Get To Know Watchung School Candidate: Dorie Harvey

WATCHUNG, NJ — Dorie Harvey is one of the six candidates running for election in the contested 2018 Watchung School Board election being held on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

There are three, three-year seats up for grabs on the board. Candidates include: Dorie Harvey, Margo Langer, George Colonias, Jessica Ingrassia, Richard Buccarelli and Rhea Qualls Williams.

Dorie Harvey

Description:

I was born in Staten Island, grew up in Jersey City, and at a young age was enrolled in gifted and talented classes and graduated with honors in Finance from high school. I eventually attended PACE University in Manhattan and graduated cum laude from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California from their Motion Pictures and Television graduate program with an MFA. I worked in the motion pictures and television industry in California, New York, and internationally for many years. I've worked as a production coordinator, first assistant director, freelance photographer, and producer among other positions, on independent feature films, commercials for products such as Jaguar, Windex, and Shishedo, and television shows/ networks such as Nickelodeon Jr., Fox News Channel, Oxygen Network (Oprah Winfrey), and Donald Trumps "The Apprentice."

All of my positions encompassed budgeting, conflict resolution, teamwork, the hiring of crew/ actors, organizing crew/ actor schedules, working with vendors, maintaining the daily functions of a production set, and managing the day to day workflow of the production office. I ultimately became a high school Media Arts master teacher of photography, film making, and animation in the Jersey City Public Schools.

I am married to Dr. Craig Harvey and I live on Johnston Drive in Watchung with our two children, Amelie, 7 years old, and Noah, 4 years old, and my mother, Patricia Dunham who is a retired public school teacher of more than 40 years. We decided to make Watchung our home a little over three years ago because of the excellent public school system. When my children entered Bayberry, I became active in the Bayberry Elementary school by volunteering for events with the PTO whenever possible, consistently attending board of education meetings, and becoming the President of the Watchung Special Education Parent Advisory Group which initially was a community group but has recently become a district-sanctioned organization.

Why are you running for the school board?

I believe firmly in character, morals, ethics, and honestly feel your word is your bond. So why am I running for the Watchung Borough Board of Education, especially when I have only lived here for such a short time? Why am I running with Jessica Ingrassia and Rhea Qualls Williams as a team for a New Vision and New Direction for our district schools?

Because this Board of Education has failed to meet the needs of the students in this district. This town needs a new vision and a new direction. We believe we can be a productive part of restoring Watchung’s schools to their historically high levels of quality through leadership with integrity, accountability for district performance and transparency in communication. We believe Watchung is entitled to a school board that prioritizes those values and acts accordingly.

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

Teaching for more than 12 years as a public school teacher in a performing arts high school and program for the artistically inclined, I have first-hand knowledge of the day to day functions of an educational institution. I have served on numerous curriculum committees as members and head teacher for over seven years and have served on many hiring committees for staff. In my classroom, I design and present exciting lessons that actively engage learners, provide students with opportunities to reach their fullest potential through creative expression, media aesthetics, portfolio creation, competitions, college acceptances, and scholarships. All of the skills I have and continue to acquire will be useful as a Watchung Borough School Board member.

We are a team that -

• Respects and values all parents.
• Puts children first.
• Promotes educating the whole child.
• Increase safety and security.
• Fully supports Special Education.
• Wants to continue and increase programs.
• Ensure the schools are in State Compliance with State Mandates.
• Support improvement in Educational Curriculum.
• Increase school ranking.
• Increase standardized tests scores.
• Improve school climate.
• Demands accountability for district performance.

- Provide leadership with integrity.

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

(Image provided: Dorie Harvey)

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