JAMESBURG Two incumbents are running for seats on the Jamesburg Board of Education.
Scott Passner is running for a full three-year term. No petition was filed for the second three-year term that is open.
Peter Shaughnessy will run for a one-year unexpired term.
Passner, 39, has been a resident for 20 years and currently is a third grade teacher in North Brunswick. He was appointed to the board in December 2016.
He has been a member of the Jamesburg Parent Teacher Association, Jameburg Board of Education, New Jersey School Boards Legislative Committee, NJEA Member, North Brunswick Township Education Association Member, Setonian Foundation, and a congregant of Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick.
“Being an educator, parent and board member gives me a unique perspective in understanding the challenges public education faces in New Jersey. I am running again to keep the positive momentum going that our administrative team has demonstrated in meeting the individual needs of our students and population. My goal is to advocate for all of the students in Jamesburg,” Passner said.
Passner said that his greatest accomplishment has been seeing the students in the borough achieve at a higher level based on the programs the board has implemented to support their learning.
“My goal is to give the students of Jamesburg opportunities to grow academically and socially to prepare for their future. This will be accomplished by bringing in academic programs and extra-curricular activities to support our students,” Passner said.
Shaughnessy, 42, has been a resident for four years. He was appointed to the board earlier this year and teaches eighth grade integrated reading and language arts at Thomas Grover Middle School in the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District.
Shaughnessy currently is the chairperson for the board’s Policy Committee. In West Windsor-Plainsboro, he is a member of the Volunteer Committee, the Strategic Action Planning Committee, and a member of the 1:1 Technology Instruction Panel.
“I love Jamesburg and I want to serve this municipality in the best way I can. Since I have a master’s degree in educational leadership and 11 years of experience in this field, I believe this is the strength that I can bring to the table. I believe in the transformative power of education for individuals and for communities. I am honored to be in this position. I’m thrilled to have a hand in moving this town forward and helping it to prepare for the future,” Shaughnessy said.
Shaughnessy said this is a big year for the district, and that in the short time he’s been on the board, members have approved the expansion of the technology instruction initiative, the commitment to data-driven instruction, and the addition of full day preschool for three and four year olds.
“I don’t take credit for any of these accomplishments; each of them was achieved by the district’s dedicated, hardworking, forward-thinking staff and administrators,” he said. “As board members, we’ll evaluate the success of each of these programs to determine how well they are benefiting the students of our town. We will continue to look for creative ways to fund these initiatives without increasing the tax burden for Jamesburg’s property owners, and we’ll look for wise ways to invest in the future of this great town,” he said.
In the Jamesburg Borough Council election, Democrat incumbents Daria Ludas and Coleen Rutsky are running uncontested for reelection to the two, three-year terms that are available.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
