April 20, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 17 USR school election (continued from page 6) member of the Upper Saddle River Fire Department. He is also a fire inspector/educator with the USR Fire Prevention Bureau. He teaches at the Gifted Child Society and at the Dwight-Englewood Summer Connections Program. Hoffman was technology coordinator at a charter school district and worked at several companies as director of MIS. “In these troubled economic times, the idea of ‘business as usual’ cannot apply to any aspect of our lives, including our schools,” Hoffman said. He said trustees should creatively and responsibly control costs while improving the quality of the schools. “Our schools should offer resources for all learners, regardless of their abilities…We need schools that inspire. “Inspiration does not come from spending money. It comes from teachers, administrators, and support staff who are passionate about what they do. Teachers must not feel that they will solely be judged by standardized tests. They must nurture student’s creativity and motivation. If students love to learn, then top test scores will follow.” Johnston appointed to the board of education in October 2010 and is running for a three-year term. She has lived in town for 10 years with her husband Henry and daughter Caroline. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Lafayette College and has worked for Pfizer for 15 years as director of project management. “My interest in remaining a board member during this time of education reform is to ensure quality education for our children while putting forth a responsible budget aligned with our community priorities,” Johnston said. “I will continue to advocate for reasonable class sizes, superior teachers, and curriculum diversity. As a curriculum committee member, I support the metrics-based approach that we are implementing now to provide early intervention in the classroom for struggling learners and to enrich the educational experience for all. I will continue to advocate for increased transparency to ensure a strong partnership between parents and schools. I am proud to be a member of this BOE that has proposed a budget in which our programs/staff remain intact without a significant increase to the tax levy.” Koski said, “I believe in the importance of volunteerism in our community. I am currently finishing my fourth term on the board of education, am an active EMT on the USR Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and I just recently completed serving as president of our church council. “I am a graduate of Northern Highlands and attended RPI in Upstate New York, and am a technology vice president with Goldman, Sachs & Co.” Koski and his wife, Sue, have three sons. Their youngest will finish eighth grade this June. “Changes unfolding in our state and in our nation can and will have profound effects on the cost and quality of the education delivered to our children,” he continued. “I continue to believe that our #1 priority is to provide an outstanding education for every child in Upper Saddle River. To do so, we must remain in control of our school system while at the same time, adapting to the constraints and challenges shaping education at the moment. “This is a complex environment our board is operating in at the moment and experience matters. Our district is in the middle of our contract cycle. As a member of our (continued on page 18) Chocolate Making Birthday Parties Are Our Specialty Choose from our large selection of For r... gift items, eggs, and our own te freshly made, unique chocolate Eas bunnies and lollipops. Chocolate Etc... Hop on Over to create your very own gift basket! Or... select one of our filled Easter Baskets. 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