Amanda

In June of 2024 Amanda was appointed to join the East Amwell ​School Board to fill an unexpected vacancy. She is running now to ​make that temporary selection a long term commitment. With two ​daughters in the wonderful pre-K and first grade programs, she is the ​only board member who is the mom of current EATS students.

Since the beginning of her family's time at East Amwell, Amanda ​has been a devoted parent volunteer through the PTO. For the past ​three years she has coordinated the beloved Gallery Time program ​bringing supplemental visual arts education into the classroom. She ​served for two years as the PTO’s recording secretary where she ​assisted with the planning and execution of the groups many ​programs supporting students and staff.

Amanda was born and raised just outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan, she is a ​proud product of public education. Amanda attended Grand Valley State ​University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in theater and went on to ​study at the College-Conservatory of Music at University of Cincinnati, ​where she received her Masters of Fine Arts in theatrical design. She ​returned to her home state of Michigan and began teaching at University of ​Michigan-Flint in the theater department. After relocating to the east cost ​with her husband Scott she went on to work at University of Delaware’s ​Resident Ensemble Theater. Now at home in Hunterdon County, Amanda ​works as a costume designer at Roxey Ballet in New Hope.

Goals for the board

Introduction

Educational Priorities

• Literacy: There is no better way to set young learners up ​for lifelong success than by maximizing literacy. Amanda ​will advocate for policies and curriculum that provide ​students tools and support to be avid, informed readers
  

• Arts: Amanda’s background in the performing arts has ​contributed to a deep care that arts education is ​thoughtfully incorporated into the curriculum. Wether ​visual or performing arts, she will advocate for these ​programs

• STEM: The Sandford’s family life balances arts highly ​with science and mathematics. Amanda will advocate for ​high proficiency in these subjects, continuing the long ​tradition of well rounded students EATS aspires to
  

Amanda’s goals for the board have several key influences - ​her experience as a mother, student, and educator key ​among them. Beyond this, her current board experience ​has underscored the need to listen closely to voices in our ​community and craft solutions that will maximize benefit ​for the whole of East Amwell. In this, student achievement ​is paramount - Amanda firmly believes in the “Whole ​Child” approach EATS is committed to. This recognizes ​each learner is unique and requires a balance across many ​types of eduction - including social, emotional, and civic ​elements. Additional balance comes from a trusting, ​transparent relationship with the full East Amwell ​community. This will enable our students, teachers and ​administrators while respecting financial support provided ​and using it wisely.

Safety

Communication & Transparency

• Physical: Students should always feel physically safe ​in our school. Amanda believes the board must ​remain vigilant and continue to hone policies that ​ensure our school is a secure place to learn, taking ​guidance from both local and national learnings on ​the subject. Amanda is proud to have earned the ​distinction as a 2024 Gun Sense candidate from the ​national organization Moms Demand Action.
  

• Technology: Amanda believes in the immense power ​of technology in the classroom, but will strive to ​ensure the centricity of education on our educators - ​it must be a tool to empower them vs. the other way ​around. Additionally, the board must plan ​accordingly to keep our students data secure. High ​priority must be dedicated to protecting our school ​from cyber attacks towards student and staff ​personal data.
  

In the last year, community members have raised ​concerns that the East Amwell Township School Board ​needs to improve communication and transparency with ​residence. Amanda believes solutions can be sought to ​address these concerns, and in her short time on the ​board has pushed for measures to both increase board ​meeting accessibility and communication to the public. ​She believes that we must thoughtfully listen to ​community members in need of more information about ​the governance of the school, framing solutions that are ​responsible for students, staff, parents and the whole of ​East Amwell.

Continuing Education

Amanda is committed to continuing to her own education on topics relevant to school governance, above and ​beyond requirements of board membership. In addition to completing New Jersey’s required school board training ​program in July of 2024, she has participated in the following workshops since her appointment to the East Amwell ​school board in the summer of 2024. She will remain vigilant for additional new topics that arise as high importance ​for East Amwell’s students, school employees, and broader community.

• NJSBA New Jersey education law updates July ‘24
• NJSBA Securing Our Schools: How to Effectively Implement Cybersecurity Solutions August ‘24
  
• NJSBA Mastering School Finance: Essential Conversations for Board Members August ‘24
• East Amwell Township School Board Goal Setting Workshop, September ‘24

Upcoming

• Hunterdon County School Board Association, Fall meeting on Artificial Intelligence September ‘24
  
• New Jersey School Board Association Annual Workshop, October ‘24
  

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All views expressed are personal opinion and not endorsed or ​supported by the East Amwell Board of Education.

Photography credits: Moods of Motherhood, Allison Dunn and Stacy Heart