Manchester School Board Election 2020: Laura Wingler

MANCHESTER, NJ — When voters go to the polls Nov. 3, they will be asked to choose four people to serve on the Manchester Township Board of Education.

There three, three-year full terms, and one one-year unfinished term up for election. The Board of Education is volunteer, meaning its members do not get paid to serve.

Patch asked each candidate to answer questions to give voters information about who they are and their stances on various issues. We are printing their responses in full, unedited except for spelling or punctuation.

Here are the answers from Laura Wingler, who is seeking election to a three-year term. She is running under the slogan Better Educational Technology.

Previous elective office, if any:

N/A

Does anyone in your family work for the school district or in politics?

No

Education

Master's of Fine Arts in creative writing from Western Connecticut State University, master's of education in instructional design and educational technology from American College of Education; bachelor's from Rider University; Certificates in ADA & web accessibility, inclusive teaching, instructional design.

Occupation

eLearning Instructional Designer

Why are you seeking a seat on the school board?

You can be the most active parent in your child’s education and still feel like you are getting nowhere. As an educator myself, I have a deep respect for teachers and their passion, and I want to serve in a way that advocates for all students to access quality education and services both remotely and when they are in the classroom.

The single most pressing issue facing our school district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our school district right now is the pandemic and our educational technology. With the unprepared reliance on remote learning, families and educators have a bad taste in their mouth when it comes to what it is and how it should work. Our district has the technology already, but we are not using it appropriately, effectively, or making it accessible to serve all students. When it comes to online learning, there are a lot of barriers that students can face, and in order to remove those barriers, they need to be acknowledged and addressed. We have families in this community that do not have access to the internet or to a computer and simply giving them a Chromebook isn’t the answer — it is a lot more complex than that.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking to serve on the school board seat?

I am definitely the outsider on the ballot. But I will say this — I do not talk about doing things I do not do myself. Throughout this campaign, I am showcasing how it could be because I believe in leading by example. I started a Facebook page called “Better Educational Technology” to demonstrate the ways in which we can address issues in our remote learning practices so at least I can show people how it could be rather than complaining about how it is.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Students with IEPs/504 plans deserve the same opportunities as their peers to be a part of the school community, and to be included in afterschool activities, programs, and sports.

Social Emotional Learning needs to play a larger part in our curriculum beyond elementary school.
Students with behavioral disabilities need stronger programming to keep them in their LRE placements.

When the pandemic is over, I think that the Google Classroom should not fade away because it has shown to be a tool that can help keep a stable connection between teachers and families, and help students stay on track when they are not at school.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you will be effective on the school board?

After spending over a decade in the business world in marketing and account management, I have solid experience in effective communication, managing budgets, and implementing innovation.
More importantly, I have taught both developmental and advanced courses at the college level for several years and have been responsible for students with a wide range of abilities. Not all of my students have been successful, and those few students influenced me to do better, to examine my materials, my approach, and to find ways to remove barriers. Education is a field where you need to keep trying and never give up.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I do not expect to win against the incumbents, but regardless, I am going to get my point across —Better education and integrating technology into learning, both in-person and remote, does not need to be complicated or expensive.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My mother told me when I was young to learn two jobs or skills, to always have something else to fall back on. And I did that, and more — I’m an educator, a writer, an advocate, and an instructional designer.