Seven candidates will vie for three, three-year term seats for the Delran board of education in the general election on Nov. 4.
Incumbents Michael Mongon and Mark Chierici are seeking reelection, while Nicole Flaherty, Chris Calla, Nancy Evans, Patricia Griffith and Bill Spych are seeking their first terms. Glenn Kitley, who is serving as school board president, is not seeking reelection.
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. Candidates were asked to complete a questionnaire. Answers have been lightly edited for space.
Name: Chris Calla
Age: 42
How many years have you lived in Delran? Four years
Family: Married to Andrea, a public school teacher
Education: Bachelor’s degree at Rutgers University (2005) and master’s degree at New York
University (2009), both earned in the social sciences; Teacher of Social Studies certificate in New
Jersey (2016).
Profession: Currently a Learning and Engagement library associate working with adult learners
in the Burlington County Library System. Previously a social studies teacher for more than 10
years, including as a senior college instructor, a public high-school teacher and an online
academic mentor.
Community involvement:
The community of Delran is as close-knit as it is diverse, and my wife and I are proud to be residents. Serving the public every day as an adult educator, program coordinator and reference resource in our library system keeps me connected to the needs and interests of the people in our community. Additionally, I’ve long been committed to volunteerism and advocacy for social causes. I’ll always follow the amazing accomplishments of our Delran student sports teams and clubs.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
I’m running because I believe supporting our schools is fundamental to the well-being of our community. As a teacher of more than 1,000 students throughout my career, I’ve witnessed first hand the powerful and positive impact of a quality public school education, not only for the students themselves, but for their families and neighbors, as well. The school board is ready to benefit from a new generation of leadership, and I believe my professional experience and expertise will be a valuable voice for our school district in the years ahead.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
I would concentrate on ensuring all of our teachers and students are being invested in to achieve success, both within and beyond the classroom. Empowering our K-12 teachers with modern learning tools and resources in their classrooms is vital to keeping Delran schools competitive. Likewise, guaranteeing access to a range of academic and extracurricular opportunities for each and every student in Delran – including our special student populations with unique needs – is both practically and morally essential.
Name: Mark Chierici
Age: 67
How many years have you lived in Delran? 17
Family: Married, with one daughter
Education: BS, Accounting, Rider College, MBA, Drexel University
Profession: Senior resolutions officer
Community involvement: Nine years and three terms on the board. I was a head AA basketball coach for my daughter’s teams and also served as assistant coach in prior years for both softball and basketball.
Why are you running for reelection to the board?Â
I feel as though we, as a board, have accomplished many good things on behalf of the district, including achieving the level of master certification, which requires additional education and training. While we have achieved a great deal for the good of the district and the students, we have more in front of us to finish and accomplish, and I would like to continue to be a part of the team that contributes to and completes those goals.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
We, as a board – myself included – will continue to do our best on behalf of the students and the district, given the resources we have and the collective set of skills we bring to the table.
Name: Nancy Evans
How many years have you lived in Delran? 18
Family: I am widowed. I raised my niece, whom I took in due to a difficult home environment.
Education: Graduate of Riverside High School
Profession: I am retired after more than 30 years in public service. My career included work in state employment services and later in the California Department of Corrections, where I retired as a lieutenant.
Community involvement:
I volunteer with nonprofits and actively support the SPCA and other local animal rescue groups. I also believe strongly in giving back to the community by supporting programs that strengthen families, schools, and opportunities for young people.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
I am running to ensure our students receive the best possible opportunities to succeed. My career in public service taught me the importance of leadership, accountability and clear communication, qualities I will bring to the board. I believe in responsible decision making, transparency, and policies that put students first. Serving on the board is an opportunity to give back to the community where I grew up and to support teachers; families; and, most importantly, our students.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
I will focus on supporting student success, preparing our students not only for higher education but also for the skilled workforce, ensuring they leave school with the tools to thrive. I want to strengthen collaboration between families, educators and the community, while promoting transparency and accountability in board decisions. By fostering an environment where every student feels supported and challenged, I believe we can build a stronger foundation for both academic achievement and personal growth.
Name: Patricia Griffith
How many years have you lived in Delran? 15
Education: Associate’s degree in science from Burlington County College, Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University.
Profession: I am a recent retiree who spent 23 years with Homeland Security and the Department
of Justice.
Community Involvement: Active member of the Recreation Activities Committee.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
I am running for school board to bring the focus back onto the students. The few school board meetings I have attended seem to focus on procedures and proposals, with no plans to help the students improve their education. The majority of the tested pupils are not performing at their grade level; this must be corrected.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
The main area of focus will be back to the basics: reading writing and arithmetic. We will work with the parents to help students succeed.
Name: Nicole Flaherty
Age: 40
How many years have you lived in Delran? Nine
Family: Live with my husband Patrick and our three children, ages 12, 10 and 6.
Education: The College of New Jersey, Master of Arts in Teaching and Special/Elementary Education; Bachelor of Science, Special Education; Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Profession: Special education teacher of 18 years
Community involvement: With three growing children, I have been involved in our community with youth sports, been a classroom parent at both Millbridge and Delran Intermediate School (DIS), part of the Delran PTO as both a teacher and parent, theater parent volunteer at both DIS and Delran Middle School, participant in local mom groups and the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA). Member of the Burlington County Education Association and Edgewater Park Education Association.
Why are you running?
We chose Delran because of the strong reputation of its schools. I understand the hopes and expectations parents have for their children. I bring the perspective of someone who has worked in education for 18 years, giving insight into the challenges and opportunities we face.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
I’ve walked the halls of Delran schools as both a parent and an educator. I’ve seen the strengths that make our community special, and I’ve witnessed the areas where we must do better. My goal is to advocate for change that supports students, teachers, and strengthens the educational foundation of our town.
Name: Michael W. Mongon
Age: 57
How many years have you lived in Delran? 22
Family: I have been married to my wife, Katy, for 23 years, and have three children, Marissa, Dominic and Antonio.
Education: BS in Management from Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science, M.Ed. from Cabrini University and M.Ed. from Georgian Court University. I possess New Jersey Department of Education Certifications as an elementary-school teacher, principal/supervisor, school business administrator and school administrator.
Profession: I am currently in my 32nd year as an educator. I taught middle school for four years and elementary school for 10. I was an elementary assistant principal for four years, a middle-school principal for eight and an elementary principal for four years. I am in my second year as the director of personnel for the Evesham Township School District.
Community involvement: I have previously coached Delran AA Soccer and am currently a Delran board of ed member.
Why are you running again?
As a current member, I believe we’ve done a lot of great work, and I believe we still have more to do. I believe that every resident should, in some fashion, give back to their community. Given my background and experience as an educator, I believe I have the ability to continue to work with my fellow board members and our superintendent to propel our district forward. Delran schools have been good to my children, and I want to continue to be an advocate for township students.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
As an educator, board member and fellow Delran parent, the area most concerning to me regarding our children is mental health. Social media has inundated our children with too much information that is detrimental to their emotional well-being. Delran has been wonderful with introducing programs that are proactive, rather than reactive, for our students’ social and emotional needs. As a member of the board’s curriculum committee, I would like to continue to investigate programs and resources to fill this necessary need.
Name: Bill Spych
How many years have you lived in Delran? 15
Education: Graduated from Rutgers University with an undergraduate degree in Political Science and a master’s in Public Policy.
Profession: Retired from federal service with the Federal Aviation Administration as an Aviation Safety Inspector Air Carrier Operations. Military service with the U.S. Army as a paratrooper and combat veteran. Airline Transport Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor. Awarded the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for professionalism and promoting safe flight operations.
Community involvement: Currently serve on the Delran planning board.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
Having been in attendance at school board meetings at various times, it appears there is a lack focus in the area of the basic teaching methods and the transfer of knowledge, in particular reading, writing and arithmetic. The academic report card indicates that a large percentage of students are not at grade level and are truly behind in their abilities to maintain any type of proficiency in even the basic subject matter. This situation must be addressed and in a timely manner prior to students graduating and entering into a very competitive world and workforce.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
My main area of focus is to support student success.
