Election 2022: Moorestown School Board Candidate Mark Snyder

MOORESTOWN, NJ — In the 2022 general election, residents of South Jersey will be voting for state and local officials. Patch has asked candidates in contested races to answer profiles about their campaigns.

Here is the candidate profile of Mark Snyder, seeking another term as a member of the Moorestown Board of Education.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk. The responses received will be published between now and the Nov. 8 general election. Local candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) can contact Michelle.Rotuno-Johnson@patch.com.

Name: Mark Snyder

Age: 44

Town of residence: Moorestown

Position sought: Member – Board of Education

Family: Twin Daughters in 5th Grade

Education: University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Temple University (PhD)

Occupation: Higher Education - Director of Learning Assessment

What previous or current elected/appointed offices have you held?

Moorestown Board of Education

Why are you seeking to run for the school board?

I have served on the Moorestown Board of Education since January of 2020. My desire to serve Moorestown Township Public Schools on the Board of Education is rooted in my aspiration to serve our community in a way that allows me to express my passions and expertise. For me, that passion has always been education and the idea that our schools can live up to the expectations that the public trust has bestowed upon them.

I have known that I wanted to serve on the school board for the school district my children attended ever since my first experiences as a high school Special Education, English and Mathematics teacher. It was then that I realized the impact that a thoughtful board overseeing the policy, planning, and oversight of a school district could have for its students. My time on the Moorestown Board of Education these past 3 years have only cemented that belief. I strive to begin and end any conversation I have related to our Board of Education responsibilities by asking myself the simple questions, “How does this impact our students?” and “Does it help them achieve their best outcome?”. The answers are rarely simple, but I believe they should guide me in this role.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

My experiences, both inside and outside the classroom, have given me the motivation for the work required to help students achieve their goals. I have been incredibly fortunate that my career has afforded me the kinds of experiences and expertise that can be valuable in the function of a school district board of education. I have learned over the past 3 years how best to put my background in instructional design, educational assessment, and social science research to best use for the district as I provide feedback, ask questions, and thoughtfully consider courses of action on the likelihood that they may improve the student experience. Given the finite nature of all resources necessary for the running of the district, student centered deliberation is essential for making difficult choices and setting appropriate district priorities.

What is your stance on the sexual education curriculum that Gov. Murphy put forth earlier this year?

Our role as board members is to ensure that the curriculum written and used to facilitate instruction follows guidelines and incorporates the 2020 New Jersey Student Learning Standards relevant for that domain. As board members we are not, nor need we be experts in any of the domains in which our students are instructed, be they k-3 language arts, chemistry, calculus, or health and physical education. As a board member, I am very interested in making the curriculum our district designs accessible to parents to promote transparency and trust. I have faith and confidence in the content experts, administration, and ultimately the teachers to make the best curricular decisions for our students across all content areas.

The health and physical education standards are unique in that parents do have the opportunity to opt out of certain lessons given the sensitive content involved. New Jersey does not mandate curriculum, only the standards individual districts must use to create their own curriculum. Review of example curriculum that is made available for reference to districts is not something a board of education need do unless their school district proposed that curriculum for adoption. My concern has been and will continue to be how our curriculum adheres to external accreditation and internal guidelines and ultimately sets our students up for success.

What would have been some of your important considerations if you had been on the board during the recent negotiations with the Moorestown Education Association?

As the chair of the negotiations committee for the Moorestown Board of Education I am grateful to the other members of my committee, district administration and the entire Moorestown Education Association for working to and reaching a settlement that both denotes the level of import our teachers represent and continues to afford our students with opportunities for success. The continued decrease in newly certified educators will make recruiting and retaining educators challenging. I believe in highlighting our exemplary educators and the innovative ways that they continue to help our students. As the most significant financial obligation to the district, my consideration in recent and future negotiations is to continue to align our district priorities and to enter and exit negotiations with the shared goals I know exist.

What is the most important issue in your district and how do you intend to address it?

The most important challenge to me as a potential board member over the next three years is helping the district set, track, and evaluate broad strategic district goals designed to continue to improve the district. I am excited by our new administrative leadership and have confidence that district operations will continue to maintain safe and fruitful student-centered environments. The opportunity to help guide the district during the next three years with a clear focus on long term goals to move the district forward is my priority as I hope to remain on the Moorestown Board of Education.

What other issues do you feel must be tackled in your school district that have not been discussed already and how would you tackle these?

Our district has been underfunded in the state funding formular over the past decade and we need to continue to advocate for our fair share of the state allocated funds. The landscape and opportunities in higher education are at a critical juncture, and it is important to me that we help best prepare our students for the new and exciting challenges they will face upon graduation. Prioritizing perseverance and flexibility of thought and problem solving will be essential as they are presented with yet unknown opportunities.

What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign?

Please go to www.marksnyderboe.com for updates, information, or if anyone would like to contact me with any questions or concerns.