There are five candidates running for board of education seats in the election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Incumbents Jill Fallows Macaluso, Cheryl Makopoulos and Melissa Arcaro Burns will face candidates Caitlin Berman and Ruchika Arora. Makopoulos currently serves as board vice president.
Name: Ruchika Arora
Age: 47
How many years have you lived in Moorestown? Seven years. Married, three daughters
School and degree: Kean University, a bachelor of arts in special education, minor in child development.
Profession: Teacher
Is this the first time you have run for a seat on the board? Yes.
What is your involvement in the community? I have owned a tutoring center in Moorestown for eight years that has enabled me to gain first-hand knowledge about the challenges and opportunities our schools are facing.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I’m running because I’m committed to bringing innovative and forward-thinking solutions to our community. My goal is to address today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities, ensuring that we are always moving toward a brighter future.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? If elected, I would prioritize improving our education system to ensure every student has access to high-quality learning opportunities. By investing in schools, expanding educational resources, and supporting our teachers, we can build a stronger foundation for our future. A focus on education will empower our youth, enhance workforce readiness, and create a brighter future for our community.
Name: Melissa Arcaro Burns
Age: 49
How many years have you lived in Moorestown? Nearly 14. Married, with three children
School and degree: Bachelor of science in biology from York College of Pennsylvania; Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law.
Profession: I am an attorney, specifically in-house corporate counsel for a large technology company.
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for BOE? No.
If not, how many years/terms have you served on the board? I ran in 2021, and have served for nearly three years.
What is your involvement in the community? Before taking a seat on the board, I was very involved in the Moorestown Home & School Association. I served for two years as the president of the association, two years as treasurer, a year as chair of William Allen Middle School, and half a year as chair of the MHS. I had to resign that position mid-year when I took my seat on the board. When I became president, I started attending the board meetings regularly and haven’t stopped. I serve on the Moorestown planning board and have done so for nearly five years. I am also a member, past executive member and now board of education liaison to the Moorestown Special Education Advocacy Council.
Why are you running for an elected seat? The most important investment we can make as a society is in the education of our children, and that means all the children in our community. I want to continue advocating for all students, to help ensure they receive the educational opportunities they deserve in an inclusive and safe environment. I believe we would benefit from more transparent leadership and less division.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? If I have the opportunity to serve on the board for another term, I will focus on leadership and the relationship between the board and the stakeholders. I consider these things to be interwoven and vitality important, especially during a proposed referendum. As part of that, I would like to see the board provide more opportunities for community engagement. Relevant and concise communication is also necessary to build relationships. I believe information should not simply be put out for the community to find; instead, it should be delivered to the community in creative and thoughtful ways.
Name: Caitlin “Caty” Berman
Age: 45
How many years have you lived in Moorestown? Just over 16. Married, with three children
School and degree: Undergrad degree from Hamilton College, master’s in education from Boston University
Profession: An educator before I had children, stay-at-home parent since.
Is this the first time you have run for a board seat? Yes. I ran for an open seat a couple of years ago when a board member stepped down mid-term.
What is your involvement in the community? I have been actively involved in the Moorestown community and in the schools for many years. I have been an active Home and School member in the 11 years that my children have attended Moorestown schools. I have had leadership positions on the district level as well as at individual schools and brought new Home and School programs to the schools. I have also been actively involved with the food pantry at the First Baptist Church on Main Street. I have been a soccer coach in Moorestown for more than 10 years and a board member for the Moorestown Soccer Club for five. Beyond the Moorestown community, I am volunteering with an after-school/summer program in Camden to assist with the opening of a food pantry.
Why are you running for an elected seat? Running for school board is something I have wanted to do for a number of years but, for a number of reasons, decided against. I finally decided that I was done regretting my decision to not run, that there are many big issues facing the district and the board, and that I want to help our district face those issues head on. I believe that my experience, education and background will be a positive addition to the current board to ensure that the district is moving in a direction that has the student’s best interests in mind.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? If elected, I will focus on the referendum and helping to get it passed. I believe what the district is hoping to accomplish is crucial in order to continue to be one of the top school districts in South Jersey. I will also work hard to ensure that our district funds full-day kindergarten. Having a strong educational foundation for every student, from the beginning of their school careers, is essential toward their success going forward.
Name: Jill Fallows Macaluso
Age: 48
How many years have you lived in Moorestown? 16. Married, three children
School and degree: Nursing graduate, University of Pennsylvania, 1998. Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law, 2001
Profession: Executive for a global health-care company as corporate vice president, chief ethics and compliance officer.
Is this the first time you have run for a board seat? No. I have served on the board since 2021.
What is your involvement in the community? In my earlier years, I served as room parent, chair to several Home and School committees, coached field hockey and led three Girl Scout troops for 10 years. I am currently treasurer for the Moorestown High Field Hockey Booster Club. Beyond Moorestown, I am dedicated to education by volunteering as a faculty member for the Seton Hall Law Health-care Compliance Program, volunteer for the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and supporter of UrbanPromise in Camden.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I care deeply about the education, safety and well-being of our children. It has been an honor to be entrusted by the community to serve on the board. I am proud of the work that my colleagues and I have done to move our district forward. We are in a time of great change and consistency in board membership will be key to our continued success.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? A top focus will be developing a strategic plan to take the district into the future, with goals that are based on parent and community aspirations and that prioritizes the excellence of every student.
Name: Cheryl Makopoulos
Age: 50
How many years have you lived in Moorestown? 17. Married with two sons, 15 and 17.
School and degree: University of Delaware, bachelor’s in business administration and marketing; double minor in international business and French.
Profession: Twenty-five years of experience in health-care marketing, managing brands, people and budgets
Is this the first time you have run for a board seat? No. I’m running for reelection to a second term and currently serve as vice president.
What is your involvement in the community? I served as a trustee for the Community House for five years. As a trustee, I was intimately involved with starting the Annual Tree Lighting Celebration that has become a beloved mainstay of our community. Throughout my children’s elementary- and middle-school years, I volunteered in a variety of Home and School activities including field day, book fair, picture day and Art Goes to School. I served several years as a room parent, chaired Fingerprinting and helped at Baker as a media assistant.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I’d like to continue the work of the current board in moving the district forward. With a bond referendum on the horizon and the search for a permanent superintendent underway, experience and continuity matter. If reelected, I will work with my colleagues to assess decisions and course correct, as appropriate.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? If I must choose one, it’s budgeting. The budget defines and impacts all aspects of the educational experience. From teaching and learning to safety and security, the budget forces discussions about priorities and resources. A well-planned budget reflects how we deliver the best educational experience possible to every student.
