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Eight Cherry Hill residents are running for three available three-year terms on the Cherry Hill Public School District Board of Education: incumbents Renee Cherfane and Melissa Manzano, and challengers Anne Einhorn, Corrien Elmore-Stratton, Joseph Lynch, Darby Malvey, Harold Melleby, and Steven Redfearn.
All 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.
Renee Cherfane, 39 (Incumbent)
Nurse Educator Renee Cherfane is a group fitness instructor who also enjoys quilting.
A mother to three daughters, Cherfane spends much of her time supporting their interests in sports and other activities.
What is your philosophy of education?
Education should be fun, adaptable to the individual, and accessible to all. Education is the foundation to success.
What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a school board member?
I have experience in many areas of education from high school, to college, to the professional working environment. My current job is a Nursing Professional Development Specialist where helping nurses learn and grow is my main responsibility.
I also am actively involved in this community, which is where I grew up. Cherry Hill West Class of 2005!
Why are you running for office?
I want to help our district grow and be supportive for all kids to become successful members of their community.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
Funding inconsistencies and shortages, enrollment fluctuations and imbalances, residency discrepancies, high school disparities, to name a few.
What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
Residency verification, enrollment and academic disparities between schools of similar grade levels, mindful budgeting.
Anne Einhorn, 72 (Challenger)
Pediatric and general-practice dental hygienist Anne Einhorn is a prior Cherry Hill Board of Education member and past board president.
A longtime community volunteer with the township zoning board, civic association, and PTA, her interests include gardening, refinishing furniture, collecting and building Lego, and public affairs.
What is your philosophy of education?
Must-haves are math, reading, and science; developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills; and learning through action.
Students should have the opportunity to choose a course of study that reflects their personal interests. Staff should be fully supported in order to support our students’ successes.
What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a school board member?
I have served on the zoning board in Cherry Hill, PTA boards, swim club boards, civic association boards, and six years on the Cherry Hill Board of Education (BOE), where I served on all committees, and also as president.
I know how to work with other people and listen to all sides.
Why are you running for office?
I have been attending BOE meetings, committee, and public meetings for a very long time. I am very concerned about the lack of communication to the public.
I am deeply concerned about the lack of response to parents/individuals who publicly expose their concerns for their child in our school district, and individuals who do not receive an answer to the most basic of questions from the superintendent.
Long-range planning is another concern, as we are consistently being underfunded by the State of New Jersey.
I am concerned that approximately 40 percent of our staff have the ability to retire in two years, and how we will fill that gap.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
Budget. There is no room for any overspending.
Our special education department needs to be thoroughly reevaluated. Redistricting needs to be completed.
Communication needs significant improvement.
What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
- Budget
- Special Education: needs to be audited by the state or an outside consultant
- Consistency across the board amongst our schools, especially the high schools, so all students have an opportunity to all classes and clubs.
Darby Malvey, 39 (Challenger)
Darby Malvey has worked as a certified librarian for 15 years, including in New Jersey public schools.
A married mother to two school-aged children, Malvey is an avid reader in addition to being recreationally active.
She enjoys kickboxing, traveling, and spending time outdoors with her family.
What is your philosophy of education?
A successful education is about so much more than test scores.
Yes, academic achievement is critically important, but a real education also prepares students to explore their interests, learn from their missteps, and navigate the world with confidence long after they’ve left the classroom.
I believe a truly excellent public education provides every student with access to learning experiences that help them grow not only as scholars, but also as individuals and community members.
What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a school board member?
I’ve spent my entire career in formal and informal education settings, including several years as a middle- and high-school librarian in a New Jersey public school district. I have the perspectives of both a teacher and a parent, but also of a public servant.
I know what it means to be a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars, how to consider a variety of perspectives when making decisions that must do the most good for the community, and how to bring accessibility and equity to our public services.
I have experience working with colleagues statewide to advocate for funding and legislation, and experience working in my own community as a helpful face behind the reference desk.
My whole career has been about public service, and I’ll bring 15-plus years of experience in that world to the school board with me.
Why are you running for office?
I believe Cherry Hill deserves school board members who are student-focused, solution-oriented, and interested in what’s best for our entire school community.
My children are in first and third grades, so I have a personal interest not only in what happens in our schools today, but in where they’re headed for the next 10-plus years.
Coupled with my background as a community servant and education professional, I think I can bring key insight and perspective to our school board.
I have said before that I’m someone who believes you can always leave something better than you found it, and serving my community as a school board member is an excellent way to do that.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
Budget is, of course, the biggest challenge our schools are facing. As costs rise and state aid continues to be insufficient and unreliable, it’s our students and staff that suffer the consequences.
Communication is also an enormous challenge in a district of our size, and I’ve seen first-hand as a parent how inconsistent, opaque, and difficult-to-find information can be detrimental to the entire school community.
Finally, I think consistency is a real challenge for Cherry Hill Public Schools. Policies and priorities are not always interpreted consistently from building to building, leading to confusion and concerns around whether everyone in our school community is having an equitable experience.
What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
- Communication. Every single member of our school community should feel they have the opportunity to communicate with decision-makers and receive clear, accessible information about the things that matter most to them.
Our staff and families deserve timely communication, free of jargon, that affords them real opportunities for understanding.
- Equity and Access. Every single CHPS student deserves the same opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive, regardless of which school they attend, or what services they may need.
Decision-makers in a large district like Cherry Hill must be vigilant and proactive about ensuring that equity and accessibility are built into every aspect of the educational experience.
- School Climate. Students and staff at Cherry Hill Public Schools need to feel welcome, supported, and safe when they enter our school buildings.
I believe strongly that the climate in our classrooms is often a direct reflection of the climate in our community. School board members and decision-makers set the example in this regard, and it’s the responsibility of our school board to ensure that our staff and students are heard, understood, and supported so that they can focus their energy on the important work of learning and growth.
Melissa Manzano, 42 (Incumbent)
Music and theater teacher Melissa Manzano is passionate about the performing arts.
A mother of four, Manzano spends much of her time making memories with family.
What is your philosophy of education?
I believe schools are so much more than buildings where children come to learn.
For many students, school is where they spend a significant portion of their waking hours.
It becomes a place of connection, stability, belonging, and, at times, sanctuary.
Because of that, we have a responsibility to ensure that every student feels safe, valued, respected, and supported; not only academically, but socially and emotionally.
I firmly believe that every child is more than a test score, a grade, or a data point. Although academic achievement and standardized assessments play an important role in measuring progress and guiding instruction, they cannot tell the whole story of a child’s growth, potential, or well-being. We must be careful not to allow the pursuit of measurable outcomes to overshadow the human beings behind those numbers.
Education should prepare students for life beyond the classroom. That means teaching critical thinking, empathy, responsibility, advocacy, resilience, and respect for others. It means creating environments where students are encouraged to ask questions, learn from mistakes, discover their strengths, and develop the confidence to navigate an increasingly complex world.
Ultimately, I believe successful schools do more than educate students; they help shape compassionate, capable, and engaged human beings. Every child deserves to leave our schools not only with the knowledge to succeed, but with the confidence, character, and sense of belonging to believe they can.
What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a school board member?
I bring a combination of classroom experience, instructional leadership, a commitment to equity, and the perspective of a parent and community member. I now also bring experience as a sitting board member.
I understand how district-level decisions affect students and teachers because I have seen those effects first-hand. I also recognize that strong schools require more than good instruction; they require thoughtful leadership, consistent expectations, accessible communication, and systems that support every child.
Why are you running for office?
I am running for office because, in my short time on the Board of Education, I have seen real changes take place, but I feel like I have more to do.
I have seen foreign-language classes showcased as a necessity for elementary students. I have seen our board work well together to tackle hard conversations and decisions, and make progress with policies, like those regarding screen time and AI.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
As a private citizen, and not representative of the Board of Education as a whole, I believe our biggest challenge is communication.
Communication in a clear and timely manner would make difficult decisions and conversations more understandable.
What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
Communication, school climate and safety, and equity and access.
Steven Redfearn, 57 (Challenger)
After 22 years with the Cherry Hill Public School District, retired educator Steven Redfearn works as a UniServ field representative for the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA).
A married father of two, Redfearn is an avid Phillies and Sixers fan who enjoys attending games with his college-aged son, and supporting his daughter’s high-school sports competitions.
What is your philosophy of education?
I believe in an eclectic approach to education: a flexible teaching approach that combines the best ideas and methods from multiple systems, allowing for a personalized approach to student learning.
What personal and professional experiences would you bring to the table as a school board member?
I was an educator for over two decades. I worked for the Cherry Hill School District from 2003 to 2025, nine of which nine were spent as the full-time president of the Cherry Hill Education Association.
I have a master’s degree in School Administration from Rowan College. I’ve worked as a part-time consultant for the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) Region 3 Office, serving Burlington and Camden County.
I am currently a NJEA UniServ Field Rep in the Region 2 Office serving Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem County.
Why are you running for office?
I am running for Cherry Hill Board of Education to share all my knowledge in the field of education so that we can continue to provide a positive culture and climate for all members of the school community.
My experience and background in my work with NJEA as well as working in the Cherry Hill School District will be an asset to the board.
What are the biggest challenges your school district faces?
I see the biggest challenge as being able to continue to provide an excellent educational experience for all of our students while working within a budget that is being tested through rising costs in transportation, special education, facilities maintenance, and health benefits.
This coupled with the fluctuation and recent decline in New Jersey state aid have made this task more difficult in recent years.
What are three key issues on which you will focus if elected?
- Collaboration: working together for students and staff
- Community Connection: students, staff and parents make up the entire community, and have experiences that must be valued.
- Building Consensus: allowing for diverse perspectives while making thoughtful and difficult decisions in the best interest of the entire school community.
