Five candidates, including three incumbents, are vying for three seats on the Cinnaminson Board of Education in the election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
The five candidates are incumbents Daniel T. Evans, Laura Fitzwater, and Donna M. Iacone, and Jennifer Falconiero and Edyta Poplawski.
Two candidates are vying for the unexpired one-year term. They are Toni Topps, who currently serves in the seat, and Eileen Bleistine.
Name: Eileen Bleistine
How many years have you lived in Cinnaminson Township? 40-plus
Family: Single mom of five children, four are graduates from Cinnaminson High School, class of ’15, ’17, ’21 and ’22. Two of her children are currently serving the country in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marines.
School and degree: Associate of Science degree in health and physical education and a bachelor of science.
Profession: Currently a substitute teacher at neighboring schools, she has also worked as an athletic trainer as well as taught in private and public schools. Her previous role as a probation officer and court services supervisor along with her teaching positions have driven her to focus on youth development and success.
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for BOE? Ran for a board seat in 2022.
What is your involvement in the community? A substitute teacher for the public school system and is a volunteer presenter at women’s wellness retreats focusing on building women’s self-esteem and well-being. She has also run the hospitality committee at her church and has been a poll worker in Burlington County.
Why are you running for an elected seat? We (Bleistine, Falconiero, Iacone, and Poplawski) decided to run for the Cinnaminson Board of Education together because we feel that the Cinnaminson School district should work for and with every child and family that resides in our community. Each one of us brings unique experiences and backgrounds. Collectively we believe that the district needs to be a more inclusive and accepting environment where every child belongs and receives the right tools and support to help them succeed. We believe that the Board of Education needs to be a sounding board for our community.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? We would like to focus on transparency, building an inclusive and unbiased board as well as creating and fostering an environment where every student, parent and resident feels welcome. Aim to address the special education hardships that so many parents in our district feel by building relationships, fostering an environment of inclusion and, as a board, ensuring that the programs that are offered are available to all students within our district. We want to give every student the tools and support that they need to succeed. We believe that it truly takes a village and Every Voice Matters.
Name: Daniel Evans
Age: 51
How many years have you lived in Cinnaminson Township? I’ve lived in Cinnaminson since 2021, but I’ve lived in the area since 2007.
Family: Two children, 17 and 15 and currently Cinnaminson High School students.
School and degree: I graduated from Kutztown University with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications (now called Electronic Media).
Profession: Freelance Video Producer/Editor/Copywriter.
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for BOE? This is my second time running for re-election. I joined the board a little over two years ago after interviewing to fill a vacated seat and I ran unopposed for a one-year term last year.
What is your involvement in the community? Since moving here, I’ve been involved in the community as a flag football coach, volunteering and performing at Burlington County Footlighters and currently as a Board of Education member.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I feel it is important to have parents of students, who are currently going or have gone through the district, as board members. As a parent with kids in the district, I feel that I have a better understanding of what is going on in our schools, what is working, what isn’t working and what may need to be addressed by the board, administration and staff. I think that our current board is a great collaborative team and I feel that the stability that Laura Fitzwater, Toni Topps and I can continue to provide is important.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? One area that I would like to concentrate on, if elected, is the curriculum. Last year the Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation (S588) mandating the teaching of media literacy from K-12 in New Jersey schools. Having worked in the TV industry for well over 25 years, I am well aware of the effects, both positive and negative, our media and social media can have on the public. So having curriculum in place that teaches students how to think critically, be able to differentiate between facts, points of view and opinions and proper research methods is critical in today’s media rich environment.
Name: Jennifer Falconiero
How many years have you lived in Cinnaminson Township? Over a year, however, has resided in a neighboring town
School and degree: Graduated from Franklin and Marshall College with a degree in psychology, specifically child development. She is currently pursuing her MBA at Drexel University.
Profession: As the marketing analytics coordinator at a healthcare company, Falconiero developed her skills in advocating for individuals while navigating essential policies and procedures.
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for BOE? Yes
What is your involvement in the community? She’s focused on her education and volunteer work focusing on youth development. With experience working with middle school students as a substitute teacher and volunteer basketball coach, she is passionate about education, youth development, and advocating for our community.
Why are you running for an elected seat? We (Bleistine, Falconiero, Iacone, and Poplawski) decided to run for the Cinnaminson Board of Education together because we feel that the Cinnaminson School district should work for and with every child and family that resides in our community. Each one of us brings unique experiences and backgrounds. Collectively we believe that the district needs to be a more inclusive and accepting environment where every child belongs and receives the right tools and support to help them succeed. We believe that the Board of Education needs to be a sounding board for our community.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? We would like to focus on transparency, building an inclusive and unbiased board as well as creating and fostering an environment where every student, parent and resident feels welcome. Aim to address the special education hardships that so many parents in our district feel by building relationships, fostering an environment of inclusion and, as a board, ensuring that the programs that are offered are available to all students within our district. We want to give every student the tools and support that they need to succeed. We believe that it truly takes a village and Every Voice Matters.
Name: Laura Fitzwater
Age: 63
How many years have you lived in Cinnaminson? 19
Family: I am married and have three children, two of whom were educated in and graduated from the Cinnaminson Schools. Now 26 and 24, they have graduated college with undergraduate degrees. The 26-year-old just graduated with a doctorate of physical therapy. The 24-year-old is halfway through a nursing program. My older child, who went to school in Philadelphia, is the COO of a small company.
School and degree: I graduated from Arcadia University with a Masters in English; my undergrad degrees (Bachelor and Associates) are in business.
Profession: I teach English as an adjunct professor at Arcadia University and Community College of Philadelphia.
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for BOE? No, this is my fifth time running for the board of education, having won each time I have previously run. I have been on the board since 2013. Our board has taken on several new members over the past three years, so having a few veterans allows us to mentor the new members.
What is your involvement in the community? My main involvement in the community is through my work as president of the board of education. In addition, I attend some school and community functions, including back to school nights at each of our schools and the Cinnaminson festivals.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I enjoy serving Cinnaminson’s children. Since I have been a board member, we have seen much growth in the district. Since I became president in 2017, we have upgraded our technology, added social media accounts as an avenue for community outreach, added full-day kindergarten, worked through COVID, started a 1-to-1 Chromebook program for grades 3 through 12, and have concentrated on SEL (social and emotional learning) for all students. If this election results in new board members, they will work to incorporate Moms for Liberty ideals into our schools. I want to continue our work that allows our students access to a complete education.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? Cinnaminson has been awarded some state money to build a preschool program, which is in its infancy. My focus in the next three years will be to support the growth of this program in fiscally responsible ways until every 3 and 4-year-old in the district has access to free preschool in Cinnaminson.
Name: Donna Iacone
How many years have you lived in Cinnaminson Township? Over 14 years
Family: Mom of one
Profession: Realtor sales associate and a registered dental assistant
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for BOE? No, a current board of education member
What is your involvement in the community? When she ran for the first board term on the slogan of Students Achieving Academic Success and being a voice for those unheard, she wanted to take her dedication further and applied and became the vice president of the Burlington County, New Jersey School Boards Association. She takes great pride in listening to students and the residents of the community. She has also taught CCD in her parish and is dedicated to helping students succeed.
Why are you running for an elected seat? We (Bleistine, Falconiero, Iacone, and Poplawski) decided to run for the Cinnaminson Board of Education together because we feel that the Cinnaminson School district should work for and with every child and family that resides in our community. Each one of us brings unique experiences and backgrounds. Collectively we believe that the district needs to be a more inclusive and accepting environment where every child belongs and receives the right tools and support to help them succeed. We believe that the Board of Education needs to be a sounding board for our community.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? We would like to focus on transparency, building an inclusive and unbiased board as well as creating and fostering an environment where every student, parent and resident feels welcome. Aim to address the special education hardships that so many parents in our district feel by building relationships, fostering an environment of inclusion and, as a board, ensuring that the programs that are offered are available to all students within our district. We want to give every student the tools and support that they need to succeed. We believe that it truly takes a village and Every Voice Matters.
Name: Edyta Poplawski
How many years have you lived in Cinnaminson Township? Over three years.
Family: Mom of three, daughter 26, son 22 and her youngest daughter 15.
Profession: She balances her position at a financial firm with raising a daughter with a disability.
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for BOE? Yes
What is your involvement in the community? She is currently on the board for the Cinnaminson SEPAG (Special Education Parent Advisory Group) and the 9pMinus Network which is a non-profit focused on bringing 9p minus families together from across the globe focusing on bringing families together that have family members impacted by a very rare chromosomal deletion She also works with parents/guardians of individuals with special needs as an advocate to help them navigate the school system. She has participated in the Partners for Policymaking class through Rutgers University and The Boggs Center providing her an understanding of disability law. Has attended the Disability Policy Forum on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. and is an advocate for the disability community. She is a former auction chair for the Charlotte chapter of First Book, a non-profit focusing on literacy. Her focus and passion are for inclusive education and to build a school environment where every child belongs.
Why are you running for an elected seat? We (Bleistine, Falconiero, Iacone, and Poplawski) decided to run for the Cinnaminson Board of Education together because we feel that the Cinnaminson School district should work for and with every child and family that resides in our community. Each one of us brings unique experiences and backgrounds. Collectively we believe that the district needs to be a more inclusive and accepting environment where every child belongs and receives the right tools and support to help them succeed. We believe that the Board of Education needs to be a sounding board for our community.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? We would like to focus on transparency, building an inclusive and unbiased board as well as creating and fostering an environment where every student, parent and resident feels welcome. Aim to address the special education hardships that so many parents in our district feel by building relationships, fostering an environment of inclusion and, as a board, ensuring that the programs that are offered are available to all students within our district. We want to give every student the tools and support that they need to succeed. We believe that it truly takes a village and Every Voice Matters.
Name: Toni Topps
Age: 46
How many years have you lived in Cinnaminson? Six
Family: Two children (ages 20 and 12)
School and degree: Strayer University bachelor’s degree in business administration
Profession: Entrepreneur (bookkeeping and professional tax business), United States Air Force Veteran
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for BOE? Technically this is my first time running for a seat for BOE, I was appointed this year.
What is your involvement in the community? My involvement in the community is something I deeply value, and I actively participate in several ways. I volunteer regularly at the schools my boys attend, supporting both staff and students. As a team mom for my son’s local high school/AAU basketball team, I coordinate activities and ensure the players have what they need to succeed. I also participate in the Cub Scouts food fundraiser. Additionally, I donate clothes and toiletries to local shelters, which is a cause close to my heart. These activities allow me to give back to the community that has given so much to my family, and it’s important to me to be a positive role model for my children and others.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I am running for an elected seat to ensure that our Board of Education reflects the diverse backgrounds and needs of our community. As a mother of two boys, a veteran, and a former teacher, I am passionate about inclusivity and quality education for all students. Cinnaminson has been a wonderful home for my family, and I want to contribute by helping shape policies that provide every child with opportunities for success. I believe my unique experiences, both personally and professionally, will bring valuable perspectives to the board and help strengthen our schools.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? If elected, I would focus on promoting diversity and inclusion in our curriculum, hiring practices, and ensuring the board reflects the community we serve. It’s essential that our students see a diverse mix of cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives, both in the classroom and in leadership. By fostering inclusivity in teacher hiring and board representation, we can provide students with a real-world understanding of different viewpoints and help them appreciate our differences. This will better prepare them for the diverse and interconnected world they’ll encounter, while building a stronger, more unified community.
