Get To Know Watchung School Candidate: Jessica Ingrassia

WATCHUNG, NJ — Jessica Ingrassia 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.

Jessica Ingrassia

Description:

I’m Jessica Ingrassia. My husband Anthony and I live on High Oaks Drive in Watchung with our three children; Anthony, Mary Leigh and Chris. We built our house across from my husband’s childhood home, where his parents Gloria and Anthony have lived for 45 years.

I grew up in Fairfax County, Virginia and graduated from Emory University. I worked in the media and entertainment industry in California for many years, ultimately moving to New York as Vice President of Integrated Sales & Marketing at Fox, where I structured partnerships for major accounts across News Corporation’s film, television and print properties.

After 15 years in the workforce, I decided to stay home with my children full-time. I’ve volunteered for the past three years at Bayberry Elementary as a class mom, weekly lunch volunteer and a special event committee chair.

Why are you running for the school board?

I’m running for the board, together with Dorie Harvey and Rhea Williams, for a New Vision and New Direction for our district schools. A great school district is so vital to our quality of life and our property values here in Watchung. Unfortunately, our schools’ performance, culture and overall quality have diminished over the past few years. I believe that 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.

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

My career required thorough and careful analysis of different and sometimes diverging objectives, the ability to build consensus across different groups to reach common goals, strategic allocation of budgets and maximization of resources. These are all skills that would be useful on the Board of Education. I have a strong work ethic and I embrace challenges. I believe in integrity and accountability, and I think Watchung is entitled to a school board that prioritizes those values and acts accordingly.

What issues would you like to see addressed if elected?

As parents, we only get one shot at our children’s educational years. We can’t afford lost years or declining school performance due to administrative turmoil. If elected, I would work to make Watchung Borough a school district that puts children first, not the administration or bureaucracy; a school district that respects and values all parents, not one that dismisses or underestimates parental concerns; and a school district in which each child thrives, in a nurturing educational environment that allows them to reach their unique and individual potential. I would be very grateful for your support!

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

(Image by Josh Levine: Jessica Ingrassia)

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