Marlboro Board Of Education Election 2026: Samantha Schnurr

MARLBORO, NJ — Candidate Samantha Schnurr is running for election to the Board of Education in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

In November, Schnurr will run for one of three open full-term seats on the board.

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She will face off against Valentina Mendez, Tara Barry and Anthony Di Capua, who are running under the "Accountability, Commitment, Education" campaign; Amy Bolowitz, who is running under the "Advancing Marlboro's Youth" campaign; and Kostantinos Skordalos.

Chris Smith is also running for a two-year unexpired term on the board under the "Community, Character, Commitment" campaign against Cheryl Scuorzo, who is running under the "Accountability, Commitment, Education" campaign.

Ahead of the election, Patch posed several questions to Schnurr 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 Marlboro 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 Marlboro? Contact Sara Winick at sara.winick@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Samantha Schnurr

Age: 34
Town of Residence: Marlboro
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication, The George Washington University
Occupation: Journalist

What drove you to seek public office?

Having spent nearly 20 years as a Marlboro resident and as an alum of the Marlboro school system, the town and its schools are precious to me.

Now, as a parent raising my own child in the community that helped raise me, I feel a responsibility to preserve and build upon Marlboro's legacy of educational excellence. My goal is to ensure that the next generation of Marlboro students has even greater opportunities to discover their interests, challenge themselves, and fulfill their dreams.

Also, when I started paying attention, I became aware of the same circle of voices that were involved in the board in recent years. I want to bring a fresh, inclusive perspective that fosters more community participation and awareness of board business.

With all of that in mind, I felt the best way to put my convictions into action was to run for a seat on the board.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I bring the perspective of someone whose life was shaped by Marlboro's education. I was a member of the first sixth-grade class at Marlboro Memorial Middle School, was accepted into the Law and Public Service Learning Center at Colts Neck High School, and ultimately graduated from The George Washington University.

I understand firsthand the profound impact a strong, comprehensive education can have on a student's future because I experienced it myself. The rigorous academics, dedicated teachers, and extracurricular opportunities I experienced in middle school helped shape my academic path, professional ambitions, and ultimately, the course of my life.

That experience gives me both a personal understanding of what this district can make possible and a lasting commitment to ensuring today's students have even better opportunities.

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

I bring more than a decade of professional experience as an award-winning journalist, a career that has demanded accuracy, objectivity, and adherence to editorial and legal standards, often under tight deadlines and in high-pressure circumstances.

From the White House press briefing room to backstage at New York Fashion Week, I've learned to navigate unfamiliar situations, ask thoughtful and sometimes difficult questions, identify gaps in information, and recognize what matters most to the people I'm serving.

My years in newsrooms have also taught me not only to listen, prepare, and collaborate, but also what can be accomplished when individuals with different backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise work toward a common goal.

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

My top priorities would be managing the budget pressures created by rising healthcare costs, maintaining strong academic performance while improving student growth, and ensuring technology supports students' ability to think independently.

On healthcare costs, fiscal responsibility begins with understanding what is driving increases and where the district can act. I would advocate for long-term budget planning, careful evaluation of potential savings, and continued exploration of options within state requirements and existing agreements. Where solutions require state action, we should advocate for them while protecting educational quality and supporting our teachers and staff.

Academically, Marlboro students continue to demonstrate strong, above-average performance, but recent academic growth decline deserves closer examination. My priority would be to better understand what's driving the trend, evaluate the effectiveness of measures already implemented, and ensure that teachers and parents are part of the conversation. While the district's academic performance should always exceed state standards, we should hold ourselves to something even more important: Marlboro's standard.

Finally, we need to maintain a thoughtful approach to technology in education. Students must develop the digital skills necessary for their futures without sacrificing their ability to think independently. While I don't believe banning technology would ultimately serve students' best interests, not every lesson needs a screen. As someone who has spent much of my professional life at a computer, I know how draining that can be. I would support a curriculum that teaches students to use technology to develop their own ideas rather than replace independent thought, with a strong emphasis on digital literacy. Students need to know how to evaluate sources, distinguish fact from fiction, and recognize that AI can generate content that is not real.

Name one thing about Marlboro that always makes you smile.

My neighborhood. Every time I run into a neighbor on a walk around the block, I'm reminded of the best of Marlboro.

We celebrate each other's happy moments, show up during difficult ones, and look out for one another through everything in between. It's a daily reminder of what it means to be part of a community.