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Five Collingswood residents are running for three available three-year terms on the Collingswood Public School District Board of Education: Stacey DeMarco, Kelly Maia, Meghan Mikulski, Erica Schmid, and Kate Seltzer.
All five candidates have been invited to reply to the same set of prompts, telling voters about themselves, their priorities, and their views of the current state of affairs in their community. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Stacey DeMarco, 41 (Challenger)
Stacey DeMarco works as vice president of proposals for an educational services company, and is the mother of two children who attend Collingswood public schools.
DeMarco has lived in Collingswood for 12 years; her husband, Joey, grew up in the borough.
A voracious reader, she also loves movies, Broadway shows, Taylor Swift, and pop culture.
NJ PEN: What is your philosophy of education?
DEMARCO: I believe each and every child deserves to have access to a quality, well-rounded education; that equity is not just an idea, but a practice.
I know I am where I am today because of access to quality education options from my public schools.
I believe that a good and welcoming school community is built on relationships and a coalition of problem solvers. Every single day it’s the board, the administration, the teachers, and staff against problems, and not us against each other.
NJ PEN: What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a school board member?
DEMARCO: I have 15-plus years of experience writing proposals in the education space. I can see the district procurement process from the vendor side. I would love to bring this experience to the district and help submit grant applications.
My job consists of delivering documents on time, which includes writing as well as managing information from cross-functional groups.
I believe my experience in working across teams will help being on the Board. I am a problem-solver and a person who gets things done, professionally.
NJ PEN: Why are you running for office?
DEMARCO: I am a proud product of New Jersey public schools. I grew up in Pennsauken, attended Pennsauken Public Schools, and then graduated from Rowan University.
I know from firsthand experience how important access to a well-rounded public education is. Growing up, my family did not have extra funds to supplement my education outside of school for the most part. But I did have access to AP classes, as well as electives and extracurriculars through my public school.
Because of this, I have a vested interest in our schools, our teachers, and our staff. Not only have I lived in Collingswood for over a decade with my husband, who grew up here, I have young children for whom I want the best education possible. Simply put, I love Collingswood, and I want my children and all children have access to a well-rounded education.
I truly believe that magic happens in our schools, every single day, in every single classroom. Our educators are deeply dedicated to helping our children grow, and I would love to help our teachers, administration, and staff continue to make that magic.
NJ PEN: What are the biggest challenges your district faces?
DEMARCO: I think our issues can be boiled down to two main things: budget and morale.
A public school budget is always going to be tight for all the things a school must provide. Balancing funding education and fiscal responsibility is a delicate dance for any school board.
I do think we need to evaluate some of our spending, such as the district being responsible for continuing to maintain Good Shepherd, a building that is not housing students, and which would not be able to house students without significant work at significant cost. I would love to see that money be spent on updating our current buildings.
Building, strengthening, and maintaining student-facing programs and staff must be our top priority. Providing programs and classes through our schools makes sure that parents and families do not need to supplement outside of the school day.
Regarding morale, recently, I heard a former teacher get up at a board meeting and say that Collingswood staff used to say, “Welcome to your last job”; that people would know taking a job here meant retiring here.
I want our board and our leadership to focus on getting that feeling and that commitment back. It begins with listening and working with staff to address their issues.
NJ PEN: What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
DEMARCO: One, if elected, I hope to help rebuild some trust within the community and schools. Recently the CEA (our teachers union) went over a year without a contract. I really want to help build a coalition between all invested stakeholders, and keep lines of communication open among the community, the board, and the staff.
Two, I would like to focus on retention, for both our students and our teachers. I would love to work on public relations campaigns, like social media, and focus on the positive things happening in our schools. We have some really wonderful educators and some really amazing accomplishments, and I’d love to be part of the team that highlights these wins.
Three, I would love to help submit grant applications for funding. I would love to focus on grants for building improvements, arts and music education, mental health resources, supports for diverse populations, and anything to help our schools get the funding needed to improve the teachers’ and students’ day-to-day experiences.
Kelly Maia, 49 (Incumbent)
Realtor Kelly Maia is the married mother of three children, two in Collingswood public schools, and one at Immaculata University.
She enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking, baking, crafting, and reading.
NJ PEN: What is your philosophy of education?
MAIA: Every child deserves to have access to education. Education is power. It provides a strong foundation on which children can grow and become successful adults.
While in school, they learn academics, social skills, social emotional learning, and everything they need to set them up for their future.
It is so important that we do everything in our power to protect students’ educational spaces, provide them with opportunities to explore what they have an interest in, and provide them with all the tools necessary to be successful.
We are so fortunate to have the amazing teachers and staff in Collingswood who ignite their passions, their creativity, and encourage lifelong learning.
NJ PEN: What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a school board member?
MAIA: I have been on the Board of Education for the last three years, and have learned so much about what our role is as a board, how we can help be the bridge between the district and the community, and how we can all work together to make our schools the best they can be.
In addition, I spent several years as the president of the Mark Newbie Elementary School PTA, building relationships, engaging families, and helping to plan fundraisers to support our students and staff.
As a parent of children who have gone from kindergarten through high school, I have been able to witness their academic journey. I’ve been in their classrooms, back-to-school nights, and volunteered time and time again at their events.
I’ve had a front-row seat to all the amazing things that happen in our schools every day, for many years.
NJ PEN: Why are you running for office?
MAIA: I’m running for re-election because I am deeply invested in the town and the schools. When we have people who are committed to solutions, accountability, focusing on the students, the staff and striving to have great schools, we can do amazing things!
It’s so important that we are listening to our community, hearing the good and the bad, working on improving what’s great, and working on solutions for the issues we’re facing. We need to strive towards being above the negative nationwide trends.
We know that, at times, we need to make hard decisions, but when we make those hard decisions, we can lead with empathy and understanding, and a willingness to work together and get through difficult times.
We are so fortunate to live in a town where people care so much. We are unique in what we have to offer here in so many ways. We have such a great mix of people who have stayed here their whole lives, and people who chose to move here because we are welcoming.
People are excited about coming to Collingswood. They love the town, they love the restaurants, they love the events — the Book Festival, the May Fair, the craft fairs, the farmers market, the lifelong friendships we make; the chance to know their child’s teachers, or get involved in the PTAs, etc.
I am committed to devoting my time to doing what I can to continue to improve our schools, and I want all the students in our schools to have a strong sense of belonging.
NJ PEN: What are the biggest challenges your district faces?
MAIA: Our district is struggling financially, as has been noted publicly and repeatedly over the last several years, and that puts an enormous strain on us being able to provide for our children.
We thankfully have people in the town that have been willing to take the lead and join the advocacy for fair funding, but this is an ongoing issue, and there is no quick fix in the foreseeable future.
This makes the job as a board member ever more important — to continue to question, be mindful of every dollar that we spend, and focus on services that benefit the students. The reality is that we can’t put extra pressure on our taxpayers and price people out of town.
Another challenge we have been facing is staff and student retention, which has led to much community frustration. We need to strive to be a district where both staff and students want to stay, and trust that they’ve made the right decision.
We need to do our best to listen, encourage collaboration, and again, be focused on solutions. We can’t blame this on nationwide trends, the pandemic, or the fact that we are struggling to compete with higher-paying districts. We have always struggled to compete with higher-paying districts.
We need improvements to our athletic fields, and it’s great that we are working towards that. We also need to focus on our music and arts programs, funding to support those programs, supporting home events, an aging sound system in the auditorium, and storage space is limited.
We also need musical instruments for band and orchestra, the resources to repair them, and music lessons. Our band has had challenges advancing in competitions, and we have tech pieces that need repair or replacement. Our staff does their absolute best in working with what they have, and have gone above and beyond to find parts and fix what they can.
We are struggling to maintain our existing buildings, and have been told that we don’t have a plan if a building catastrophe occurs. We are in the process of taking on another building in partnership with the borough, but again, while we can see all the benefits of doing that, having this building is going to incur additional costs that we need to budget for, despite all the benefits it provides.
NJ PEN: What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
MAIA: The three main issues I’ve heard come up in conversations from voters during the election, and from the last few years at board meetings, are: staff morale and retention, course offerings, and fiscal responsibility.
There are numerous issues we need to focus on, and we need to continually be listening to what is important to the people of the town, the staff, and students that we represent.
Meghan Mikulski, 48 (Incumbent)
History teacher Meghan Mikulski and her husband have lived in Collingswood for 21 years.
They’ve sent three children to school in Collingswood: one graduated last year, another is a sophomore, and the youngest is in the final year of elementary school.
Mikulski is a huge music lover who sings in a Madrigals group, and enjoys delving into historical topics and current events in her spare time.
NJ PEN: What is your philosophy of education?
MIKULSKI: Throughout American history, various groups have been fighting for access to education. Access to a well-rounded education is the bedrock of our democracy and our society.
We owe all Collingswood students this same opportunity in a safe environment with access to a variety of enrichment opportunities. This goal should inform every decision the board makes, especially when deciding how to allocate funds.
NJ PEN: What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a school board member?
MIKULSKI: I have just begun my 26th year of teaching social studies at a local high school. Interacting with more than 100 students every day during that time has given me immense insight to the issues facing today’s students and also how a school runs effectively.
In addition, I’ve served on the 504 Committee, the DEAC Committee, the NJEA liaison committee, the curriculum committee, and I’ve been the co-advisor to the Model United Nations Club for almost 20 years.
These experiences have given me access to the many complexities of serving a diverse student population, as well as appreciating the perspectives of all those tasked with keeping a district running smoothly.
In Collingswood, I’ve volunteered extensively in PTAs in both the elementary and secondary schools since 2011. I am currently serving on the CHS PTA, the Garfield Elementary PTA Board, and as a member of the Collingswood High School Band Boosters.
This experience has allowed me to form dozens of connections with the families and staff members who pour their hearts and souls into Collingswood students. If re-elected, I will continue to bring their voices to the board.
NJ PEN: Why are you running for office?
MIKULSKI: I am running for re-election because I am deeply committed to Collingswood schools, and I want to help to keep them vibrant so that they will be able to continue to serve all of our students and families.
NJ PEN: What are the biggest challenges your district faces?
MIKULSKI: I believe our three biggest challenges today are staff retention, student offerings, and fiscal responsibility.
Collingswood schools have lost more than 100 staff members over the past three years due to resignations. Some positions remain unfilled or have been cut altogether.
These numbers are outlandish for a district our size, especially one in which staff members weren’t here for the money. They were here for the community. They were here because they were treated like family. We need to create that again.
Our second challenge is student offerings. With unfilled staff positions comes reduced offerings for students. This is not limited to classes, but enrichment opportunities as well. This obviously harms student achievement. But at the secondary level, it has driven families to seek other places to send their students for high school.
This will continue to send a ripple effect throughout our district of reduced funding and dedicated families investing their energy into other communities. The students most affected by this trend will be our most vulnerable populations. This is not equitable.
My third goal is fiscal responsibility. We’re a small district. There’s only so much money to go around. Yes, state funding is an issue, but while the fight to remedy that continues, we need to make better financial decisions here.
Focusing on central office positions and renovations to a building that won’t educate students does not seem feasible in a district facing the budget challenges that we do.
NJ PEN: What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
MIKULSKI: My goals, if re-elected, will be finding solutions to our biggest challenges. These solutions are all connected.
First, we need to create a positive, supportive environment for our teachers and staff members. As a board, we should be setting a clear expectation to district leadership that our staff members are to be treated with respect and dignity.
They also need to be listened to. When they have a seat at the table, and they are treated like the dedicated professionals that they are, this will have a huge impact on morale, and on student achievement!
Second, let’s prioritize our dollars towards student-facing positions and programs. Focusing our budget toward the people who work with our students every day will lead to equitable opportunities for our students, as well as affordable opportunities for Collingswood families.
This could mean hiring computer science teachers to bring those classes back to the high school. It could also mean allocating spending toward the re-hiring of MTSS coaches to collaborate with elementary teachers to support our most struggling students.
All of this connects to my third goal, which will be urging the Board and district leadership to take a hard look at our spending. If our goal is student achievement, then our fiscal choices need to reflect that.
Erica Schmid, 45 (Challenger)
Erica Schmid is an assessment specialist for an education technology company, and mother to two elementary-school-aged children in the Collingswood public school district.
Schmid, who holds a Ph.D. in English, has volunteered in the district as a PTA member, classroom parent, and Odyssey of the Mind coach.
Her husband, Arcadia Education Professor Marc Brasof, volunteers on the Student Voice Committee at Collingswood High School.
The family also includes rescue dogs Steve and Nancy, who take their names from the high-schoolers in Stranger Things.
NJ PEN: What is your philosophy of education?
SCHMID: I believe education is an end in itself, and an essential foundation for an empathetic, just society. To that end, schools should provide individuals with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to become lifelong learners.
A lifelong learner is someone who seeks out new and different experiences in an effort to become a different, more favorite self. In this way, learners are continuously growing as people and, more crucially, celebrating others who grow in their own ways.
A lifelong learner values difference: different opinions, different styles, different ways of being, different knowledge, different cultures, etc. And a lifelong learner understands that productive conflict is a gift that allows us to interrogate our own values and norms in order to become better.
NJ PEN: What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a school board member?
SCHMID: I have worked in education for more than 20 years. My current focus is supporting teaching and learning from outside of the classroom through work on assessments, simulations, and gamification of learning.
I currently manage a team of Assessment Specialists at a mission-driven EdTech company that helps teachers and administrators support multilingual learners. My wide-ranging experiences give me a 360-degree view of the educational system, the student journey from preschool to college, and the difficulties that teachers currently face.
Starting at age 16, I spent 16 years volunteering at a YMCA specialty camp for kids affected by or infected with HIV. In addition to serving on the planning and programming committee, I was a counselor and village chief.
I began this work in the mid-90s, and thankfully, a lot has changed since then. But the current political turbulence and the federal targeting of kids who are living in a society that already marginalizes them brings me right back. I will always fight to protect kids (and adults) who are vulnerable to and victimized by policy changes.
I was an educator for the first half of my career, teaching English Language Arts and Literature in middle schools, high schools, and colleges. I had the privilege of teaching multilingual and neurodiverse learners from a range of backgrounds.
I have spent the second half of my career in assessment and learning technology roles. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of the national education landscape and how federal and even global political shifts affect our local schools and students.
Unfortunately, this knowledge will be critical in the next few years, as the Trump administration continues to gut public education.
NJ PEN: Why are you running for office?
SCHMID: I am running for Collingswood Board of Education because I understand how the current federal — and potentially state — administration and its policies will affect our district.
Our district leaders have had to make hard choices in the past four years, and we all need to understand that the choices will get harder. As a solution-focused, data-driven leader, I am interested in the best, not the easiest, answers.
We need to be committed to protecting our most vulnerable students and finding the most effective solutions to impossible choices. That means understanding how each role in the district works to support students, how the structure of our district and its facilities affect learning as well as school culture, and how policy and pedagogical choices can affirm or deny students’ identities.
NJ PEN: What are the biggest challenges your district faces?
SCHMID: School districts across the nation are in crisis and have been for some time. Aging infrastructure, financial insolvency, and teacher shortages combined with the COVID-19 pandemic have created a perfect storm.
We are seeing district leaders everywhere forced to make really hard choices that have included closing schools, ending programs, laying off critical staff, and raising local taxes to stay afloat. The enormous challenge our district faces is how to maintain a balanced budget while meeting student needs when school funding is insufficient.
School funding was already on an unsustainable path, and we now have a federal administration that has started pulling funding from institutions that support our most vulnerable groups.
We must continue to protect the dignity and safety of our multilingual, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and special-education learners. We are now at a moment when our district and our community will need to grapple with these coordinated attacks on public education in order to find a collective path forward.
NJ PEN: What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
SCHMID: We have to make our schools financially whole. Money pays for our staff, buildings, programming, and so many other supports that are necessary for students to thrive.
Understandably, we as community members get incredibly upset when our valued programs are eliminated due to the financial realities. But that does not mean there are no solutions.
We can work with districts, boards, and communities across South Jersey, all who are experiencing similar realities. We can learn about ways to adapt in these highly turbulent times, and we can also collectively and effectively pressure the state to adjust its funding formula.
I believe in data-driven decision-making. As an assessment specialist and a manager, I know that the most effective solutions start with accurate, comprehensive information. When you have the data, you can then provide the support that directly addresses the needs of students, staff, administrators.
It is a key goal of mine to ensure the district and community has critical data and information literacy so that the facts on the ground and at the 3,000-feet level are understood. From there, our community can have productive conversations about goals and strategies.
Our teachers and administrators are the heart of our schools. We know what thriving schools look like: a robust and hands-on curriculum that challenges young people to think about our world and our most pressing problems; teacher collaboration and professional development that encourages them to learn and grow; and leadership structures and actions that cultivate, cherish, and protect an environment where every single person in the building feels a sense of belonging and has the opportunity to find their people and place.
As a board member, this understanding of strong schools will guide my decision-making.
Kate Seltzer, 42 (Incumbent)
Kate Seltzer is an associate professor at Rowan University College of Education.
She and her partner, Jimmy, are proud parents to two students in Collingswood Public Schools.
The family loves going to the beach, taking bike rides around town, and exploring museums and restaurants in Philadelphia.
NJ PEN: What is your philosophy of education?
SELTZER: I believe schools should meet every student where they are, providing each with what they need to flourish and pursue their chosen paths.
Education should be hopeful, critical, and engaging, helping students develop a strong sense of self and a deep understanding of the world around them.
Education must also invite students to grapple with big questions and hard truths about our society and their role in shaping it.
NJ PEN: What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a school board member?
SELTZER: My career has been devoted to strengthening public education. I began as a high-school English teacher to multilingual learners in New York City before earning my Ph.D. in Education.
Now, as an associate professor at Rowan University, I prepare teachers to create classrooms where students’ languages and cultural backgrounds are seen as assets to their learning.
Over the past three years on the Collingswood Board of Education, I’ve worked to apply that same, equity-minded approach locally, ensuring that every student has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
As an educator, I bring expertise in teaching, policy, and how students learn best. As a parent and community member, I bring a commitment to ensuring our schools serve all children well.
Overall, I want to continue advancing creative, solutions-oriented approaches that help us meet our students’ needs now and in the future.
NJ PEN: Why are you running for office?
SELTZER: During my first term on the board, I’ve worked to ensure that every student in our district has access to the education they deserve: one that is inclusive, engaging, and responsive to their needs.
Today, public education in New Jersey faces real challenges: a statewide funding crisis threatens programs and staffing, and political agendas from outside our community aim to weaken diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and limit what our students can learn.
These issues require solutions, not complacency or finger-pointing.
As both a board member and a professor in a college of education, I understand the challenges facing public schools. I have advocated at the state level for a fairer funding formula, stood firm against efforts that would harm equity and student well-being, and worked to strengthen the programs and supports that help our students thrive.
I show up prepared, I listen, I collaborate, and I follow through, because I believe that trust is built through sustained commitment to our schools and community.
I’m running for re-election because the stakes have never been higher, and because I believe in the students, teachers, and families of Collingswood. Our schools are not without challenges, but they are also full of talent, potential, and opportunity.
I have the expertise and commitment to address the obstacles we face while building on our strengths, ensuring that every child in Collingswood is supported, challenged, and seen.
NJ PEN: What are the biggest challenges your district faces?
SELTZER: Our district continues to pursue educational equity for all students. Data show that student outcomes vary widely by race, language background, socioeconomic status, and disability.
To address this, the district and Board must continue prioritizing equitable hiring, inclusive programming, and evidence-based instructional practices that lead to more equitable academic outcomes and experiences for all students.
Our district also continues to face fiscal challenges. Despite the efficiency of our district, the state funding formula has not kept up with rising costs, and expects local communities to pay more in taxes than what we are currently paying in Collingswood.
I’ve personally advocated at the state level for reform, but until that happens, we must explore creative, responsible solutions to maintain what makes our district strong while adapting to financial realities.
Finally, district facilities and infrastructure require sustained attention. I’m proud to have helped build the new partnership between the district and the borough through the Recreation Plan — a collaborative, fiscally responsible step toward addressing our shared facilities needs.
If re-elected, I’ll continue growing that partnership, and pursuing forward-thinking solutions that support both our schools and community.
NJ PEN: What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
SELTZER: In a second term, I will continue to promote equity, strengthening policies and supporting practices that ensure every student has access to rigorous, responsive instruction and the support they need to grow.
For example, as our population of multilingual learners continues to grow, I will lend my professional expertise to support the district’s development of programs, practices, and educator mindsets that enable these students to succeed.
I will also continue to strengthen communication and collaboration between the Board and our schools, families, and broader community. I will continue to support the Board’s monthly Roundtables, and will make an effort to bring community members who may not have children in the district into those conversations. As our collaboration with the Borough grows, so too must our communication efforts to different stakeholders within Collingswood.
Lastly, I will support our district’s focus on fostering all students’ academic, social, and emotional development and our own capacity to serve them well.
I believe that growth is supported through data- and evidence-based decision-making, ensuring that every decision moves us toward greater equity. I will continue to support strong instruction, inclusive practices, and professional learning that help both our students and staff grow and thrive.
