We invited the candidates for the township board of education to tell voters a little about themselves ahead of Election Day. Here’s how they responded.
By Matt Skoufalos | October 27, 2019
On November 5, voters in Cherry Hill will choose from among 10 balloted candidates to fill four seats on the township board of education.
In July, the district appointed two new board members, Ben Ovadia and Corrien Elmore Stratton, to fill a pair of vacancies on its board created by the resignations of David RossiandEdward Wang.
Stratton, Anju Pejarva, and incumbent board member Ruth Schultz are running for an unexpired term on the governing body.
Ovadia joins challengers Rosy Arroyo, Matthew Brinn, Kimberly Friddell, Jessica Rodriguez, Sanjay Kumar Sharma, and Yoni Yares in seeking one of three available three-year seats on the body.
We invited each candidate to respond to the same set of prompts, telling voters about themselves, their priorities, and their views of the current state of the community. Here’s how they responded. Answers were edited for clarity and length.
Unexpired Term Candidates
Anju Pejavara, 55 (Challenger)
Chemical and environmental engineer Anju Pejavara is one of three challengers for an unexpired, two-year term on the Cherry Hill board of education.
A mother of three, her interests include traveling, movies, and her children’s activities.
Pejavara has been a PTA volunteer, classroom mom, and booster club supporter.
What is your philosophy of education?
I believe that educating our children is the key path to providing them with opportunities. The goal of education should be to make children into successful and independent adults. Students learn by actively being involved and taking ownership of their own learning. They need to find their inner motivation to be active learners.
21st-century learning creates a learning environment that encourages this. Students need hands-on learning and opportunities to critically think in the classroom by exploring, communicating, and working together.
Why would you like to serve on the board of education?
I am a mother of three children, one in college, and a freshman and senior at East. I have been an involved parent by volunteering in PTA activities, as a classroom mom, and science matter days. I am also a booster club supporter.
My kids have received an excellent education in Cherry Hill schools, along with other extracurricular activities, such as sports, music, and student government. I want to see that all kids continue to receive these amazing programs in the district as well as an excellent education.
My engineering training provided me with critical thinking skills to make decisions in a methodical way. I want to use these skills to help make a well-developed strategic plan for the district that takes a long-range view of the future.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
The school infrastructure needs repair. Our buildings are an average of 50 years old, and need to be brought up to current standards. We need buildings that are conducive to learning, and that provide a healthy environment for our students and teachers.
We need to address the achievement gap in our schools. The overall performance level of our school system has dropped as compared with other districts in the state. We need to close this gap and improve performance in all of our schools in order maintain the high-quality education that the Cherry Hill School District has been always known for.
What are its biggest strengths?
The strength of the Cherry Hill school district is its diverse community with engaged community members. When we engage the community and draw from the different populations, we create a unique environment of excellence. We have an amazing group of students with so many success stories, who are eager to learn and take advantage of the opportunities that the Cherry Hill school district offers.
Name three key issues you on which you would focus if elected.
Our infrastructure requires immediate attention. Funding is required to repair the infrastructure, so I would focus on finding alternative funding and designing a bond that gets the approval of our community.
I believe providing STEM/STEAM education is very important to closing the achievement gap in the district. The modern workforce demands employees who are proficient in technology.
The market for STEM-related jobs is experiencing fast growth, pays salaries that are well above the national average, and offers a range of promotion opportunities.
Ruth Schultz, 40 (Incumbent)
First elected to the Cherry Hill Board of Education in 2016, Ruth Schultz is an inside sales manager with McKesson Medical Surgical.
A married mother of two, her interests include biking, reading, soccer, traveling, and spending time with her family.
What is your philosophy of education?
My philosophy of education is broken down into three parts. The first part is: “All children deserve an equal opportunity to learn and receive the best education possible.”
The second part of my philosophy is: “Educational staff should have the necessary tools needed to provide students with an enriching education.”
The final part of my educational philosophy is: “The ability to provide education should be a cooperative effort among the schools, the parents, and the community.”
Why would you like to serve on the board of education?
As a current board member, I have grown and learned a lot over my first three years in this position. I have come to appreciate the importance of healthy debate, the ability to compromise, and the need to have difficult conversations, all of which are necessary in order to move our district forward.
My focus for the next two years will be to continue to work with all stakeholders to develop and pass a bond, which I think is crucial to the district’s vision. Passing this bond will be the most important thing that the board will do over the next few years, because it will allow us to move forward with the most important issues that our district is currently facing.
This bond will allow us to address many pressing issues, some of which include security, infrastructure, and continuing to provide the best possible education for all our students.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
The biggest challenge our district faces is the lack of funding it currently receives from the state. Changes are being made at the state level due to the new school funding law, but it is still not enough to make up from the shortfalls from past decades.
Although this is an issue in almost every district, the demographics of Cherry Hill have changed drastically over the past ten years. The lack of funding over the years has created many challenges that have caused a ripple effect, which has created infrastructure, security, and technology issues.
Receiving our fair share of funding will be the only way for us to begin to make up for these past deficiencies, and when elected, I intend to continue to fight for our district in that regard.
What are its biggest strengths?
Without a doubt, the greatest strengths of our district are the highly skilled and passionate teachers, administrators, and staff that fill our schools.
We also offer tremendous amounts of resources for students and their families. These resources include our backpack program, which assists with free meals for families who may be struggling, as well as various booster clubs that support our many award-winning extracurricular activities.
Additionally, the district teaches and stresses the value of character education throughout all grades, while also promoting cultural proficiency.
Name three key issues you on which you would focus if elected.
My biggest goals are to work with the administration to remain accountable in meeting the board’s goals, facilitating the difficult conversations that foster collaboration between stakeholders, and most importantly, providing insight and feedback on the passing of a new bond.
Open-Seat Candidates
Rosy Arroyo, 36 (Challenger)
Rosy Arroyo is the Camden County Youth Services Commission Administrator, and a Community Engagement Reentry Specialist.
Her interests include spending time with her children and family, reading, impromptu dance parties, spending time with her mentees, and with her sisters of the Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority.
What is your philosophy of education?
In order to prepare students for their pathway to success in any direction they choose to follow, it is important to focus on the development and enhancement of policies that are intentionally created through the lens of equity, access, and inclusion.
I believe in an education that actively allows students to take leadership in their own learning process. Students should be provided with plenty of opportunities to engage their peers and positive adult figures for further connections that will support social and emotional learning experiences that allow for academic success.
Providing an environment where students excel by active participation and developing strong ties with an education system that is built on their personal abilities and learning experiences is critical in advancing to a 21st century model.
Why would you like to serve on the board of education?
Throughout my career, I have served the community to create cross-systems partnerships with different organizations that provide resources and supports for youth and their families.
In my current position, I oversee youth programs in Camden County, including school-based initiatives, which affords me the opportunity to work with many school districts, their administrators, and teachers.
I understand the current needs of students, and help support initiatives that focus on improving their academics, health, safety and security. I would like to bring these experiences to the table to help advance policies that encompass equitable, inclusive, diverse, and safe academic environments that allow our children and youth to prosper.
I would like to be a part of advancing our school district, which will benefit all students, including my own children.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
Some of the biggest challenges that we face are:
- buildings that are in need of extreme repairs
- a strategic plan that focuses specifically on obtaining additional funding and resources that can be sustained
- the development of specific training plans that support the new and diverse staff in our district to empower them as leaders
- the evaluation of policies that have unintentionally widened the achievement gap, and
- a focus on developing policies that support the development of a holistic, trauma-informed learning environment that is based on best practices and restorative values.
Each of these specific topics should bring in the student, parent, and community voices so that our district moves forward together.
What are its biggest strengths?
My experience with the district has allowed me to get to know the teachers and administration that have committed to providing the best support and structure that they have available to them for each student.
Under my guardianship, my nephew excelled during his time at Cherry Hill West. Each of his teachers, guidance staff, and vice-principals showed compassion and dedication to his personal academic purpose and vision. It was amazing to see how so many people wrapped around him to support his goals.
I believe we have amazing teachers that go above and beyond their roles for their students. The willingness to want to provide the best opportunities for their students is there, and as a board member, I will seek to support policies that strengthen the ability of the teaching staff and administration that will allow them to do so.
Name three key issues on which you would focus if elected.
Three key issues I would focus on are: the thorough review and evaluation of current and newly proposed policies that focus on reducing the achievement gap; the implementation of a well thought-out and researched bond; and the betterment of our school climate and safety.
Matthew Brinn, 32 (Challenger)
Matthew Brinn is the communications director for the office of New Jersey’s Sixth Legislative District Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald and Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt.
His interests include volunteering for cause-based organizations, getting involved in improving local institutions, and mentoring young people.
Brinn is the treasurer for the South Jersey Young Democrats club, an elected member of the Camden County Democratic Committee, and a commissioner on the Camden County Mosquito Commission.
He also hosts monthly, classic literature-themed, tabletop role-playing games for teens at the Cherry Hill Library.
What is your philosophy of education?
To achieve their highest potential, I believe that a child needs a safe and nurturing environment, and a qualified teacher that can relate to their personal experiences. My goal as a school board member is to create the optimal learning conditions for Cherry Hill students, hire and develop the most qualified teachers, and provide them the resources they need to do their best work.
Why would you like to serve on the board of education?
As a member of the next generation of young families moving to Cherry Hill, and with a daughter entering elementary school next year, I believe it is my civic responsibility to play an active role in her education.
I believe Cherry Hill’s Board of Education needs a voice like mine to advocate on behalf of young families who are dealing directly with the challenges of our generation.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
The biggest challenge facing the Cherry Hill school district is its desperate need for comprehensive infrastructure improvements combined with high property taxes that are stretching the town’s taxpayers to the breaking point.
Cherry Hill has a strong reputation for the quality of its schools, but that reputation is undermined each year it does not invest in necessary renovations. At the same time, high property taxes are a barrier for new families looking to settle down and raise children.
We must strike a balance between these two issues and find a way to invest in our schools, attract new families to live in our town, and not burden our existing residents with property tax increases year after year.
What are its biggest strengths?
Without a doubt, Cherry Hill’s biggest strength is its reputation for providing a high-quality education, and that reputation is maintained by our extremely passionate and qualified teachers.
Cherry Hill is one of the most diverse towns in New Jersey, which gives our students the opportunity to interact with breadth of cultures on a regular basis. Additionally, Cherry Hill’s commitment to providing students with a wide range of extracurricular activities puts them at a unique advantage compared with other districts.
Name three key issues on which you would focus if elected.
My top three priorities are as follows:
1) to develop a bold vision and long term strategy for improving our schools’ infrastructure with a focus on projects that protect our students’ health and well being;
2) to dedicate time to engaging with teachers and school support staff throughout the district to learn the day-to-day challenges of our schools’ employees, while incorporating teachers in the decision making process for issues that impact the classroom; and,
3) to work to expand students’ access to mental health services to mitigate classroom disruptions, improve student performance, and make our schools safer by reducing instances of harassment, intimidation, and bullying.
Kimberly Friddell, 51 (Challenger)
Education and Human Services Administrator Kimberly Friddell is an alumna of Cherry Hill Public Schools and mother of two school-aged children.
Friddell has volunteered within the district as a Fair Funding representative for Clara Barton, as VP of the Cherry Hill Special Education PTA, and has led food and school-supply drives for students.
She enjoys travel, music, reading, and spending time with her kids.
What is your philosophy of education?
Every child has potential and has the capacity to learn; however, education is an individual process. I believe that there are multiple intelligences, and that while a student may struggle in some areas, they will excel in others. Educators must discover that potential and harness the energy for students to succeed.
I believe that while higher education is the goal of some students, we must also encourage, value and prepare students for other options—vocational skills, military or business ownership.
Why would you like to serve on the board of education?
Education is my passion and has been part of my career. I am grateful for the education I received as a Cherry Hill Public Schools alumna, and credit the teachers I encountered from elementary through high school for providing me with the skills that have allowed me to achieve success in my professional career. I currently have two children attending our wonderful schools, and they are receiving the necessary foundation to ensure their future success.
I have been actively involved in the district as the Fair Funding representative for Clara Barton and Vice President of Cherry Hill Special Education PTA. I was part of a parent group that met with the Commissioner of Education to present to him the results of severe and extended underfunding. I have spearheaded supply and food drives to benefit local students. In addition, I have successfully written a grant for Clara Barton to enhance the appearance of the school.
We are at a critical juncture in our school district. We are faced with the consequences of underfunding. Schools are in disrepair, there’s a need for a strategic plan and vision, a well-developed, need-based bond referendum, and to address the issue of disparity amongst our schools.
I am looking to serve on the Board of Education to bring community voice, critical thinking and accountability to our district.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
The biggest challenges facing our district are:
Infrastructure: Our schools need to be repaired to provide a safe, healthy learning environment for our students, teachers and faculty. There must be a push from administration for alternative funding: grants, a capital campaign through the Cherry Hill Education Foundation, advocacy for state funding through the legislature, and a well-developed, strategic bond.
Community engagement: Our community is willing and able to lend its experience and expertise to help advance the district. Ongoing, proactive communication and meaningful opportunities for community engagement must be a priority.
Achievement gaps and equity: Cherry Hill is an amazing community, and part of what makes it so special is the diversity of its population. With this diversity, we encounter different needs of students, which it is incumbent of our school leadership to recognize and address.
We must develop an equity plan which incorporates the work of the Cultural Diversity Committee, and recognizes the difference between equity and equality. We should research best practices and evaluate how we are using our Title I and other funds to determine if there are other opportunities available for success.
What are its biggest strengths?
There are many strengths that Cherry Hill Public Schools can boast. These include a teaching staff paralleled by none. I have been amazed at the quality and caliber of the staff I have encountered in my children’s schools. They are dedicated, committed and engaged. Their enthusiasm and love of teaching is palpable.
Another strength is the diversity of our community. Our students are experiencing the cultures, customs and life experiences of their classmates and staff.
Name three key issues on which you would focus if elected.
The three issues that I would focus on are the three challenges described above: infrastructure, community engagement, achievement gaps and equity. Act for BOE is committed to Accountability, Collaboration and Transparency.
Benjamin Ovadia, 39 (Incumbent)
Benjamin Ovadia is a resource development manager at the Salvation Army Cherry Hill office.
He was appointed to the township school board in July 2019 to replace the seat vacated by David Rossi.
Ovadia and his family are avid domestic travelers, having penned a book on their five-year, 49-state tour of America.
What is your philosophy of education?
One of the most important things we do as a society is to educate our young people. Formal, public schooling is a quest for knowledge and skill as well as a tremendous opportunity to develop ideas, build relationships and create an individual’s character. In Cherry Hill, the quest to educate our kids is the focal point of our township and, as a result, we have built a strong brand over decades.
The most important relationship for success in school is between teacher and student; this is the hallmark of education in Cherry Hill. Students learn best when they are cared for as individuals and grow as people. Our formative years are times for trial and error, quests for knowledge, and experiences in peer relationships. We also need to be attuned to special and unique needs within our student body.
We must provide an excellent environment, with accommodations where necessary, to ensure all our students can succeed. Best practices should be studied and incorporated. Whether students choose to pursue vocational opportunities, military service, or higher education, it is our duty to send them into the world prepared for adulthood.
Why would you like to serve on the board of education?
For years, I have been an active community member focused on the Cherry Hill school district, the most important institution in the township. My wife Tamari is a proud High School West graduate and current Rosa International Middle School PTA Treasurer. We have three children (two at Rosa and a toddler), and, as active parents, have enjoyed many wonderful experiences in the district.
Cherry Hill is an amazing school district filled with incredible opportunities for the approximately 11,000 students served. We have significant challenges as well; that is what draws me to run for board of education this year.
Five years ago, I stepped forward to serve in my first PTA role at Sharp, and subsequently took several leadership roles in committees and within the executive board, including its presidency in 2015-2016. I have worked for years on one of Zone PTA’s most active committees, Fair Funding, and drafted the community-wide petition that received 2,000 signatures.
Apart from PTA, I have advocated on several important issues, including the campaign to reinstate elementary-school evening music concerts at all schools, and advocating that Chinese be included in the high school World Language offerings.
I have regularly attended Board of Education meetings for years, speaking up on issues of concern to the community. This year, I was selected to serve as a Board member through the end of the year. Given this responsibility, I immediately started contributing and engaging the community conversation. As part of the ACT for BOE slate, I hope to be elected to continue addressing the major issues we face.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
Our buildings are tired and in great need of attention as part of a long-term vision. For our students, our staff and our administration, this is a daily indication that we need a major overhaul to our infrastructure. As parents, we observe this continually when visiting the schools.
Following the defeat of the last bond referendum, the district must engage with the community and foster genuine discourse to move forward. Both parent and community voice have a real place in discourse, especially around good information and mutual respect. Some of this work is being done and should be continued, but I do believe more can be added moving forward.
We must focus on closing achievement gaps and creating equity. Most of our families moved to Cherry Hill for the great schools, and we must consider our ranking in comparison to other districts in New Jersey. As part of this, we must pay attention to how our students are performing on basic measures compared to other schools within our state.
A quality Cherry Hill reputation must be preserved and built upon while we look at the special needs of various groups that are significant communities in Cherry Hill, such as special needs students, English language learners, and economically disadvantaged students. We have an ability and duty to provide an excellent education and experience for all the children under our care.
What are its biggest strengths?
I believe our best days are ahead and that the passion of our educators, administrators, parents and community can be harnessed for amazing results as we continue to educate, inspire and steward our next generation of leaders. Cherry Hill Public Schools have an amazing array of opportunities both academic and extra-curricular, meeting the wide variety of interests within our student body. We have close and caring school communities and most important are our great kids, building up skill, knowledge and character.
Name three key issues on which you would focus if elected.
Infrastructure: tremendous construction and structural repair work is needed. We need to aggressively pursue alternative state dollars, investigate avenues of alternate funding and, importantly, we need a well-designed bond that is supported by the community.
Community Engagement: there is a real place for parent and community voice in district discourse. I want to be a part of helping to strengthening the institution, engaging stakeholders and influencing outcomes. We have bright, talented and interested community members who can help shape our future.
Achievement Gaps and Equity: we must maintain our great reputation by ensuring we address the needs of all population groups in Cherry Hill, including those with unique and specific needs. We have a duty to provide an excellent education and experience for all our children.
Jessica Rodriguez, 42 (Challenger)
Jessica Rodriguez is a long time Cherry Hill resident, a Cherry Hill West alumna, and a married mother of two.
A local business owner, Rodriguez volunteers with her school’s PTA, supports daytime activities at the school, and serves on the district’s Cultural Proficiency, Equity, and Character Education Committee.
She is also VP of the Cherry Hill Hispanic Civic Association, and enjoys arts, photography, and dance education in her free time.
What is your philosophy of education?
I believe, as most people do, that education is a fundamental right. As G.K. Chesterton said, “Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.”
My philosophy is to create an equitable learning environment, where all of our students can reach their fullest potential, so that they can leave their community better than they found it.
Why would you like to serve on the board of education?
As a parent of two elementary students, it’s my duty to ensure they have the best possible chance at a great education. Although the Cherry Hill school district is one of the best in our state, like any other district, it has its challenges.
My drive to serve the board of education starts and ends with our children’s best interests in mind, and it’s my belief that in order to enact change, you have to have a seat at the table, make your voice heard, and advocate for the changes needed to move our district forward.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
One of our biggest challenges is the disparity in test scores among our historically underserved youth. The achievement gap among our students at each grade level is staggering. However, we have yet to obtain data, on a granular level, that can help us identify those students so that we can provide the resources they need in order to be successful. Providing an equitable learning environment should be a priority for our district, but the current data don’t necessarily support those efforts.
What are its biggest strengths?
One of our strengths is the candid way in which our board conducts its business. Unlike some of our neighboring districts, all of our board meeting are conducted in a public setting, including committee meetings. As a parent, I appreciate the accessibility I have to information and policies as they’re being discussed. Our district empowers our community to be involved in these discussions, as they recognize the importance of a holistic approach to education.
Name three key issues on which you would focus if elected.
Alumni Giving Back is committed to a dedicated security bond.
We are committed to securing our schools using a rational, cost-effective security strategy that adheres to state and federal best practices. We recognize that urgent, short-term security improvements need to be made across all schools and recommend a dedicated security bond to address these needs.
We endorse the district’s ad hoc committee on security, and look forward to working with committee members to create an actionable plan that will keep our students safe.
Achievement Gap
We advocate a standardized, data-driven approach to identify students in need through grade-level assessments and state-mandated testing. Closing performance gaps in the classroom requires a detailed analysis of not only race, but also income, sex, English language proficiency, and learning disabilities. Deeper analysis of the demographic data will help our teachers and staff give our students the help they need to succeed in our schools.
Community Empowerment
We believe that community involvement is the key to a healthy, thriving school district. We encourage community members to be involved in the education process of their children. As board members, we will enhance district communication and provide Cherry Hill residents with valuable resources to address their needs.
Yonaton “Yoni” Yares, 31 (Challenger)
Consultant Yoni Yares was born and raised in Cherry Hill, and is a 2006 graduate of Cherry Hill High School East.
He recently returned to the community with his wife and four children after foud years in Ohio.
Yares is the founding Kilmer representative to the Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG), and was the interim representative for Barclay at the district Zone PTA.
He is the recording secretary on the Cultural Proficiency, Equity, and Character Education Committee, was a member of the 2018 Bond Key Communicators Committee, and is a board member for the Cherry Hill Education Foundation.
Yares is pursuing a master’s degree in Student Services Administration from Fairleigh Dickenson University via its distance learning program.
He is a father of four, and an active member of the Young Israel of Cherry Hill synagogue.
What is your philosophy of education?
As Aaron Sorkin wrote in one my favorite episodes of The West Wing, “…education is the silver bullet. Education is everything…” Education is how we build the future.
Why would you like to serve on the Board of Education?
More than 13 years ago, I made a promise that one day I would come back to Cherry Hill and give back to our incredible school district that gave so much to me as a student. Now, I am committed to working to ensure that current and future students have access to the same incredible opportunities that I did, and hopefully even better ones!
I will be a parent of a Cherry Hill Public School student through at least 2036, so I have a vested interest in being a part of the board, which will work on designing the future of our school. I am excited to part of Alumni Giving Back.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
The biggest challenges facing our district are the limitations placed on our school district via state statues, guidelines, regulations, and funding. The state currently provides more funding for building rehabilitation versus building new as part of a bond.
The state’s long history of underfunding our district has forced our district to delay and make difficult choices of how to allocate our limited local taxpayer funding.
These issues include delays in allocating prior approved money from the recent state bond, and not providing resources to help secure our schools, requiring changes in curriculum without funding them, and dragging the process of reforming state testing along.
What are its biggest strengths?
In Cherry Hill, our community cares! More and more graduates of our schools are coming back home to Cherry Hill to raise their families. We are devoted to have the best possible community.
When it comes to the school district, there has not been a fear to have difficult discussions, especially after the failure of the 2018 bond. In last few months, the board and administration have put a focus on community engagement and empowerment. In addition, they have committed themselves to the difficult discussion of the future of what our district should look like, in terms of numbers of schools and more!
Name three key issues on which you would focus if elected.
Alumni Giving Back is committed to a dedicated security bond.
We are committed to securing our schools using a rational, cost-effective security strategy that adheres to state and federal best practices. We recognize that urgent, short-term security improvements need to be made across all schools and recommend a dedicated security bond to address these needs.
We endorse the district’s ad hoc committee on security, and look forward to working with committee members to create an actionable plan that will keep our students safe.
Achievement Gap
We advocate a standardized, data-driven approach to identify students in need through grade-level assessments and state-mandated testing. Closing performance gaps in the classroom requires a detailed analysis of not only race, but also income, sex, English language proficiency, and learning disabilities. Deeper analysis of the demographic data will help our teachers and staff give our students the help they need to succeed in our schools.
Community Empowerment
We believe that community involvement is the key to a healthy, thriving school district. We encourage community members to be involved in the education process of their children. As board members, we will enhance district communication and provide Cherry Hill residents with valuable resources to address their needs.