Holmdel Board Of Education Race: Meet The Candidates

HOLMDEL, NJ — Here are the candidates running for three open seats on the Holmdel Board of Education.

The election will be next Tuesday, Nov. 5, the same day as the election for Holmdel Township Committee. We asked the candidates: What are the biggest issues facing Holmdel schools today and how would the school system — and students and residents — benefit by electing you?

The candidates provided the following answers:

Michael Sockol: Currently on the board, seeking re-election.

I’ve lived in Holmdel for 18 years with my wife, Lisa, and my two sons, Matt and Tom, who both graduated from the Holmdel school system. I’ve been on the school board for nine years, and we’ve accomplished a lot of things during that time span — budgets at or below the state mandated cap; safer, more secure schools; more academic, athletic, and artistic opportunities for our students; all-day kindergarten; and energy savings and technology enhancements.

On top of that, we received a near perfect mark in the state’s QSAC test, a rigorous review of all aspects of the district, from operational to financial to curricular. Our students’ average SAT scores (still the best way to measure college preparedness) rank first among comprehensive public high schools in Monmouth County, and Niche.com (which was used by 50 million people last year) ranked our school district number one in Monmouth County as well.

I’m seeking re-election, because more than ever we need experienced board members who are tested and trusted, who can make sure we continue to drive the district forward.

One of my favorite presidents, Abraham Lincoln, had a favorite phrase: Don't change horses in mid-stream. In 2017, we asked voters to give the district $40 million to modernize our school facilities, adding new classrooms while upgrading our athletic fields and our artistic spaces. I have been intimately involved in the planning and development of the Holmdel 2020 initiative, starting with its conception when I served as chair of the HBOE Budget and Finance committee.

So far, we have kept our promises — the project is on track and on budget. But it won't be completed until next year, and the pace has been particularly brisk throughout 2019. The school board still needs people who have been actively involved with the Holmdel 2020 project throughout the entire process to make sure it gets across the finish line. I’m asking voters on November 5th to help me finish the job.

Elizabeth Urbanski: Never elected to the board before

My grandfather purchased property in Holmdel in the 1930s as he was attracted to the unique, rural, character of what was then a much smaller town. We reside on our family’s organic tree farm in Holmdel, which is where I grew up and where we are raising our children. I attended Smith College and have a Masters from both New York University and Columbia University. I run my own professional art advisory firm, Elizabeth A Urbanski Associates, Inc. from Holmdel.

I am running for school board to improve transparency, accountability and excellence across the whole district and to be an advocate for parents, children and the whole community. As the school district focuses on data-driven analysis, the parents of Holmdel need to be fully informed of everything we are learning and the outcomes of this. School decision-making that affects our children can be opaque and I feel strongly that parents are better advocates when they are informed advocates. I will push for accountability to parents.

In recent years, we have experienced issues involving school safety and communication to the parents and children on this has not been as fully forthcoming as it should have been. Timeliness and clear communication are essential.

Another concern is the standards that are applied when making critical decisions about our children's educational options, as these choices have life-long effects. I will push for greater accountability not only on how decisions are made but also to study the outcomes of those decisions. The most recent U.S. News and World Report article places us at 106th in the state out of a list of 350. We need to understand what the reasons for this ranking are and what needs to be done to raise our score.

Joe Hammer: Joe is not currently on the board, but previously served two three-year terms (from 2013-2018) on the Holmdel school board and was president for two years of those terms.

I am passionate about improving the community and keeping this school district performing as one of the top 10 percent of districts in the state. I am an 18-year resident of Holmdel and work as an executive vice president at AlefEdge. With three children who have been in all four Holmdel public schools, I understand the merits/challenges of each school and is motivated to improve them.

Holmdel Schools are changing dramatically with the implementation of the $40 million Holmdel 2020 Initiative. Strong, principled leadership is needed to ensure the continued success of the Holmdel schools. Specifically, I am focusing on three key areas of improvement:

1. Expanding students’ career and college opportunities by providing SAT/ACT prep courses and partnering with business leaders and universities on internships
2. Keeping taxes low closely monitoring Holmdel 2020 deployments to ensure on-time and under budget
3. Improving Holmdel’s rankings and retention of students

Holmdel deserves innovative and experienced leadership on the Board of Education and I have the depth and breadth needed.

I served as a past president of the Board of Education and have a proven track record of outstanding results, including initiating the Holmdel 2020 Initiative, improving safety with Class 3 police officers, refinancing our debt saving taxpayers thousands of dollars, and rebranding the school district with a new website.

Jaimie Hynes: Another new candidate for the school board

My husband and I moved to Holmdel 15 years ago because of the excellent reputation of the Holmdel school district. We have two sets of twins who have attended Holmdel schools since Kindergarten and are now in middle school and in high school. I hold a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Seton Hall University and later completed the alternate route teaching program for the state of New Jersey.

My work experience includes being a teacher and guidance counselor in Keansburg and in Marlboro. As a former educator and committed volunteer throughout the Holmdel school district and community, I have experienced — in-depth and in-person - the critical issues facing Holmdel schools. Our school district needs to be fiscally responsible while improving our curriculum and school environment. We can improve the safety in our schools and create a better sense of community. Holmdel deserves the best, and I will continually push for excellence, ask the tough questions and demand thorough and transparent answers.

If elected as a Board member, I will listen to the community concerns and ensure that the voices of the students and their families are being heard. I know that in order to improve our school district, the teachers, administration and Board need to listen to one another and work together. My experience as a teacher and guidance counselor in neighboring school districts uniquely positions me to bring a fresh perspective to the school board.

This experience, along with my empathy for each child, are needed to face our district's challenges. I look forward to working together with our community to secure quality education in the safest environment possible for ALL of our students.

Lori Ammirati is currently on the board and seeking re-election.

I have lived in Holmdel for the past 13 years with my husband, Patrick, and my four sons. My two youngest sons, Nicholas and Thomas, have attended all Holmdel public schools and are currently seniors at Holmdel High School. My two oldest sons, Patrick and Christopher, are Holmdel public school graduates.

I am presently in my 32nd year of teaching in the NYC Department of Education. As an educator I have worn many different hats, some of them being a classroom teacher for grades K-8, Technology Coach, STEM Lead, Curriculum and Instruction Frameworks writer, and Building Response Safety Team leader. After 32 years I am blessed to say that I still love walking into my building every day and being part of an amazing learning environment.

It is my passion for education that drives me to run for re-election to the Holmdel BOE. I am proud of the efforts that are being made in our school system but there is always room for improvement. Our goals this year focus on the Holmdel Referendum which will provide us with the comprehensive 7-12 complex that will help us to ensure our students stay in the district and pursue their passion through our Career Pathways that will provide them with coursework and possible internships.

Social and emotional learning will enhance our students' ability to integrate attitudes, skills and behaviors so that they can manage and deal with daily tasks and challenges. Homework practices and policies will be reviewed using studies of current research so that we can define best practices for the use of homework. Growth data is a goal in which we will expand the collection of student growth data and the application of that data to increase student achievement across content areas.

I feel my experience as a current Board Member and educator will serve me well as we continue to move Holmdel forward in its efforts to be among the top high schools in New Jersey.

John Martinez is seeking a seat on the board as well. He is a business owner and a softball coach, who has coached softball for the HYAA softball for many years. "I believe it is important to give back to the community in which one lives," he has said in the past when he ran for a seat on the Holmdel school board before.