Eight candidates will run for open seats on the Voorhees Township School District Board of Education and the Eastern Camden County Regional High School District on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.
In the Voorhees district, five candidates are running: Jason A. Brice, Sr., Garima Thapar, Julie Ketover, Monica Watson and Crystal Munion. For the Eastern district, three candidates – Robert L. Campbell, Steven Kosyla, and Veronica Parker – will be on the ballot.
Voorhees board of education
Name: Jason A. Brice, Sr.
Age: 48
How many years have you lived in Voorhees Township? 15
Married? Children? Grandchildren? Unmarried, with four children, ages 8, 14, 19 and 25
School and degree: Wilmington University, master’s of education in counseling.
Profession: Guidance counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for board of ed? This year will be the second time.
What is your involvement in the community? My involvement is extremely comprehensive. My perspective of community is not just my local community where I live. Community to me means every place that I have an opportunity to serve. I have been serving on the Voorhees Township school board since 2020. In addition, I have also had the privilege of being the shepherd of The 4WALLS LLC and The 4WALLS Foundation since 2014. We specialize in helping children and families overcome significant challenges. Our motto is very specific: “Where Hope Makes Change A Reality.” We strive to provide for each child and family we serve.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I am running because I truly want to serve our community. My life’s work has been rooted in education and counseling and I want to represent and advocate for all children, especially those who have had similar experiences as mine. I was a career D to F student who wasn’t confident due to circumstances beyond my control. I didn’t think I was intelligent, yet alone college material, and I didn’t think that I would have a future. It is my desire and purpose to encourage and empower all children that they can be whatever they dream to be, as long as they make the choice to becoming what they want to be.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? The one area I would like to concentrate on is improving our community relations and communication within appropriate boundaries. I would also like to advocate for additional mental-health services for our children.
Name: Dr. Garima Thapar
Age:44
How many years have you lived in Voorhees Township? Five
Married? Children? Grandchildren? Married with two children, 9 and 12, in the Voorhees district
School and degree : Bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery, doctor of medicine, fellowship in endocrinology
Profession: I am a physician who has been practicing for about 16 years.
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for board? Yes
What is your involvement in the community? I serve as the president of the Voorhees Middle School Parent-Faculty Association and as treasurer of the Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Committee. I am also a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee in the school district. I have volunteered for the Marlton Health and Wellness Event and organized various Indian cultural events in South Jersey. I work as an educator at Balvihar, and as an instructor at HindiUSA, both nonprofits. I am a former trustee of the India Temple Association and currently coordinate health-education programs for seniors at the Gibson House in Marlton.
Why are you running for an elected seat? As a dedicated physician, I have devoted my career to improving health and well being. Now, I am seeking to extend that commitment to our educational system, with a fervent dedication to improving education. In my medical practice, I have witnessed a supportive, well-resourced environment’s profound impact on individuals’ health and success. I have seen how critical early intervention and support can be in addressing health issues and how education plays a pivotal role in shaping our children’s future. This experience has inspired me to bring my skills and passion for problem-solving to education.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? There are a lot of areas in which one can focus, but the most prevalent one is education. Education forms the foundation upon which our children’s future is built, and hence, my slogan is “Strong on Education.” It not only shapes our children’s intellect but also their character and potential. I want to ensure our students receive a world-class education that prepares them for the future. I want every student in our district to have the opportunity to thrive, explore their passions, and achieve their dreams. This commitment to educational excellence motivates me to seek a position where I can make a meaningful difference.
Name: Monica Watson
Age: 46
How many years have you lived in Voorhees Township? Almost 10
Married? Children? Grandchildren? Married with two children, 11 and 10
School and degree: Went to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, for undergrad. Graduated with a bachelor of Arts, with a major in political science, and minored in psychology and African American studies. Went to Duke School of Law and graduated in 2004 with a Juris Doctorate.
Profession: In-house counsel for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for board? This is my third time running. I have served two terms.
What is your involvement in the community? I am very actively involved in the district, community and synagogue.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I am running again because there is still so much impactful work to do. The school board worked tirelessly to bring preschool to our community, and I would like to see that to completion. We are also on the precipice of a data and digital revolution that schools will need to navigate thoughtfully, responsibly and creatively. I want to be a part of that evolution.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? Continuing to address the gaps identified as a result of the pandemic. We all know there were educational gaps but there were and are severe social and emotional gaps as well. I think more children are being identified as neurodiverse and that just means we need even more individualized lessons that meet students where they are in that moment. It is also a huge shift and learning curve for our exceptional educators. We need to provide them the tools, resources and support they need to address these gaps, while also recognizing that they too endured and persevered through a pandemic. They are still recuperating from the stress and difficulties they were required to juggle on both a personal and professional level. So I think we need to really delve into the aftermath and how the pandemic impacts are now showing up, albeit in the classroom, in emotions, in behavioral issues, etc. A unified strong board is uniquely positioned and qualified to navigate those issues.
Name: Julie Ketover
Age: 50
How many years have you lived in Voorhees Township? 20
Married? Children? Grandchildren? Married, two children, 19 and 14.
School and degree: Yale undergrad bachelor of arts in psychology and NYU for law school and Juris Doctorate
Profession: Executive and leadership coach.
Is this the first time you have run for a seat on the board? No. I am currently the vice president of the board. I applied to fill the vacancy in 2021 and served until the end of that year. I ran for election in 2021 and began an unexpired term in 2022.
What is your involvement in the community? I have been a board member and VP on the JCRC board, an agency under the Jewish Federation of South Jersey umbrella. I have also served on the board for the International Coaching Federation’s Philadelphia chapter. I also volunteer for Project Sara, part of the Jewish family and children’s services agency.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I am a product of a K-12 education in public schools and believe strongly in the importance of a solid public education system as part of a functioning democracy. I am running to do my part to ensure that Voorhees schools remain excellent and strong, and that they continue to serve all the students in our district, and enable all of them to learn and thrive.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? There are many areas that I’m committed to tackling. One particular area of focus for me is addressing ongoing academic losses related to the pandemic, as well as social, emotional, and behavioral issues that have likely been exacerbated by the pandemic. I believe that there needs to be sufficient differentiated learning to support students to close their particular gaps and an abundance of supports in school to enhance overall wellness in our student population.
Name: Crystal Munion
Age: 44
How many years have you lived in Voorhees Township? Five
Married? Children? Married, with one child, 7 years old
School and degree: High-school diploma
Profession: Preconstruction manager at a commercial general contractor
Is this the first time you have run for a seat on the board? Yes
What is your involvement in the community? I have a son at E.T. Hamilton Elementary. I have been attending board meetings and collaborating with administrators and community members around school issues since I moved to the township in 2019.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
I believe in community service. I think each of us are responsible to use our resources and abilities for the betterment of our community. Based on my previous involvement with the local schools and board of education, I see a need for participation from involved and dedicated community members and I think the timing is right for me to volunteer.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
STEM. I have had a 20-year career in construction management and was one of the only women in my field for many of the early years. I am seeing the impact of young women realizing the possibility of a career in engineering-based fields, with new engineering graduates being much more diverse than ever before. The earlier we make STEM programming available to young kids, the broader their horizons become for the rest of their lives. With ever-changing technology, the options we can provide students for new learning experiences are endless. I am excited to see how this can evolve in our district.
Eastern Regional board of education
Name: Veronica Parker
Age: N/A
How many years have you lived in Voorhees Township? 25
Married? Children? Grandchildren? Married with three children, 21, 19 and 17
School and degree: Rutgers-New Brunswick, bachelor of arts and sciences
Profession: Business consultant and empowerment coach offering programs focused on stress reduction, burnout prevention, and relaxation techniques
Is this the first time you have run for a seat on the board: No, I’ve served two terms and this is my third time running.
What is your involvement with the community? I am a mom to a current Eastern High School student and currently serve as a board member for the Eastern High School and Camden County Educational Commission.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I am running to create new possibilities for the future of education. I am passionate about supporting students, teachers, and administrators in fostering an uplifting, inclusive environment where Eastern High can thrive.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? Mental health and social emotional learning
Name: Steven J. Kosyla “KOS”
Age: 68
How many years have you lived in Voorhees Township? 55
Married? Children? Married, three adult children
School and degree: Rowan University, education K-12, minor in business
Profession: Retired Voorhees Middle School educator
Is this the first time you have run for a seat on the board? No. Have served two-and-a-half terms, 1998 to 2006.
What is your involvement in the community? Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation; Voorhees Economic Development Committee; CER soccer camp coach; Eastern High School, Gibbsboro-Voorhees Athletic Association coach; Voorhees Basketball Association, Voorhees Middle School coach
Why are you running for an elected seat? As a former board member,
teacher in Voorhees and a coach at Eastern and in the community, I can represent
several perspectives.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? I want to ensure that
our curriculum meets the needs of our students of today so they will be prepared for
careers in a global economy.
Name: Robert L. Campbell
Age: 74
How many years have you lived in Voorhees Township? 47
Married? Children? Married, two adult children
School and degree: Rowan University, bachelor’s and master’s
Profession: Retired educator
Is this the first time you have run for a seat on the board? No. I spent 23 years on the Eastern
Regional High School Board of Education
What is your involvement in the community? Member, Berlin-Gibbsboro-Voorhees Municipal Drug Alliance; member, Eastern district advisory council; volunteer, Eastern High Marching Vikings Band; volunteer, St. Andrew the Apostle Church, Gibbsboro
Why are you running for an elected seat? I am running for reelection of the Eastern
High board of education to use my 30 years of experience as an educator and 23 years as school board member to help the district maintain the high level of educational programs and to aid the district in moving forward in the future. I will continue to use this experience to make the best possible decisions to benefit the students, staff and taxpayers of the district.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? If reelected, I would
like to concentrate on our school curriculum to continuously adapt to the ever-changing
world of education, to the many New Jersey Deptartment. of Education mandates, and to expand the
vocational aspects of our curriculum.
