Hillsborough: Five vie for three seats on school board

Five candidates, including three incumbents, will vie for three seats on the Hillsborough Township Board of Education in the election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The candidates are Diane Braungard-Galayda, Noor Jannah Hameed, and Incumbents Elaine Jackson, Allison Laning-Beder, and Jane M. Staats.

Name: Dr. Diane Braungard-Galayda

Age:  57

Family:  Husband and a 19-year-old daughter

School and degree: Bachelor of Science – biology – Millersville University, Certification of Education – Millersville University, Certification in Nuclear Medicine Technology – Millersville University, Masters of Arts in counseling – Kean University, Masters of Science in administration and supervision – Rutgers University, Doctorate in Education – Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education – University of Nebraska, educational specialist in Mental Health Counseling – Auburn University of Montgomery

Profession:  Teacher, Counselor, Supervisor of Counseling

Is this the first time you have run for a seat for BOE?  This is the first time that I’ve run for the Board of Education and I find it to be exciting. Campaign website:  tinyurl.com/dianebgboe

What is your involvement in the community? I have volunteered over the past number of years in my daughter’s activities in school and have recently volunteered at my local church as an aide for CCD.

Why are you running for an elected seat? As a parent of a student who graduated from this district, I have always felt a connection to the community and have enjoyed raising a family in Hillsborough. I believe that my experience as an educator, my degrees in education, my knowledge of mental health, and my advocacy for high-quality curriculum are what have propelled me into seeking a position on the Board of Education. My goal is to make sure that all students have access to full-day kindergarten and mental health resources. I also want to support our teachers in their academic, mental health, and professional development endeavors, and lastly, I want to ensure that all students are receiving inclusivity and equity in their classes.

What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? I would like to see ongoing efforts to ensure equity and equality in our school curriculum. It’s important for our district to offer more specialized instruction, curriculum, and tutoring for English language learners. I also advocate for greater diversity in literature classes to better represent all of our students and increased diversity in gender and civics courses. Lastly, I hope the district will address disparities among different student groups, including those based on socioeconomic status, race, disability, or language.

Name: Jannah Hameed

Age: 19

How many years have you lived in Hillsborough Township? I have lived in Hillsborough my entire life!

Family: Younger sister still in the school system.

School and degree: Hillsborough High School graduate (2023). Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Rutgers, New Brunswick

Profession: Full-time student

Is this the first time you have run for a seat for BOE? Yes!

What is your involvement in the community? During my time at Hillsborough High School, I was highly involved with both community service and academic clubs. I particularly enjoyed working with my peers in PUSH/REBEL to spread awareness about underage drug and alcohol use, and serving as the president of Spanish Honors Society.

Why are you running for an elected seat? My experience with Hillsborough public schools was incredibly rewarding. I graduated in 2023 not only prepared for college coursework, but with a clear sense of my interests and a vision for my future career. I hope to ensure the future students of this town have the same educational opportunities that I did, while also returning the support Hillsborough teachers and staff once gave me.

I am the only candidate with recent, first-hand experience of the district as a student. If elected, I won’t just be an advocate for teachers and parents, but a voting representative for Hillsborough students.

What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? It’s crucial we address the worst, most dangerous symptom of overcrowded schools: rising harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) cases. This requires treating HIB cases with the seriousness they demand, prioritizing concerns raised by teachers and staff about student behavior, and encouraging students to advocate for their peers in need. Doing so will foster a safer and more supportive environment in Hillsborough Schools, allowing students to thrive both academically and mentally. 

Name: Elaine Jackson

How many years have you lived in Hillsborough Township? I have been a resident of Hillsborough for almost 28 years.

Family: I have two daughters aged 22 and 19, both graduates of the Hillsborough school district.

School and degree: I graduated from Goucher College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and business administration.

Profession: I am an IT Business Analyst.

Is this the first time you have run for a seat for BOE? I am completing the final (third) year of my first term on the board.

What is your involvement in the community? In addition to being a volunteer on the Board of Education, I have been a volunteer member of the Hillsborough chapter of UNICO which is a service organization. UNICO has served the community with numerous fundraisers benefitting organizations such as The Zippy Fund, Gigi’s Playhouse and Operation Shoebox. We have also collected for Hillsborough CAN.

Why are you running for an elected seat? I chose to run for a second term because I felt there was more to accomplish than could be done within a single term. When my first term began, the district faced unusual circumstances that had to be addressed while handling day-to-day operations. We are now better able to focus wholly on the district, especially to address important issues like safety, redistricting, teacher shortages and curriculum.

What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? I believe we need to stay on top of the lack of an equitable state school funding plan. The S2 formula is coming to an end, and we need to advocate for the restoration of funding. Years of funding cuts have led to loss of staff, transportation issues, and building maintenance challenges. Hillsborough deserves better.

Name: Allison Laning-Beder

Age: 48

How many years have you lived in Hillsborough Township? My family and I have lived in Hillsborough for 16 years.

Family: I am married to my husband Adam and have three children, ages 19, 16, and 14.

School and degree: I have a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from New York University and a master’s degree in education from Rutgers University.

Profession: I taught in New Jersey public schools for 10 years and currently do not work outside of my home.

Is this the first time you have run for a seat for BOE?  This is my second run for BOE. I am currently in the third year of my first term as a Hillsborough Board of Education member.

What is your involvement in the community? I am currently in the third year of my first term as a member of the Hillsborough Board of Education. I previously served for four years on the Executive Board of the Hillsborough High School Choir Parents Association, including three years as president.

Why are you running for an elected seat? I am seeking re-election to continue working with my fellow board members to restore confidence in Hillsborough’s Board of Education. During my first term, we have worked successfully to bring stability and trust back to Hillsborough Township schools. We hired Superintendent Mike Volpe, who has worked with the board to provide transparency, improve student safety, and enhance day-to-day operations.  I look forward to continuing those efforts, while seeking to provide the students and staff of this district with the educational support that they deserve.   

What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? I would like to continue to improve upon communication and transparency within the school district and focus attention on ensuring that the mental health of staff and students remains a top priority. I believe a truly successful educational environment is one where all stakeholders feel supported not only in their physical health and safety, but their mental well-being as well.   

Name: Jane M. Staats

Age: 66 years old

How many years have you lived in Hillsborough Township? I have lived in Hillsborough Township for 38 years.

Family: I have been married to my husband Greg for 39 years. We have a son, 36 years old, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Schools and degrees: La Salle College: BA in English, mathematics, and education; Rutgers University: M.Ed. in mathematics education.

Profession: I am currently retired. I was a public-school math teacher for 32 years, 14 years at North Hunterdon High School and 18 years at Hillsborough High School.

Is this the first time you have run for a seat for BOE? I served on the Hillsborough Board of Education from 2019 through 2021, and currently from 2023 through 2024.

What is your involvement in the community? I have volunteered with the Hillsborough High School Theatre since 2010. As a member of Mary Mother of God (MMOG) Parish, I have been a volunteer with the Children’s Liturgy for many years; I also serve on the MMOG Liturgy Committee. In the recent past, I volunteered for several years with the Hillsborough/Millstone Municipal Alliance, the Somerset Valley Playhouse, and the Art and Environment Committee at MMOG. I have attended many events throughout the school district, including high school sports and theatre events, the Locks of Love Assembly at Amsterdam Elementary School, HSA meetings, RoboRaiders competitions, and Goldilocks on Trial at ARIS.

Why are you running for an elected seat? I have always felt a sense of obligation to serve others in the community. With my expertise and passion for education in particular, I have contributed as a public-school math teacher, parent, tutor, school volunteer, and school board member. I would like to continue to contribute my services on the school board. I intend to continue using my open-mindedness, experience, empathy, work ethic, knowledge in the field of education, and my knowledge about Hillsborough schools in particular to serve all Hillsborough students. As a board member, I have initiated some positive changes, and I would like to continue doing so.

What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? Reducing class sizes is a top priority for me. Some classes in the elementary grades have 26-27 students, and many class sizes in grades 7 through 12 are 30 plus. With smaller classes, teachers can provide more individualized attention to students, and students are more likely to be engaged. Redistricting may mitigate this problem in K-4. Hiring additional teachers throughout all grades would definitely help. In last spring’s community survey, the number one priority was “Increase instructional staff in areas of student need.” In last year’s strategic planning survey, “Class size” was a top priority, second only to “High school facility.”