into a collective force. It’s the beautiful arithmetic of community, where one plus one somehow equals three, and the whole becomes something greater than the sum of its parts.

I’ve felt that magic firsthand going door to door in our neighborhoods, talking with people about our values and priorities, and discovering just how much common ground we share. There is something deeply affirming about realizing that the things you care about matter to your neighbors, too. We may not always agree on every issue, but we share something powerful: a belief that our community is worth showing up for.