Meet the Bloomfield residents running for the Board of Education in 2021

This year, six Bloomfield residents are running for three open seats on the township’s Board of Education.

The Board of Education is the elected body that oversees Bloomfield’s public schools. Boards are non-partisan and board members don’t get paid for their service. They set the policies and goals for the district and oversee its administration by the superintendent, the district’s chief executive officer.

Bloomfield Pulse asked this year’s Bloomfield Board of Education candidates to respond to a set of questions to help voters decide which three of the six to vote for in the 2021 election.

Below are the responses, republished unedited with permission from Bloomfield Pulse.

Click the candidate’s name to skip to their Q&A:

Strength and Experience slate

Shane Berger
Michael Heller
Satenik Margaryan

For Our Kids slate

And you can learn more about the candidates running for the Bloomfield Board of Education in this recording of our 2021 Bloomfield Board of Education Candidates Forum:

Shane Berger, running with the Strength and Experience slate

Reasons for Seeking Election

What motivated you to want to become a board member?

A strong belief in the Bloomfield Public School system predicated my campaign for re-election to serve a fourth term on our local school board. Running as an incumbent provides me with an opportunity to highlight my contributions to advance public education for all of our students but also to point out how when students, parents, and teachers all work together there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome.

In what school or district activities have you been involved?

I have loyally served Bloomfield on a myriad of Boards and Commissions on every level. Locally, I have participated in over 200 Board of Education meetings, served on each of the Curriculum, Personnel and Finance/Facilities twice. On the County level, I serve on the Essex County Educational Services Commission as Executive Committee Member and the Chair of the Finance Committee. Statewide. I represent Bloomfield as the Essex County Representative on the Board of Directors for the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA). I also sat on the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (2015-2018) which is a state/federal partnership designed to award grants to local communities on cultural and historical issues.

What particular skills or experiences qualify you to serve as a school board member?

Friends and neighbors, being effective Board Members is not intuitive, it is a craft that takes time to learn. The NJSBA provides a vast array of training opportunities in the Board Member Academy that are integral to Board Members reaching their full potential.

Education Issues and Needs

What are 2-3 strengths of which our school district can be proud of? Why do you see these as strengths?

There are two items I would like to highlight I am proud of. Firstly, all of Certificated and non-Certificated staff! From the administration on down we have to best employees in the state! Secondly, the foundation of the Bloomfield schools is our eight diverse neighborhood elementary schools that feed a 7-8 Bloomfield Middle School (BMS) and our comprehensive high school (BHS). This configuration provides all educational stakeholders: students, parents, and teachers the greatest opportunity to monitor education as close to home as possible.In order to combat unfinished learning due to COVD-19, my colleagues and I on the Board created two massive programs BEFORE the Governor’s mandate. The extended school year program during this last summer saw over 1000 students take advantage of it to get back into school mode. The second program, our “Backstop” after-school program, begins in mid-October and will provide our students with more essential time with our own certificated staff to meet our student’s needs.

What are 2-3 needs that must be priorities for our district to address? Why do you see these as needs?

Safety and Unfinished learning must be the primary concerns of the Board of Education. In my position as a Board of Education Member, I refused to let the Covid 19 crisis damage our student’s education and worked with my colleagues and administrators to prepare for the students’ return! We have created two new programs: FREE Extended School Year (Summer School) and a FREE “Backstop” program that provides at-risk students an extra meaningful hour after school.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Board

What do you believe are the most important characteristics of an effective school board? Of an effective school board member?

The two most important characteristics for effective Board Members are: STRENGTH and EXPERIENCE! My proven leadership has shown that these are not just a campaign slogan but a worldview. I stood firm with my colleagues and Superintendent in adding 12 interventionists to elementary teaching staff, supporting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, and championing all Home and School Associations by eliminating profligate bus fees!

An individual school board member has no authority; only the board as a whole can make decisions for the district. What skills or traits will allow you to contribute to effective operations of the board as a whole?

Responsible Board members that train as much as possible continuously learning, asking questions and bringing back vital information home earn various certifications. In May of 2020, I was recognized for reaching the highest level: Certified Board Leader.

Specific Issues

What do you see as the role of technology in education for all students?

In 2015, I worked with my colleagues and administration to launch our One-to-One computer initiative. I remember standing in BMS with President Fischman handing out the equipment watching the students’ and parents’ reactions, we had tears in our eyes. The Board rallied and aligned the curriculum requirements with technological advances and the budget to produce an action plan that would spread Districtwide. In retrospect, that launched us into the 21st Century and ultimately helped mitigate Covid 19 crisis.

What should our school district be doing to ensure the safety of students and staff?

We need to continue following CDC and state guidelines to ensure the safety of students and staff during this pandemic.

What responsibilities, if any, should district’s assume for dealing with such societal problems as poverty, hunger, emotional illness or drug abuse?

We have programs that address income and food insecurity because it is hard for hungry students to learn. I also work with my colleagues on prescient social-emotional issues within the district at every Board meeting.

How can schools address the learning needs of students from other cultures and other languages?

English language learners are a topic for discussion not only at the kitchen table but in our Board Committees as well. I and my colleagues continue to rise to the challenges by supporting our Heritage Speakers and our Seals of Biliteracy Program.

Michael Heller, running with the Strength and Experience slate

Reasons for Seeking Election

What motivated you to want to become a board member?

I have lived in Bloomfield for 23 years and have worked in higher education for 25 years. As someone who has taught Spanish to university and high school students, I have always had an interest in education. My interest in the Bloomfield Schools became concrete when my own children entered the District 12 years ago. I started to attend Meetings regularly as a private citizen, and offered input on agenda matters and other items of concern. Early in my participation, I advocated for the restoration of world language instruction in the elementary schools after all language teaching positions had been eliminated due to budgetary constraints.

My motivation to be a Board Member comes from my strong belief in public education, local control, and that involved communities and leaders have positive impacts on student achievement.

In what school or district activities have you been involved?

My daughters attended Berkeley Elementary and my family was involved at the class level (class parent, chaperone on field trips, etc.), and in the home school (spouse is a former Berkeley HSA president).

What particular skills or experiences qualify you to serve as a school board member?

Professionally I work in the IT field at a University and had earlier work experience in facilities design and administration. As a Board Member, I’ve received the New Jersey School Board Association (NJSBA) Certified Board Leader (CBL) which is the highest individual certification awarded. I am currently pursuing the NJSBA Green Leader and I-STEAM Leader certifications.

Education Issues and Needs

What are 2-3 strengths of which our school district can be proud of? Why do you see these as strengths?

We are a diverse community with a rigorous and varied academic program that meets the needs of all learners. The District has implemented supports for learners that are provided by expanded interventionist personnel. Additionally, the District addresses the whole child on a social-emotional level via enhancements in the curricula and specific programming. Finally, the District has a strong commitment to sustainability and all 11 district schools have received bronze level certification from Sustainable Jersey Schools in September 2021.

What are 2-3 needs that must be priorities for our district to address? Why do you see these as needs?

The District has a commitment to Diversity-Equity and Inclusion (DEI) which the Board has supported including authorization of consultants to assist with these emerging efforts. The Administration needs to implement the consultant and Board recommendations in this regard as the District addresses the needs and wishes of the community such as full-day pre-K and sustainability. Additionally, the Administration and Board need to revisit the District’s Long-Range Facilities and Strategic Plans, revising as needed and providing regular benchmark updates on progress toward identified goals and plans.

The above priorities — full-day pre-K, sustainability, DEI, and planning (long-range facilities and strategic) — must be addressed systematically and programmatically, with regular progress reports and updates to the community, revision if necessary; so that Bloomfield Schools can continue their upward trajectory, as evidenced by the New Jersey Department of Education designation of a “high performing district, which provides opportunities for success and excellence for all learners.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Board

What do you believe are the most important characteristics of an effective school board? Of an effective school board member?

Effective and impactful Boards of Education ensure that schools are run well, but do not run the schools themselves. Boards of Education are policy-making entities and supervise one employee — the Superintendent. Board Members pose direct and difficult questions of the Administration; provide ample time for responses and listen to responses carefully prior to making decisions; and consider community input on specific items and the overall aspirations for the District. Individual Board Members recognize that they are one of nine Board Members, and work collaboratively and collegially with fellow Board Members on matters before the Board of Education.

I have undergone hundreds of hours of training as a Board Member. I understand the proper role of an individual Board Member and Boards of Education as a whole and operate within those parameters. Effective Board practice involves listening to all opinions and working collaboratively within the Board and with the Administration in any decision-making process.

Specific Issues

What do you see as the role of technology in education for all students?

Technology is a critical component for educational delivery as the District has adopted curricula that require technology to access supporting materials including textbooks. From an implementation-perspective, and in terms of one-to-one computing deployments, the District was well-poised for the online pivot that occurred in March 2020 due to COVID-19. For families that did not have Internet in the home, the District facilitated access too. But Technology is only a tool that is implemented in teaching and learning between teachers and students: technology is not a panacea or the end-all for student achievement.

What should our school district be doing to ensure the safety of students and staff?

The District has made improvements across all schools, improving the building access physically and school-access procedures. The District has invested heavily in the social-emotional well-being of students including the implementation of the Sandy Hook Promist and its companion Dylan’s Wings of Change. The District has added mental health and counseling personnel, and added a Supervisor responsible for mental health and counseling initiatives and personnel. Finally, the District has installed and now continually refreshes security cameras at all district schools.

What responsibilities, if any, should districts assume for dealing with such societal problems as poverty, hunger, emotional illness or drug abuse?

As noted earlier the District has provided support and programming to address the whole child. This includes a robust arts program and curricula/programming that support child social-emotional learning. The District has implemented Breakfast after the Bell at several elementary schools. The District pursued and obtained grant funding for a food distribution program at multiple schools. The District has added several crisis personnel in addition to counselors at all schools, but, particularly as we have returned to an in-person setting, may need to expand programming and personnel to combat some of the impacts of prolonged isolation such as emotional illness and drug abuse. The District should continue to address issues such as poverty via Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives and individual assistance when possible.

How can schools address the learning needs of students from other cultures and other languages?

The District follows the state and federal guidance for English Language Learners (ELLs), but it is important to recognize that it can take two, three, four or more years for an ELLs to gain functional literacy in, and later mastery of English. The District must provide the necessary targeted-instruction and academic support to English Language Learners over their full academic experience in the District. Examples of these included bilingual staff who can support students and their families, particularly Spanish-speakers. For families and students who speak other languages, the District should arrange for translation and interpreting services in those languages. Dual-language instruction is another approach that can be used to help ELL students. Some district schools have offered family English instruction and support on Saturdays or in the evening: this should be a common practice across the district, at all levels.

Satenik Margaryan, running with the Strength and Experience slate

Reasons for Seeking Election

What motivated you to want to become a board member?

This is my third consecutive attempt to join the BOE. For the three years, I have run on the idea of bringing the issues of school equity to the forefront. The district has made some important commitments to the issues of equity and diversity already such as celebrating Juneteenth for the first time and retaining equity consultants Dr. Penelope Lattimer and Dr. Adele Macula to conduct a series of workshops in the district. We need to focus further on the socio-economic inequity that exists among our elementary schools and which effects are felt beyond elementary schools. Considering the racial and socioeconomic diversity of Bloomfield and the district, we must address issues pertaining to school equity.

In what school or district activities have you been involved?

I am a 10-year resident of Bloomfield with two sons at Watsessing Elementary, 6th and 3rd grades. I have been an integral part of Watsessing Home and School since 2016 and served as a president, co-president, and currently the secretary of WHSA. I have helped to organize a number of school events at Watsessing, and the International Night has always been one of my most favorite events to organize.

In addition, since 2016 I have regularly attended Board of Education meetings. I was active in opposition to the 2017/18 proposal to hire armed SLEO III officers in Bloomfield’s elementary schools. I was heartened that with the encouragement of a great number of citizens organized by Bloomfield Families for Sensible Safety (BFFSS), the Board and the District abandoned the idea of armed officers in elementary schools. Moreover, with parents serving as impetus, the District has signed up to participate in the Sandy Hook Project and then went on to receive national recognition for their involvement in the project. In addition, I have become an active member of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Network, a “network of parents, teachers, students, and concerned Bloomfield citizens that are passionate about creating a Diverse, Equitable, Inclusive, and anti-racist environment and agenda for the Bloomfield Public School District.”

What particular skills or experiences qualify you to serve as a school board member?

I have taught at various institutions of higher education for over 20 years. I have taught thousands of freshmen students in New Jersey and New York, who just graduated high school. I have a unique perspective on student achievement and what makes a successful college student. Also, I am a criminologist by training, a social scientist. I will bring to the board my expertise and skills in data analysis and social science research. Finally, in my years in Bloomfield, I have been an active citizen in town, serving on the Civil Rights Commission. I have been active in two grassroots parent/resident organizations such as Bloomfield Families of Sensible Safety and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Education Issues and Needs

What are 2-3 strengths of which our school district can be proud of? Why do you see these as strengths?

The district has extraordinary teachers and staff, and it has been recently recognized as a “High Performing District” by the NJDOE. The strength of our district is in our teachers, principals, and staff who have been extraordinary in these challenging times. I amhappy that the district is hiring more teachers and specialists, year after year. In the past six years, I have gotten to know our Watsessing teachers and Dr. Rosamilia, the principal, really well. Not only are they excellent professionals, but they care so much about the children in the school.

Another strength of our school district is the diversity among the students and their families. Every year since 2017 (except for 2020 and 2021), I put together an event for our Watsessing community – the International Night. On this night, our families represent their ethnic and cultural roots spanning the world: from China to Nigeria to Jordan to Peru to Israel to Ukraine to Armenia to Mexico to Japan, and more! We need to capitalize on this rich diversity of our student population.

What are 2-3 needs that must be priorities for our district to address? Why do you see these as needs?

One big priority which needs to be addressed in our district is the lack of universal full-day preschool. Also, the district lacks uniformity in regard to meaningful afterschool activities in our elementary students. Another important need is to increase the diversity of teachers and staff in the district. Our Strength andExperience platform outlines these three areas in the need of work. Please consult our Facebook page.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Board

What do you believe are the most important characteristics of an effective school board? Of an effective school board member?

An effective school board is one that is successful in establishing policies that serve as administrators’ guides for the day-to-day management of schools. These policies should primarily focus on student achievement, assist in proper resource allocation to address the needs of the district, and measure student success across various groups and needs. Effective school boards are transparent and accountable to the public.

An effective school board member, in her turn, should have a long-range vision for the school district and think of the changes that need to take place to achieve this vision. An effective school board member should demonstrate a willingness to collaborate with other members of the board as well as the superintendent. An effective school board member must have a strong commitment to public education in her community. And, finally, an effective school board member must be accountable to the public, communicating about the district’s progress and challenges.

I bring to the school board the skills and experience of working professionally in a higher-education setting for two decades. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, I have been a member of a number of University, college, and department committees in which we worked collaboratively on important issues like assessment, general education requirements, and campus safety. As I said above, I have research and data analysis skills that can contribute to better understanding the needs of the district to guide policies. Finally, I support public education in Bloomfield and I place the utmost importance on student achievement and implementing policies that will ensure success for all students, and this makes me a good candidate to be an effective school board member.

Specific Issues

What do you see as the role of technology in education for all students?

Technology has become of the utmost importance in our kids’ education in the past year and a half. The district has been very responsive in addressing the technological needs of our students. Every child who needs a computer gets one, and if wifi is an issue, they also receive a wifi device. Overall, I have been very pleased with how the district handled the technology aspect during this pandemic. Because of the district’s well-established one-to-one initiative, where all students got Chromebooks, students continue using these devices at school and at home when necessary. I would like to see the district implement a greater emphasis on computer engineering and programming for younger pupils, perhaps in the form of an afterschool activity.

What should our school district be doing to ensure the safety of students and staff?

Our schools are the frontlines of the Coronavirus pandemic. For the safety of students and staff, the district needs to implement more transparency when it comes to COVID infections and transmission in schools (in a form of a dashboard), implement proper screening (random testing of students and staff, mandatory testing for unvaccinated staff, and mandate vaccination for K-12 students when vaccines will be fully approved by the FDA. We need to continue to follow CDC and NJ state guidelines for masking, air circulation, and ventilation, and social distancing in all our classrooms and other enclosed spaces.

When it comes to safety other than the pandemic, this question has been of great importance for me, professionally and personally. First of all, students and staff must be in a safe environment that is conducive to learning and achievement. As a criminologist, I can point out that, overall, schools are among the safest places for children. While mass violence in schools has captivated our national attention, thankfully, school shootings are extremely rare. Nonetheless, school districts have to come up with a plan to ensure the safety of students and staff. One approach to school safety that has received deserved attention from our district is the Sandy Hook Promise Initiative. Bloomfield has been nationally recognized for its district-wide adaptation of the “Start with Hello” Sandy Hook Promise initiative. This initiative emphasizes the creation of a culture change that prevents violence and other harmful acts that hurt children. It utilizes Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) which reduces and prevents substance abuse, some mental illnesses, and bullying while increasing academic performance and graduation rates. In conjunction with Sandy Hook Promise, the district has also implemented state-mandated soft security measures such as video cameras andpanic buttons. Once on the board, I look forward to participating in the development of research-based policies focused on restorative justice in schools.

What responsibilities, if any, should districts assume for dealing with such societal problems as poverty, hunger, emotional illness or drug abuse?

Schools are uniquely located within communities and they play an important role in alleviating issues like poverty, hunger, emotional illness, drug abuse, and natural disasters. Just a month ago, after Hurricane Ida devastated our Watsessing community, our teachers, staff, and the principal, Dr. Rosamilia, put together cleaning supplies, and then food donations on the first day of school! The staff and teachers collected money, reached out to the town’s Health Department and the Salvation Army, and continued to provide material assistance to the families for weeks! They were there, as almost the first organized form of assistance, for the families of students who lost so much in the flood.

To make sure that all kids start their days ready to learn, the district has implemented Breakfast after the Bell programs. Children do receive free or reduced-fee lunches during school, even during the Coronavirus pandemic. Through schools’ socio-emotional learning teams, schools can address other issues such as mental illness and drug abuse or at least refer them to other professional entities.

In addition, we can address these issues by making sure children stay in school after 3:20 pm and participate in supervised extra-curricular activities (thus removing unsupervised time before children’s parents return from work).One of the points of our platform is to work on developing after-school activities for elementary school children across the district. At this point (pre-pandemic), the elementary schools varied in the types of extracurricular enrichment children received. We need to take care of children’s extra-curricular needs in a more equitable fashion. All children should have access to meaningful after-school activities which will influence their academic performance and socio-emotional well-being and prevent potential delinquency.

How can schools address the learning needs of students from other cultures and other languages?

As a non-native speaker and a first-generation immigrant from Armenia, I understand the challenges of public education when it comes to students from other cultures and languages in our district. In Watsessing, we have about 6% of ELL students. English language learners (ELL) have a lot to contribute to the school community. For these students, the district should incorporate a team-based approach that includes the main room teacher, ESL teacher, and the family. English language classes for parents and guardians, which at some point were offered in the district, need to be revived and offered in each school. Overall, we need to create a supportive environment based on the cultivation of an appreciation of diversity found in our schools.

Monica Charris Tabares, running with the For Our Kids slate

Reasons for Seeking Election

What motivated you to want to become a board member?

I believe in a quality public education for current and future students. As a Board member, I will be able to positively affect change.

In what school or district activities have you been involved?

Both my children attended Bloomfield Middle and High School. During this time, I was very active in PTA events, Football games and Choir concerts.

What particular skills or experiences qualify you to serve as a school board member?

I have the ability to:

Plan for future initiatives
Adapt to changing situation
Maintain a positive approach to problem solving
Use Data when determining solutions to challenging issues

Education Issues and Needs

What are 2-3 strengths of which our school district can be proud of? Why do you see these as strengths?

Sustainable Jersey for Schools 2021 for 11 of our district schools
Academic excellence
Array of Extracurricular activities for students to participate in
District has Community based focus

These strength help develop not only academic success in students but also positive civic and team building skills.

What are 2-3 needs that must be priorities for our district to address? Why do you see these as needs?

Continue to provide a healthy and safe environment for students and staff that protect against COVID exposure.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Board

What do you believe are the most important characteristics of an effective school board? Of an effective school board member?

The ability to define clear goals that address school improvement initiatives
A shared vision with school district that focuses on student achievement and quality of instruction
Joint leadership with district superintendent
Strong collaboration and mutual respect with all stakeholders in the growth of student success

Good listener
Strong Integrity
Extensive knowledge in Elementary Education
Awareness of local and federal education issues that are driving
Passionate about education and what it takes to create positive change

Specific Issues

What do you see as the role of technology in education for all students?

Technology is vital to everyday operations in all fields.
It helps students build essential 21st century skills.
Technology, when integrated into the curriculum, revolutionizes the learning process.
The learning of technology skills should be implemented keeping in mind age appropriateness and limitations of screen time.

What should our school district be doing to ensure the safety of students and staff?

Continue to follow the mandates set forth by local government and CDC guidelines.
Seek out more funding sources to increase the updating of school facilities with reference to improving air quality in this time of COVID.

What responsibilities, if any, should districts assume for dealing with such societal problems as poverty, hunger, emotional illness or drug abuse?

Continue to include community-based and civic activities in middle and high school
Continue the out-reach to parents by planning workshops and events

How can schools address the learning needs of students from other cultures and other languages?

Include a more diverse learning of cultures in schools with an increase awareness and acceptance of all people.

Pedro Gongora, running with the For Our Kids slate

Reasons for Seeking Election

What motivated you to want to become a board member?

I became interested in becoming a school board member to better serve the community that I have been a part of for the last 15 years. Now that my children are getting ready to start their educational journey through the Bloomfield school system, I thought it was time to see how I could help make the system better for them and everyone else in our town.

In what school or district activities have you been involved?

Unfortunately, I have not been involved in many school district activities in the past. My involvement has mostly consisted of donating to various fundraisers. This of course will change as my oldest child begins kindergarten. We have been involved in town clubs and activities and look forward to participating in offerings from the school district.

What particular skills or experiences qualify you to serve as a school board member?

First, I have been in the education profession for the last 12 years, so I know what it takes to make a school work and feel that my experience can be a valuable asset to the rest of the board. Next, I am a good member of a team and can work easily with others in order to make informed decisions that will provide the greatest benefit to the entire community. I also have a lot of experience within my own school district using data to drive instruction and to make meaningful changes to improve student achievement.

Education Issues and Needs

What are 2-3 strengths of which our school district can be proud of? Why do you see these as strengths?

One of the major strengths of the district and this town is that it is so culturally diverse. While each elementary school can have its own feel as it serves the neighborhood around it, the common middle and high school provide an opportunity for students tointeract with students that come from a wide range of ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. The district also seems to have a wide variety of extracurricular activities and I look forward to getting involved in them this year.

What are 2-3 needs that must be priorities for our district to address? Why do you see these as needs?

One need that stands out is the need to ensure that all students are being prepared for life after the Bloomfield school system. If this is a 4 year college, then we should be adequately preparing that student for that path. If they are more interested in a two year school or tech school then there should be classes they can take to ensure that they understand the field to which they are trying to enter. If the student just wants to work right out of school, there should be classes that they can take to ensure they have the basic knowledge to succeed out of high school. Another clear need is to continue to ensure that the school is provided a learning environment that is safe for all students and staff as the pandemic hopefully comes to an end.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Board

What do you believe are the most important characteristics of an effective school board? Of an effective school board member?

The most important characteristic of a school board member is to be able to work as a team with the rest of the board to further the vision of the district. Having a collaborative relationship with both the school staff and the community can help accomplish the district goals.

As someone who has worked as part of a team in many aspects of my professional life both in the education field and others before that, I am well aware of the importance of working together to accomplish specific goals. I also have a lot of experience in the management of high schools and alternative education programs and can bring this expertise to the team.

Specific Issues

What do you see as the role of technology in education for all students?

Today’s classrooms are both technology rich and rapidly evolving and offer opportunities that were not available even a few years ago. Throughout the pandemic teachers have had to shift to a remote only and hybrid learning model that took a variety of forms based on the need and resources of the district. Now that everyone is back in person, we must continue to engage students with technology in meaningful ways that enhance the curriculum.

What should our school district be doing to ensure the safety of students and staff?

The district should continue to follow guidance offered by the Governor’s office and the CDC adjusting these guidelines to address the needs of individual situations. We should also continue to upgrade current infrastructure to ensure that the buildings continue to be safe for the future.

What responsibilities, if any, should districts assume for dealing with such societal problems as poverty, hunger, emotional illness or drug abuse?

The district should continue to provide resources for students and parents to address the issues. Outreach and education is also a part of this to ensure that the people who need assistance know that there is help available to them.

How can schools address the learning needs of students from other cultures and other languages?

The district can ensure that all curriculum is inclusive and make changes where it is not. Also, the school should provide as much assistance as possible for students who are still learning or do not speak English.

Yomara Knott, running with the For Our Kids slate

Reasons for Seeking Election

What motivated you to want to become a board member?

During the last 18 months I’ve become very much engaged in my children’s education. I saw firsthand (with remote learning) how our education system is in Bloomfield. I felt compelled to be part of the institution that oversees and drives changes that affect our kids’ lives.

In what school or district activities have you been involved?

My family is engaged in many activities in town such as Bloomfield Soccer Club, Jr Bengals Cheerleading, Girl Scouts and many public town activities. In addition, with the school opening, I’m now engaged with the HSA.

What particular skills or experiences qualify you to serve as a school board member?

I have over 20 years of IT experience and understand the value of a good education. I have helped organizations build governance frameworks with polices, plans, procedures, and controls to measure and assess efforts. Strategically developed roadmaps for success aligned with budget financials (opex/capex). Built high performing teams, mentor, and coach colleagues as well as collaborate with peers to get the best results possible. Coordinate risk management mitigation and look at challenges from the inside out and visa versa.

Education Issues and Needs

What are 2-3 strengths of which our school district can be proud of? Why do you see these as strengths?

Multicultural diverse: exposes our children to other cultures which allows them to understand that one size doesn’t fit all. Teaches them about equality regardless of anyone’s background and with hard work anything can be achieved.

School administration and teachers’ involvement: from my experience they have been very responsive. They care very much about the children and go above and beyond to make sure they are well. They are the rock that makes the school community succeed.

Close community with various town activities: There are many community options offered for families to participate. You get to know the people in town and start building relationships even if you don’t go the same schools.

What are 2-3 needs that must be priorities for our district to address? Why do you see these as needs?

Safety: Returning to school with safety measures and consistency in these across all the schools.Technology: Investment in various technology initiatives. Build teacher training programs on these technologies. Student onboarding and more technology STEAM programs. Consistency on programs used across schools, classrooms and grades.Development Programs: Planning and innovation to help children look forward to the future. Build individual and group incentives. Not all children learn the same. Career fairs at all ages with broad speaker backgrounds. Expose children to ideas and opportunities.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Board

What do you believe are the most important characteristics of an effective school board? Of an effective school board member?

An effective school board would be one that plans, strategizes, and prioritizes efforts that have the most impact to our children’s needs. An effective school board member is to collaborate with others; to speak up when warranted and to listen most often. It is about making the educated decisions and invest time and effort on how to improve the school system.

Relationship and conflict management is part of my daily job. I run a governance team that oversees process and efficiencies for an entire IT organization. Not only by getting buy-in on strategic initiatives but implementing operational efficiencies and goals using a collaborative approach.

Specific Issues

What do you see as the role of technology in education for all students?

I see Technology continuing to have big role in students’ education. It was a tremendous shift for everyone to do remote learning for 18 months; now we have more savvy techies. It has shifted from how they do their daily activities such as homework, research, and even learning. However, technology along is not enough. Reinforcing and building programs to keep students up to date and engage is essential.

What should our school district be doing to ensure the safety of students and staff?

Follow the guidelines by the CDC. Also, continue to reinforce and educate students on these. Asses, mitigate and invest in the weaken school infrastructures.

What responsibilities, if any, should districts assume for dealing with such societal problems as poverty, hunger, emotional illness or drug abuse?All these problems are a community problem and therefore, it is the district’s responsibility to alleviate and if possible, remediate such issues. Evaluate available programs and invest in new ones to provide much needed assistance by making it accessible and confidential.

How can schools address the learning needs of students from other cultures and other languages?

Schools should have an onboarding plan that starts with assessments to identify students’ needs. Afterwards, follow this transitional plan to introduce children to their new environment smoothly. Build a baseline of expectations and help children adapt to their new surroundings. Also, educate their classroom peers on comradery, kindness, and patience by building a buddy system and/or welcoming group.