Susan Ferrara
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Susan Ferrara is an at-large representative on the Hamilton Township Board of Education in New Jersey. She was first elected to the board in the general election on November 3, 2015.[1][2]
Ferrara unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the board in 2009.[3]
Biography
Ferrara previously worked as a teacher.[3]
Elections
2015
Three of the nine seats on the Hamilton Township School District Board of Education were up for at-large general election on November 3, 2015. Incumbents Albert Gayzik, Richard Kanka, and Jen Barnock Riddell ran for re-election. Kanka won re-election, while challengers Susan Ferrara and Michelle Episcopo joined the board.[1] Kanka, Ferrara, and Episcopo defeated Gayzik, Riddell, George Fisher, John Kroschwitz II, and Gregory Mahon.[2] Gayzik and Kroschwitz ran together as part of a slate.[4] Garret Hengeli originally filed to run in this election, but he withdrew from the race.
Results
| Hamilton Township Board of Education, At-large, General Election, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Richard Kanka Incumbent |
18.1% | 6,379 |
| Susan Ferrara |
15.9% | 5,618 |
| Michelle Episcopo |
13.1% | 4,642 |
| Gregory Mahon | 11.6% | 4,110 |
| George Fisher | 11.6% | 4,107 |
| John Kroschwitz II | 11.3% | 3,987 |
| Albert Gayzik Incumbent | 9.5% | 3,356 |
| Jen Barnock Riddell Incumbent | 8.5% | 3,015 |
| Write-in votes | 0.29% | 101 |
| Total Votes | 35,315 | |
| Source: Mercer County, "Official Results," accessed November 20, 2015 | ||
Funding
Ferrara reported no contributions or expenditures to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission in the election.[5]
The first campaign finance reporting deadline was October 5, 2015. Candidates had to file another report on October 23, 2015, and the last report was due November 23, 2015.[6]
Endorsements
Ferrara received no official endorsements in this election.
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Susan Ferrara completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ferrara's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
The district is on a trajectory towards excellence. The top three priorities are to strengthen the curriculum offerings, improve technology and STEAM offerings, improve Safety and Security in our buildings.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
My focus will continue to be that of moving from punitive discipline to restorative justice practices and social emotional learning.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
After all these many years, I still rely on the teachings of Maria Montessori. A physician by training, she had an amazing understanding of human development and what children needed to grow into responsible adults and citizens.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
School board membership is not about politics; it's about children and the future. I am guided by many resources.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
The Golden Rule and Aristotle's teachings on the Golden Mean ground me.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
My ability to listen; my ability to research, read, analyze and think.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To be a voice for the marginalized and voiceless of the district, while listening to those who are vocal and finding a solution which is equitable and financially doable.
What legacy would you like to leave?
That I supported, appreciated and modeled the joys of learning.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
I have a vague memory of my 4th grade teacher telling us that President John Kennedy had been shot. And I remember watching the aftermath unfold. But 1968 made the biggest impact on my life. As an 8th grade student I participated in two mock political conventions. Several of us were scheduled to meet Senator Robert Kennedy at the airport; he was shot the night before. That was also the year Martin Luther King was assassinate.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
My first job? Babysitter. My second job? Camp Counselor--for many summers. I started working at the age of 12.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Christmas. I have very warm memories of times spent with a large extended family. We caroled. We roasted chestnuts. We danced. We ate wonderful meals. It feels like a lifetime ago.
What is your favorite book? Why?
Of Beetles and Angels by Mawi Asgedom.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Professor Minerva McGonagall from the Harry Potter series because then I would have a magic wand and the power to ease some of the pain of children.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
I have a coffee cup I bought many years ago after the death of a very close friend. It keeps him with me.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
C is for Cookie is a very popular song in our house; our parrots like to sing the "oh".
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
The coloring of my skin.
What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?
My view doesn't matter. The role of the board member is to hire and evaluate the superintendent; set policy and establish a budget. What I try and add to my role is support of teachers and students, and I do that by being present and listening.
Who are your constituents?
Students first, tax payers, teachers.
How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?
My work on the District and Community Relations Committee is directed at helping to oversee equity.
How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?
I sit on several Title I stakeholder committees; my email is available and I respond. I maintain a Facebook page. I am at many school events.
What will you do to build a better relationship with parents in the district? What plans do you have to be inclusive of parental involvement?
I would like to explore the establishing of stakeholder committees at the building level. These committees would give the district a better on-the-ground view of challenges in each of the 24 buildings in the district.
Do you believe it is important to intentionally recruit with the aim of diversifying the district’s faculty, staff, and administration? If so, what would be your policy to achieve this?
The goal of hiring is to bring to the district the strongest and most passionate educators. Our HR department is well aware of the board's desire to make the faculty look like the students. The role of the board is to provide oversight and the District and Community Relations committee keeps track of minority hiring.
What issues get in the way of quality education? How would you address these obstacles?
The biggest challenge is the definition of public education and what that looks like. The word public, which modifies education, derives from the Latin word publicus which means "of the people". In our community, the nature of the people is changing and causing some people concern. The fear of other, and the belief that only certain children can achieve is one of the biggest challenges at the moment. Another reason I'd like McGonagall's wand.
What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?
The Board of Education hires the superintendent to oversee, measure and model good teaching through his department of curriculum and instruction. The State of New Jersey provides the framework by which student achievement is measured, and what constitutes good teaching. The job of the board is to make sure the superintendent is providing excellent educational leadership.
What type of skills should students be learning for success in the 21st century?
Students need to know how to read, research, fail, pick-themselves up, and regroup. They need to not see a challenge as a problem, but rather an opportunity. They need to know how to learn, how to communicate, how to study. And, they need to know how to protect themselves emotionally while not devolving into bullies themselves.
How might you improve the value of a high school diploma? What should a 21st century diploma reflect?
Montessori knew way back when, and brain researchers of today tell us now, that the brain does its greatest growth between the ages of 0-6 years. Consequently, resources should be heavily placed at the elementary level. At the high school level, why not let capable students take online classes offered by places like MIT and Harvard?
In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?
The district needs to finish auditing the current curriculum to see what first round changes need to be made. One thing I have learned during this campaign season is there is a great need for courses in study skills.
What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?
Trenton holds the purse strings and through the New Jersey School Boards Association
What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?
It takes the entire school community to ensure safety. That means building relationships with students, teachers and others. It means making it safe for people to reach out to authorities.
How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?
I continue to support the Mercer County Superintendents' Initiative which includes providing information and learning opportunities for our district. Our district is also taking active steps in the area of addiction too.
What role do you imagine technology playing in (and outside) the classroom in the future? How would you prepare the district for this?
I believe technology will open many more learning opportunities and give districts improved ways to create blended learning.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Susan Ferrara' 'Hamilton Township School District'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Hamilton Township School District, New Jersey
- Hamilton Township School District elections (2015)
- Incumbency no guarantee of success in Nov. 3 school board elections (November 6, 2015)
- What happened in Nov.'s top board elections? (November 4, 2015)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mercer County, "Unofficial Results," accessed November 3, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 NJ.com, "School board candidates file petitions for November election," July 29, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Trentonian, "Crowded field: 9 candidates vying for 3 spots on Hamilton school board," August 6, 2015
- ↑ New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, "GAYZIK & KROSCWITZ FOR SCHOOL BOARD," accessed October 6, 2015
- ↑ New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, "View a Candidate or Election Related Committee Report," accessed November 24, 2015
- ↑ New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, "2015 Reporting Dates," accessed July 21, 2015
| 2015 Hamilton Township School District Elections | |
| Mercer County, New Jersey | |
| Election date: | November 3, 2015 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Albert Gayzik • Incumbent, Richard Kanka • Incumbent, Jen Barnock Riddell • Michelle Episcopo • Susan Ferrara • George Fisher • John Kroschwitz II • Gregory Mahon |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
