Introducing Dr. Marc Schaeffer, RIH School Board Candidate

On Election Day, November 5, Wyckoff voters have the opportunity to choose their representatives to the Ramapo-Indian Hills School Board and the Wyckoff K-8 Board of Education. These volunteer, non-partisan representatives plot the course of education for the district’s children for the present and the future.

I write to introduce myself as a candidate for a seat on the Ramapo-Indian Hills School Board. My name is Dr. Marc Schaeffer. The RIH District is blessed with exceptional teachers, staff, parents, facilities and resources. The Board’s central goal should be to deliver every iota of benefit from that affluence to support the success of our students.

I hope you will get out to vote and consider my qualifications as you make a choice for this important role. My name will appear in Column #1 on the ballot.

In sum, I’m a 26 year Wyckoff resident, retired from a nearly 40 year career in public higher education. I’m married for 42 years to my wife Lee, who is Chief Operating Officer at West Bergen Mental Health Care in Ridgewood. Our son David is a Lincoln, Eisenhower, Ramapo High School and William Paterson University graduate. He actually had Mrs. MacKay (now Superintendent) for Health at Eisenhower!

In addition to bachelor’s and master’s degrees (Psychology, cum laude and College Counseling, respectively), I hold a doctoral degree (Ed.D.) in higher education from Columbia University (Teachers College).

For nearly 16 years I served as Chief of Staff to the President and Board of Trustees at William Paterson University and thus I am intimately familiar with the role, functions and operations of a public board.

I strongly believe that it would serve all constituencies (students, teachers, staff, administration, and the public) best interests to add a board member with academic and professional expertise in education to complement the business and legal expertise of the current board members. Breadth and variety of experience and viewpoint is a very important attribute of successful boards because those boards are better able to contribute the broadest perspectives and expertise to addressing issues that come before it.

Education has been my lifelong passion and in retirement I want to give back to my community by sharing my expertise and experience for the betterment of its students. I have the time and the commitment to do so.

The theme of my candidacy is “Putting Students First.” By this I mean that I will evaluate every decision through the lens of whether that particular allocation of precious public tax dollars is the best possible choice to enhance student success. If I’ve learned one thing from 40 years in the field, it’s that education is the catalyst empowering students to pursue their best future. Every member of the RIH district owes it to every student to provide those students with the greatest opportunity to maximize their potential.

The coming year will be particularly important for the RIH community. The Board is expected to embark on a strategic planning process that has the potential to shape crucial RIH goals and objectives for years to come. I have extensive experience undertaking and executing strategic planning for a major regional University and believe that I have much to contribute to this process.

I have made myself available to hear the thoughts and concerns regarding issues facing students, faculty, staff and taxpayers in the RIH community. Along with my colleague Dr. Fran Nelson (column #4), we hosted several open houses to hear your views and concerns regarding the RIH district. The final open house will be on October 29 from 7-9pm. Please contact me at schaefferm@verizon.net for the location.

I can be reached by e-mail at the address above. I welcome hearing your views, concerns and questions. You can learn more about me and my career at my LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-marc-schaeffer-472a8828/

Thank you for considering my candidacy!