Meet The Candidate: Lisa Rodgers For South Brunswick BOE

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — South Brunswick Board of Education member Lisa Rodgers, is running for re-election. A BOE member for the past three years, Rodgers has many accomplishments to her name. She believes all children should get the education they deserve, including average students.

Rodgers has a Bachelor's in Business Administration and is the former Vice President of American Express Global Information Services.

Read below to learn more about Rodgers and her platform for the upcoming elections in South Brunswick.

Name: Lisa Rodgers

Position Sought: South Brunswick Board of Education

Age (as of Election Day): 60

Party Affiliation: None

Family: Husband, Bob; children Jessica, 20, and John, 18 and two dogs - Brandie and Truffles

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: No

Education: Bachelor's Business Administration

Occupation: Currently Retired. Former Vice President American Express Global Information Services - Strategic Planning and Project Management

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Elected to Board of Ed three years ago.

Campaign website: www.voterodgers.org

Why are you seeking elective office?

There are multiple challenges that are facing school districts in NJ, and though it is important to ensure that they are all addressed, resources are finite, (people, time, money), therefore it is necessary to prioritize. I have a vested interest to find fiscally responsible solutions which yield maximum benefits. However, it is important that we do not turn away from new ideas.

South Brunswick School District (SBSD) continues to embrace innovation that benefits our students, teachers, and taxpayers, while continuing to be vigilant at ensuring transparency, especially around how decisions are made including curriculum, facilities, policies, etc.

Given this time we are living in is so different, the challenges go above and beyond the normal discussion which is why consistency matters; because consistency builds momentum which leads to progress.

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

Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic is the priority, but I believe there are three other pressing issues we are facing in SBSD as well in New Jersey - reduction of state funding; social justice /critical race theory; anti-bullying/mental health and I go into detail about each on my website - so please visit my site to gain an understanding of my positions.

Regarding the COVID -19 pandemic, as it relates to schools, there is uncertainty on how the closures and the switch to online instruction last year impacted student achievement and the concern as to whether we will be required to convert again. SBSD was one of the first districts to have an online conversion plan in March 2020 and that is due to the foresight of the administration and the relationship with the Board of Ed. The district was able to react ahead of the closure by providing our teachers with the tools necessary to prepare for online teaching, and the teachers, knowing the difficulties, stepped up and worked hard. Moving forward leaders will continue to grapple with impossible choices which balance health risks with in-person learning against the educational needs of children.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I'm currently serving on three board committees, Facilities, Negotiations/Transportation and am Chairwoman of the Curriculum Committee. I've always been a person that is looking to better a program and as a new member of the Board, I made several recommendations to the administration and the Board which was implemented, including:

• Review of all HS Math classes to reduce the required pre-requisite grades
• Review of Social Studies, History and Civics to look at thematic vs. chronological teachings and the role of citizens within society;
• Re-design of the committee agendas and minutes; create a set meeting schedule of all committees and that each committee report at each board meeting.

In addition, I worked with Superintendent Scott Feder and other superintendents from across the state, to develop and coordinate a phone and email blitz to members of the NJ Legislature and Governor Murphy from more than 200 districts calling on our state to ensure all 1.4 million students receive educational programming and services they deserve through a fair and equitable funding formula.

I am also a member of Save Our Schools NJ - a grassroots, all-volunteer organization of supporters that believe every child in NJ should have access to a high-quality public education.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Every child has the potential to do great things and there are many factors involved in ensuring the success of a child and as I describe on my website in detail, I believe it comes down to 3 key factors - stress, learning opportunities, and inclusivity.

Stress levels differ from student to student. When students are stressed, depressed or are dealing with anxiety they are more likely to disengage inside the classroom. Learning opportunities must continue to be addressed with instruction that promotes complex thinking over memorization and allows for a greater student population to stretch their abilities by decreasing pre-requisite grade requirements and continue to identify ways to help all students succeed in career or college.

Inclusivity and diversity prepare every student with the ability to be part of a growing diverse society. We all have a responsibility to challenge stereotypes to ensure those that are deemed “not as intelligent” or “not as athletic” or “not as important” are recognized.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Since 2010 and prior to joining the South Brunswick Board of Education, I was and still am a passionate advocate for public schools to find solutions to ensure every student reaches their potential. Professionally, I had a career that was multi-faceted. Having been employed for over 18 years by American Express, I retired as VP Global Information Services - VP of Strategic Planning and Project Management. One of my greatest accomplishments was being awarded The American Express Chairmen’s Award from Mr. Ken Chenault, CEO for my managerial, project management and fiscal achievements. After leaving American Express to focus on my family, I provided consulting services to multiple companies before turning my efforts to owning a small business.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Stand up for what you believe in even if you are standing alone.

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

Every Child Counts - that has been my motto since 2010. We must ensure that each child is getting the education that they deserve. While it is important to ensure resources are available for our neediest students, and our lowest-performing students and the curriculum is challenging enough for our top performers, we must ensure that the average student's needs are also met. This is accomplished by ensuring targeted and appropriate learning opportunities are provided while fiscal and legal responsibilities are being met.

In anticipation of the upcoming election, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns. We will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

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