A Lawrence High School graduate and veteran educator has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Lawrence Township Public Schools Board of Education.
Makenzie E. Kelly, who graduated from Lawrence High School in 2011, was named to fill the seat held by former school board member Amanda Santos at the school board’s June 11 meeting.
Kelly will be formally sworn into office at the school board’s July 9 meeting. The term will end in January 2026, but Kelly may choose to run for a full three-year term in the November general election.
Santos, who was the school board vice president, resigned following her appointment to fill an open seat on the Lawrence Township Council last month.
In a related move at the June 11 school board meeting, school board member Pepper Evans was elected to become the school board vice president.
Kelly, who formerly taught social studies at Trenton Central High School, now is a special services director at the New Jersey Department of Education. She leads statewide initiatives that support school improvement and educator development.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in African American/Black studies from Temple University and a master’s degree in secondary education from The College of New Jersey. She is pursuing a school leadership certificate from the University of Pennsylvania.
Kelly was one of four finalists interviewed for the vacancy, school board president Michele Bowes said. Twelve residents expressed interest in serving on the school board, and the list was winnowed down to four candidates.
Bowes said she spoke to the 12 candidates. The school board tried to determine if they were aligned with what the school board has to offer and whether they had a full understanding of its role and responsibilities, she said.
“I just want to make sure that everybody in the community knows the effort that was put forth by the candidates,” Bowes said.
Addressing the three finalists who were not chosen, Bowes said it was a privilege for her to get to know them and to share their life and interests with the board.
She encouraged them to consider seeking a seat on the school board in a future school board election. Three seats on the nine-member board are up for grabs every year.
“I saw all of you as our future – the future of the school board and the future for this community,” Bowes said. “Please know that all of us were overwhelmed by your qualifications and your passion and personalities.”
Meanwhile, Kelly thanked the school board for allowing her to have the honor and opportunity of serving her hometown.
“I am really excited to be representing not only my (high school) class, not only many of my friends, but my husband and my own little Cardinal who will be entering kindergarten,” she said.
“This community has made me who I am, and I just can’t wait to give back to it in the way it deserves.”
