Get To Know Mountainside School Candidate: Candice Schiano

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ — Candice Schiano is the only one running for election in the uncontested Mountainside School Board election being held on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Schiano is running for one of two three-year seats on the board.

Candice Schiano

Description:

My name is Candice Schiano. I am 41 years old and married with two children. I have a 9-year-old son in 4th
grade at Deerfield and a 5-year-old daughter in kindergarten at Beechwood. I am a life-long Mountainside
resident, alumni of Deerfield School, and a graduate of Seton Hall University with a Master’s Degree in
Education. I am a certified K-8 elementary teacher, English teacher and Supervisor. Currently I am employed
by Springfield Public Schools and am the Supervisor of Humanities for grades PreK-12.

Why are you running for the school board?

I am running for the school board because I feel it is important for residents to have an active role in the
community. I am a life-long resident of Mountainside and feel that it is necessary to give back to this wonderful community as I had an amazing educational and social experience growing up in Mountainside. I want the children in the community to have that same experience. Given my background in education I feel that serving on the BOE is a perfect fit.

What experience do you have that would help you serving on the school board?

I have been in education for the past 19 years. I taught middle school English for 15 years in Springfield Public
Schools. For 10 years I was President of the Springfield Education Association and lead negotiator for the
Springfield Education Association Negotiating team. I spent many years working with the students, parents,
teachers/staff, BOE, administration and the NJEA while also being a full-time teacher teaching 6th grade
English. After 15 years of teaching I moved into a more extensive role in the district as a department
supervisor.

Currently, I supervise the English, World Language, Social Studies and ESL departments for
grades preK-12. Given this role, I am able to see a different side of education where I collaborate and work
with the teachers by providing the best opportunities and curriculum for our students. I oversee the curriculum in these departments and am well versed in all state testing such as PARCC, PSAT, SAT, and AP assessment exams. I am responsible for organizing a school budget for all of my departments, implementing new programs, courses, and professional development, observing and evaluating teaching staff for grades preK-12, working with the administration in scheduling teachers at the high school level, assisting students along with their counselors to guide them to a successful educational path, meeting with parents, and negotiating for the Supervisors Association.

I work closely with all of the principals in the district as well as with the central office staff including the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Director of Special Services, Director of Human Resources and Business Administrator.

What issues would you like to see addressed if elected?

I would like to work with the other BOE members and Administration on curriculum and any other topics where I can share my educational expertise. Mountainside is a fantastic school district and I would like to continue that trend by being on the BOE.

— (If you are a candidate and would like to participate in the profile, please email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com)

(Image provided: Candice Schiano)

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