Princeton voters will choose from among six candidates for three open seats on the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education in the Nov. 5 general election.
Only one of the six candidates – Mara Franceschi – is presently serving on the school board and seeking re-election. Five of the six candidates are newcomers – Ari Meisel, Z. Lisa Potter, Christopher Santarpio, Erica Snyder and Shenwei Zhao.
The term is for three years.
Franceschi has lived in Princeton for 14 years. She has three children, one of whom graduated from Princeton High School. Her younger children are enrolled at Princeton High School.
Franceschi said she is seeking another term because she believes that experience matters. She pointed to challenges facing the school district that include a proposed referendum for school expansions and balancing the budget while keeping property tax increases to a minimum.
The school board has begun its search for a permanent superintendent of schools, and as a first-time participant in the search process, she will bring a fresh set of eyes to the process, she said.
“My years of school board experience will allow me to better evaluate the skills required of an excellent superintendent who will become an integral part of our district and schools,” Franceschi said.
Meisel has lived in Princeton for four years. He has five children and said he is “heavily invested” in the success of the Princeton Public Schools.
“My goal is to ensure a safe and supportive environment for our students, optimizing our spending and maintaining small class sizes,” he said. “Physical and mental health are also key priorities.”
Meisel wants to create an environment where every student reaches their full potential by focusing on personalized learning approaches, investing in teacher development and integrating innovative educational technologies and methodolgies.
He also wants to enhance security measures in the schools, to include updating safety protocols, investing in security infrastructure and fostering a culture of awareness and preparedness.
Potter, who has lived in Princeton for two years, has two children. One child graduated from Princeton High School and her younger child is a senior at Princeton High School.
Potter said she is running for a seat on the school board because she believes in the power of strong leadership and effective management to transform the school district.
The Princeton Public Schools has a strong foundation, Potter said. Her goal is to build on that foundation by stabilizing leadership, prioritizing operational efficiency and encouraging community engagement.
Potter said she would like to contribute her skills in talent acquisition – especially in executive search – to hire a “visionary” superintendent to lead the school district. Stable, long-term leadership is necessary.
She also emphasized the need to make cost-effective decisions. She suggested that instead of spending money on more consultants, the teachers and staff should be asked for input. They are on the front lines and often have valuable insights into improving the schools.
Santarpio has lived in Princeton for four years. He has one child who attends the Community Park School. He is a co-president of the school’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
Santarpio said his attendance at regular school board meetings, school board committee meetings and PTO Council meetings has helped him to understand the broader management of the Princeton Public Schools.
Santarpio said his background in managing a family-owned business would be helpful in serving on the school board. He has developed expertise in finance, supply chain and operations management.
“While community- and culture-building is certainly key within the business context, I further understand the critical nature of managing budgets and data-driven decision-making as we strive to achieve operational excellence,” he said.
Santarpio pledged to foster a deep sense of connectivity between the school district and all aspects of the vibrant and diverse communities that have chosen to live in Princeton.
Snyder moved to Princeton two years ago. She has three children enrolled in the Princeton Public Schools, and is co-president of the Community Park School PTO.
“As a parent to three Princeton Public Schools students, I am personally invested in our district’s future,” she said. “I want to contribute my years of professional experience (as an educator) to improving the educational experience for all, ensuring every student thrives.”
As a self-described educator at heart, Snyder said she has spent her career working to support teachers and teacher leaders through curriculum development, education technology integration and innovative instructional methods.
Snyder said her goals include better communication between the school district and the community about the district’s challenges, resulting in building consensus and trust around the best solutions.
Those solutions include challenging assumptions on the changing landscape of college and career readiness for all students, and using qualitative and quantitative results to measure achievement to ensure that all students thrive, she said.
Zhao has lived in Princeton for eight years. He has one child who is enrolled at the Princeton Middle School.
“The primary reason I am running for the school board is simple,” Zhao said. “I would like to help our schools to operate more effectively.”
He said he would like to create a healthy and rewarding environment in recruiting and retaining good teachers and administrators amid the teacher shortage.
Zhao said he would like to improve the mental health of students and staff, and also allocate appropriate resources to raise the level of achievement among all students.
Zhao said that as an engineer and as a business owner and consultant, he has designed, integrated, maintained and fixed many systems. He also understands the importance of nurturing good relationships with diverse clients and stakeholders.
“The school board’s responsibilities fall into similar categories,” Zhao said.
