- Franklin Township resident since 1993
- Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering Technology; New Jersey Institute of Technology (formerly Newark College of Engineering) 1986
- NJ Professional Engineer since 1997
- Proud parent of three children in the Franklin Township School District
My involvement in the Franklin Township School District began in 1998 when I attended a Board of Education meeting due to a transportation issue for my oldest child who was entering kindergarten. With a younger child at home and a third child on the way, it became very clear to my wife and I that we needed to find ways to invest our time and energy into supporting and improving our school system for our children and all of the children of Franklin Township. Soon after this, I volunteered for the Ad-Hoc Committee on Enrollment Growth, and together with about 30 other residents, I reviewed all aspects of our school district from building uses to transportation to projected enrollments. Ultimately, this community group suggested a new high school be constructed and I was hooked; I was personally invested in my Township and my public schools.
In 2000, I ran for the Board of Education and was elected for a three year term. During my term, a referendum to build a new high school was approved by the citizens of the Township, and as a member of the BOE Facilities Committee, I had a significant voice in the development of the final design of the new high school and the renovations of the other eight buildings. I also served on the Transportation and Public Relations Committees during my term.
In 2003, my term ended and I was unable to run again because my employer transferred me to Harrisburg, PA to manage a $240M construction project. I did not feel it would be appropriate to occupy a seat on the Board knowing I would be away most of the week. Since the project was only a two-year assignment and given our commitment to Franklin Township, we remained here in town and I commuted to Harrisburg for the two year duration of the project.
While I had very little opportunity to volunteer for anything during this period of time, I was able to work with Franklin Technology Volunteers to present three “Explorathons” at Elizabeth Avenue and Hillcrest Schools. Explorathons were essentially Science Nights where parent-volunteers brought 20 hands-on science activities to the school and 70 to 80 students were able to participate in five activities each during the evening. These were outstanding events that provided children the opportunity to experience the dynamics of flight, learn how bridges work, how to create electrical circuits and understand the concept of buoyancy in water, among other scientific concepts. They were joyous evenings filled with laughter, wonder and amazement once the children figured out how that ‘thing-a-ma-jig’ actually worked.
In 2005, my employment assignment was back in New Jersey and I was able to reinvest myself into the Township. I volunteered to coach my son's soccer team in the Franklin Township Soccer Club. As hard as it is to believe, it’s now more than five years later and I’m still coaching his soccer team. In fact, last year I agreed to become a member of the Executive Board of the Franklin Township Soccer Club and I am currently the Division Manager for the J3 Division (4th and 5th Grade Boys). In this capacity, I facilitate a six-team division that served 96 children in the fall of 2009. It has been a very rewarding experience.
In recent years, I have also been a leader in Cub Scout Pack 113, serving as the Popcorn Fundraiser Chairperson and planning numerous activities during the program year. I brought a yearly Science Night to the scouts, based on the Explorathons that I participated in years before. Even though my son has moved up to Boy Scouts, I have already volunteered to run Science Night for the Cub Scouts next February.
The desire to be a volunteer is a truly selfless act that my parents instilled in me at an early age. Volunteering to enhance a child’s opportunities or to help others in need is something I take very seriously and I’ll always say YES when asked. It is a trait I have tried to instill in my children - both of my daughters are working on their Gold Awards with Girl Scouts - and I hope they will grow up with the spirit of volunteerism and giving as a significant part of their life.
For the Franklin Township Board of Education, I want to bring my previous experience as a Board member, as well as my 24 years of experience managing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of construction projects to a Board that truly needs a boost in leadership. In these difficult economic times, leadership can come in many forms. I hope that I can bring a fresh perspective and a desire to shift paradigms where necessary to meet the challenges that we face over the next few years.The funding our District is losing this year will not return very quickly. My goal for re-joining the Board is to ensure that our District meets the challenges that lie ahead with a hopeful and optimistic view. Good things can come from these current financial difficulties if we are willing to expand our view and consider new ways of addressing old issues. I truly believe the Franklin Township School District will thrive because we will meet the challenges that we are faced with and we will not be sidetracked by the poor choices of others.
I hope you will support Tom Lewis, Javier Ramos and me on April 20th. Polls are open from 2pm to 9pm.
