Take Five: South Orange-Maplewood BOE Candidate Sharon Kraus

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — There are seats opening up on the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education and Patch caught up with the candidates ahead of the general election this November.

Questionnaires were sent out out to all candidates registered with the County Clerk's Office in the 2019 general election using the email addresses they went on file with. The responses will be posted on the site by those who submitted in the order in which they were received. They will also be included in an election preview wrap.

This Take Five features Sharon Tanenbaum Kraus. Her responses to the questions are below and unedited.

1. Why are you running for BOE?

I’ll be honest: Running for the board of education has not been a long-simmering dream of mine. In fact, I can narrow it down to one specific decision. In June, the board approved another switch in vendors for paraprofessionals in our district (once again, neglecting to hire them in-house). The ripple effect would mean that the paras that my child had already connected with would potentially not be with him for another year. That upheaval to a child—who was already one of the most vulnerable in the district—was seemingly made to save money. I recognize that the board had its reasons, but as a parent to a child in the special education program, I felt like no one was speaking for my kid, my family, and my community.

So I am running to be that voice for all of our students, but not only in special education. I am an independent candidate, who, despite having an appreciation for the special interest groups in our towns, is not tied to any. I hope to bring a balanced view, an unwavering voice, and a dedication to the students both now and in the future.

2. What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

As a parent to three small children, my top priority to help them feel safe and supported so that they can reach their potential is consistency. As I look at our board and our numerous superintendents and interim administrative positions, I realize our biggest challenge is inconsistency. Without a steady presence, we cannot have a steady progress. With Dr. Taylor’s arrival, I’m hopeful we are at the beginning of a journey to reinstate that consistency. As a board member, I look forward to working with him and the administration to make sure we stay on the right path that leads to success for all of our students.

3. What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Loyal.
Supportive.
Communicative.

4. What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

I have been a journalist for the last 15 years, so I am incredibly comfortable at asking questions both big and small. I’m not intimidated by subjects or terms that I don’t know; I simply research them to such a degree that I become expert enough to write an authoritative story on them. Being a journalist, I understand the importance of learning all sides to a story.

Also, I am a parent to three small children (just one in the district so far) so I am painstakingly, personally invested in seeing our district reach its potential.

5. Tell me something about you, like hobbies or interests, that have nothing to do with the campaign.

When I lived in New York City, I started a desserts-delivery service. My specialty were cupcakes (vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream were the most popular flavor) and puffins (a sort-of doughnut muffin rolled in cinnamon and sugar). I closed down the business after two years, but I still bake regularly (much to my office’s pleasure).

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.