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Four Haddon Heights residents are running for three available three-year terms on the Haddon Heights Public School District Board of Education: Thomas Hambrose, Andrea Pagan, Bryan Schroeder, and Trish Sheilds. We received responses from two of them.
All candidates have been invited to reply to the same set of prompts, telling voters about themselves, their priorities, and their views of the current state of affairs in their community. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Andrea Pagan, 39 (Incumbent)
Clinical Trainer, First Children Services
NJ PEN: Tell us something about your hobbies, interests, and/or family.
ANDREA PAGAN: Hello, my name is Andrea Pagan, and I am a 39-year old resident of Haddon Heights, where I have lived for the past 12 years.
I am currently employed full-time at an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) company, and I am preparing to sit for my boards to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
When I’m not focused on my professional development, I cherish time spent with my family. I have four children, three of whom attend Glenview Elementary School, and one who will be starting kindergarten next year.
My husband, Matthew Pagan, serves on the borough council, and we are deeply committed to supporting our wonderful community in every way we can.
NJ PEN: What is your philosophy of education?
PAGAN: I believe that education is the cornerstone of a thriving community, empowering every student to realize their full potential. My vision is to foster an inclusive and dynamic learning environment that nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity.
Education must encompass not only academic excellence but also the development of character and resilience, preparing students for the complexities of the modern world. By promoting collaboration among educators, parents, and the community, we can create a holistic approach that supports diverse learning styles and ensures that every child feels valued.
NJ PEN: What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a school board member?
PAGAN: As a parent of a child in the special needs community, I bring a unique perspective to the school board that blends personal experience with professional expertise in ABA.
My background in ABA provides me with a deep understanding of effective teaching strategies and individualized support, ensuring that all students, particularly those with unique learning needs, receive the tailored education they deserve. I am dedicated to advocating for inclusive practices and fostering collaboration between families and educators, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive in a supportive environment.
NJ PEN: Why are you running for office?
PPAGAN: I am running for the school board again after my three-year term because I believe there is still vital work to be done for our students and community. My time on the board has strengthened my commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and ensuring that every child receives the support they need to succeed.
I am passionate about building on our progress, addressing ongoing challenges, and continuing to advocate for inclusive practices that benefit all students. Together, we can create a brighter future for our schools, and I am eager to contribute my experience and dedication to this important mission.
NJ PEN: What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
(no response received)
NJ PEN: What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
(no response received)
Bryan Schroeder, 45
Senior Vice President of Legal & Compliance, Tipico North America
NJ PEN: Tell us something about your hobbies, interests, and/or family.
BRYAN SCHROEDER: I have been a dedicated member of the Haddon Heights community since moving to the borough in 2009, with my wife, Jacqueline Schroeder.
Jackie and I are raising three daughters, all of whom attend public schools (10th grade, 8th grade, and 5th grade) in Haddon Heights.
With three daughters in different schools and levels within the district, I am acutely aware of various issues that arise in elementary, junior high and high school settings.
I received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Seton Hall University; however, I chose to pursue a career in law over education, and graduated from the Seton Hall University School of Law in 2003. For the last 20 years, I have served as a compliance, regulatory and corporate attorney for various law firms, casinos, racetracks and online gaming companies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Besides my professional work, I have been an active member of the Haddon Heights community through volunteering with the Haddon Heights Soccer Club and Haddon Heights Youth Athletics. I also served as a member of the Haddon Heights Borough Council from 2017 to 2018.
NJ PEN: What is your philosophy of education?
SCHROEDER: My personal education philosophy, which I have tried to impart to my daughters, is quite simple: work hard and be respectful. Those principles should guide every school-related interaction, activity, and class for them.
In terms of a district-wide philosophy of education, I would leave that to the professionals the Haddon Heights Board of Education has hired.
My job as a member of the Board of Education is to ensure that the superintendent and her staff are operating the schools in an efficient and professional manner, while clearly communicating standards and expectations to all stakeholders in the district.
NJ PEN: What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a school board member?
SCHROEDER: With 20 years of experience as an attorney, I constantly communicate with local, county, state, and federal agencies to address the myriad legal and regulatory problems facing my clients.
With 14 years of volunteering in town for various organizations, including Borough Council, I also have great working relationships with parents, officials and other stakeholders throughout the school district.
I would bring my experience working with governmental bodies and effectively communicating with various stakeholders to the Haddon Heights Board of Education with the hope that I could facilitate discussions and resolutions of various issues facing the district.
NJ PEN: Why are you running for office?
SCHROEDER: With three daughters totally immersed in the school district, I am running for both personal and community reasons.
Personally, I want to ensure my daughters are receiving a top-notch education with academic rigor, socio-economic diversity and preparation for the world beyond Haddon Heights. This includes not only AP classes, but activities, opportunities and policies that allow them to learn and grow as young adults.
In terms of my community interest, Haddon Heights residents pay for district operations through property taxes. Although Haddon Heights schools provide an excellent education, the Board needs to speak to that with greater clarity and stronger tone.
All Haddon Heights taxpayers should want the district to maintain and grow its facilities, academic ranking and reputation. As the Board of Education fosters growth in these areas, we need to ensure the public knows about it and how it positively affects them, irrespective of whether or not they have a child in the district.
NJ PEN: What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
SCHROEDER: One of the biggest challenges facing the Haddon Heights school district is finding and maintaining qualified administrators, teachers and support staff.
As I have seen in my short time on the board, we are losing excellent staff members to neighboring school districts that are offering better pay and benefits. This weakens the continuity and stability of our students’ educational experiences.
At the same time, the Board of Education needs to manage its budget and balance the demands for program and facility improvements while addressing the quality teacher shortage.
NJ PEN: What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
SCHROEDER: First, I want to ensure the Haddon Heights school district continues to review, update and address the issues identified in the Haddon Heights 2020 Strategic Action Plan. In my experience, action plans are created and addressed immediately after their adoption, but can lose steam and focus as time passes. The Board of Education needs to refer back to the Strategic Action Plan, so it addresses the issues identified by the stakeholders at that time.
Next, I want to continue the broad-based improvement in communication between the school district administrators and parents, and extend it toward the Board of Education. We should be holding regular meetings with various stakeholders — parents, community organizations and borough officials — to ensure that we are all operating in the most efficient and focused way to guarantee continual improvement and growth for our entire community, including our schools.
Finally, I want to maintain the Haddon Heights school district’s welcoming and inclusive environment for all students and staff. As the parent, I am acutely aware of inclusive and safe environments for children and teenagers. I want to ensure that all students, irrespective of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or neurodevelopment, are safe and feel welcomed at all schools in the district.
