Last week, Vote By Mail ballots for the November 8 General Election arrived. Neighbors have asked who I support for Hoboken Board of Education.
- Leslie has two children with learning differences, including one who is dyslexic. Leslie has a passion for literacy learning and teaching tools for students, most notably advocating for the well-regarded Orton-Gillingham instruction that is now being implemented widely in the District.
- Antonio and I served 5 years together on the Hoboken Zoning Board as fellow commissioners. I saw first-hand how Antonio is thoughtful, prepared, smart and dedicated to public service.
- Alex is a hard-working trustee on the Hoboken Board of Ed running for re-election. Since joining the board in 2018, the graduation rate has increased to over 94%. Alex has helped implement many specialized programs such as expanding AP offerings, the Riverkeepers program for STEM and the high school’s new academic support center.
I enthusiastically support the entire Leadership that Listens slate — already endorsed by a number of district parents throughout Hoboken including district leaders at the forefront of the Board of Education’s reform over a decade ago who remain fully engaged. The Leadership that Listens slate also is certified with the Moms Demand Action Gunsense Candidates distinction.
In contrast, a slate running against the LTL team — innocuously called “Kids First” solicited and received the endorsement of the “New Jersey Project”, a radical far-right group fighting culture wars statewide through New Jersey’s November Board of Education elections — including banning books from school libraries and railing against “critical race theory” in school curriculums.
With many school boards across the country under attack by extremists, it’s troubling that the “Kids First” slate sought and earned the New Jersey Project endorsement.
I know Leslie, Antonio and Alex well — each has lived in town at least 15 years. I know first-hand they have integrity, care deeply about our schools, and will strive to keep partisan politics off the school board. The Leadership That Listens team is the only BOE slate with all three candidates’ kids enrolled in our district schools. Leslie, Antonio, and Alex and — importantly — fully support our outstanding Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Christine Johnson.
Leslie, Antonino and Alex are running as the “Leadership that Listens” slate because they are committed to lead our school district and listen to the voices of the community - including the important voices that decisively rejected the proposed $241 million school bond in January. Leslie, Antonio, and Alex will not support that same, roundly rejected proposal. They are committed to a new community process, where listening is central to inclusive planning that will take a fresh look at any high school plan, incorporating robust, meaningful community input.
I wholeheartedly encourage you to vote I-2, I-3 and I-4, for the entire Leadership That Listens team for Hoboken Board of Education on Tuesday, November 8th.
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