Reminder: Leadership Somerset

Last opportunity to apply for Class of 2023!
I found my application from 2016 - time stamp: 10/31/16 10:26PM

Leadership Somerset deadline - October 31, 2022

If you live or work in Somerset County ... I was Leadership Somerset Class of 2017. This is a program first rank, a hidden gem in Somerset County. Application deadline: October 31, 2022 11:59 PM. Highly recommended.

www.leadershipsomerset.com

VFW Essay Contests

Reminder: VFW Patriot's Pen Essay Contest 2022-2023 Theme "My Pledge to Our Veterans" - Student Entry Deadline: October 31, 2022, Patriot's Pen is open to 6th, 7th and 8th-grade students enrolled in public, private or parochial schools. Home-schooled students are also eligible.

Dr. Carey and Dr. Trybulski sent emails to students earlier in October.

Entries may be submitted (along with the official entry form as the cover sheet) to Hillsborough Memorial VFW Post # 8371, 601 Route 206, Suite 26-228, Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Questions: www.vfw8371.org

Patriot Pen Application Form:

Voice of Democracy Application Form, grades 9-12:

Some thoughts on the BOE

The Board of Education is supposed to be comprised of dedicated people who care about education, are student focused, who review and discuss with fellow board members all available background information, and who ask the hard questions to ensure they are fully informed before they vote. Board members are also supposed to have a governance mindset - that means we share the community's aspirations for its public schools and empower the superintendent to make that happen. 

I believe it's important that the community have the utmost trust in its Board of Education and that all board members uphold a high level of ethics and decorum. I am invested in the success of Hillsborough's public schools as a parent, resident and taxpayer. I curate my own learning and am committed to continuous improvement as a board member. I thank Hillsborough and Millstone residents for giving me the opportunity to serve our students these last 6 years, and I ask for your vote to allow me to continue this good work. Thank you.

NJSBA Workshop - I'm the co-presenter!

Last year, I presented at NJSBA Virtual Workshop 2021 on "A Board Member's Personal Responsibility" where I tried to answer the question of how an individual board member can better understand the importance of their role through a lens of curiosity, connection and self-reflection. One of the audience heard the invitation to connect, and asked if I'd be interested in expanding on the topic to use empathy and curiosity to look at the board's role in equity and policy. I said yes, and today Paul Breda of Wharton BOE and I presented "Empathy, Equity and Policy" at NJSBA Workshop.

We encouraged the audience to ask questions to seek to understand the student experience, for example, what must it be like for a student who comes home while parents are working two or more jobs to make ends meet? Or, the student who experiences school only through the lens of people with whom they share little in common? By being curious, and by asking questions, the board can affect the student experience through policy.

Also, we emphasized that empathy is needed to respect and understand other board members' viewpoints.  Remember, the board member with whom you disagree believes they are doing what is best for kids, same as you. So how can we discuss a topic / policy with the intent of understanding where each person is coming from? This sense of curiosity and empathy is so important for board members to develop.

Early voting

Getting ready for the early voting period: October 29 - November 6

DIRT

Powerful show tonight for parents and the community by John Morello - DIRT

Thank you for coming out tonight to share in what your 9th grade students experienced during the day - find out more at: https://www.johnmorello.com/

Letter of support from Wayne board member (speaking as a private citizen)

Hillsborough Residents

I won’t pretend to know your community. What I will tell you is that I know Jean Trujillo and I believe you should absolutely reelect her to your Board of Education. As a Board member in another district, I have worked with Jean at the State level on several committees. She has been extremely vocal at the State level about how the funding formula is effecting your community. She is very well acquainted with where the issues lie and is not afraid to step up and face them head on for all of you. You have invested in her professional development as a Board member and you should now take full advantage of her knowledge of how to get things done. I can tell you that by the end of one term most Board members are just getting started. There is so much to learn. If your district is facing any sort of difficulty, Jean would be the one to know where to start and how to make changes to correct those problems. That is the benefit of experience. She is a woman of integrity and grit and is willing to keep fighting for your community. Please vote to reelect her. I am sure you will be happy you did. 

Catherine Kazan

Wayne, NJ

https://centraljersey.com/2022/10/18/board-member-in-another-school-district-supports-trujillo-for-hillsborough-boe/

ArtsEdNJ candidate survey

ArtsEdNJ Candidate Survey is live: https://www.artsednj.org/2022njsbcsresults/

Are you registered to vote?

Countdown to Election Day Tuesday, November 8, 2022 ... 22 days!

Reminder - tomorrow, Tuesday, October 18th is the last day to register to vote in the General Election!

Letter to the Editor: Hillsborough Beacon (print edition page 7A)

I am a member of the Hillsborough Township Board of Education. Opinions expressed here are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of the Hillsborough Township Board of Education.

My name is Jean Trujillo and I am running for re-election because I care about doing what’s best for kids. I am a 20-year Hillsborough resident. My oldest child is a HHS Class of 2021 graduate and my younger children currently attend HHS (11th grade) and HMS (8th grade). I am an engineer by training and I do my homework to make educated decisions.

Communication is very important to me and I want residents to learn more about me and how I think. Please find more online at jeanforboe.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/jeanforboe. The two ideas that guide my thought process are:

1) All children can be successful; it’s our job to figure out what that is and how to help them achieve it.

2) At the end of the day, it’s about what’s in the best interest of the kids.

I would like to be the Hillsborough and Millstone communities’ voice on the school board and ask for your vote this November 8th. Your individual vote is important. Thank you.

Jean Trujillo

https://centraljersey.com/2022/10/12/communication-is-important-for-hillsborough-boe-candidate-running-for-re-election/

DIRT, a one-man show, sponsored by Hillsborough/Millstone Municipal Alliance

A one-man show written and performed by John Morello. Hillsborough 9th graders will see this show during the day. Parents and community members are invited to experience this captivating performance in the evening. You'll laugh and cry and think you are watching a Broadway show, and you will leave truly moved. It's that good. Ask your teen ... John makes a huge impact.

Thursday, October 20, 2022 6:30 PM at Hillsborough High School auditorium. Free event, sponsored by the Hillsborough/Millstone Municipal Alliance. Please share. You do not need to reside in town. Free and open to all.

More on Leadership Somerset

Applications for next year's Leadership Somerset Class are due October 31st at 11:59 PM. What will you learn? For starters, you'll learn about Somerset County's treasures, services and more. An example: during the Human Services class, we visited several department agencies, including Family Crisis Intervention Unit (FCIU).

 
Did you know FCIU offers immediate intervention, assessment, short-term family counseling, case management, and court intervention (after all other interventions have been exhausted) to address youth/family conflict, runaway behavior, truancy, human trafficking or any serious threat to the well-being/safety of youth. Youth must reside with their parent/guardian in Somerset County, referrals can be made by family, providers, police and school. 908-704-6330

https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/.../family-crisis...

https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/.../about-leadership-somerset

Hillsborough / Millstone Municipal Alliance

Do you know the Hillsborough / Millstone Municipal Alliance? The Alliance is dedicated to the education and prevention of drug and alcohol abuse. The Alliance sponsors Red Ribbon Week, Life Skills lessons, Family Unity Nights, assembly programs and more! Meetings are the 2nd Friday of the month in the Municipal Building. The next meeting is this Friday October 14, 2022 at 9AM. Please join us!

boroaware.org

Upcoming events:

Thursday, October 20, 2022, 6:30PM Hillsborough High School ... DIRT - a one-man show by John Morello. Highly recommended. I have seen John so many times and each time I laugh, cry and am immersed in the story. It's a truly captivating show, and you'll think you're at a Broadway show (seriously).

Friday, October 21, 2022, 9:30AM Adopt a Highway - meet at the Starbucks Hillsborough parking lot. Alliance volunteers will clean Route 206 from Homestead Road to New Amwell Road.

Important Election Dates

Important Election Dates

October 18

Voter Registration Deadline for General Election

October 29 - November 6

Early Voting Period

November 1

Deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot by Mail for General Election

November 4

Deadline for Application to Receive General Election Mail-In Ballots by Electronic Means for Qualified Overseas Civilian and Military Voters

November 7 – by 3:00 p.m.

Deadline for In-Person Mail-In Ballot Applications for General Election

November 8

General Election

Deadline for Post Office Receipt of Mail-In Ballots from the General Election

Deadline for In-Person Submission of General Election Mail-In Ballots to County Boards of Election

13 Things School Board Members Wished People Knew About Them

Your vote for school board members is very important. It's also important to know what board members can and cannot do. Sometimes board members are asked to do things that are not in our domain, and are the responsibilities of the district administration.

Here's the link to the PDF: 13 Things School Board Members Wished People Knew About Them

Re-elect Jean Trujillo for Hillsborough Board of Education

I am running for re-election to the Hillsborough Board of Education. I ask for your vote and would you please share this post with your Hillsborough & Millstone friends and neighbors?

I chose not to participate in the Hillsborough Education Association's (HEA) endorsement process because I believe the perception is that I will somehow be more favorable to the HEA's position on an issue.

Also, I am not using lawn signs because what do they tell you about me except my name? To share my ideas, I've answered several questionnaires and they are linked on my Facebook page and below for your reference:

Hillsborough Patch

League of Women Voters

Arts Ed NJ (available after October 18th)

Thank you for your support and your vote.

Jean Trujillo

Leadership Somerset

If you live or work in Somerset County ... I was Leadership Somerset Class of 2017. This is a program first rank, a hidden gem in Somerset County. Application deadline: October 31, 2022 11:59 PM. High recommended. https://bit.ly/LSEvents22

Mental Wellness

 

League of Women Voters questionnaire

It's October 4th - 35 days until Election Day November 8th!

I answered questions from the League of Women Voters. I appreciate organizations that ask questions and publish the responses as submitted.

https://www.vote411.org/

What personal and professional experiences have prepared you for serving on the Board?

When my youngest child started kindergarten (now in 8th grade), I became an active volunteer in the schools, from organizing coupon book sales to running the Auten Road Intermediate School “teachers vs. Harlem Wizards” basketball fundraiser. Through my children’s activities, I have first-hand experience in how the district works from elementary school through the high school.

For the 3-year term, I am the incumbent, running for a third term on the Hillsborough school board. I have invested time and energy to educate myself so that I am able to make decisions in the best interest of all children. I do my homework and then I do the needed work. Further, I listen to residents, am accessible and try to keep the community informed. In 2021, I achieved the highest level of individual board member certification, “Certified Board Leader.”

My engineering problem-solving mindset is always looking for practical solutions. I’m also deeply interested in people and how we develop and grow relationships. I believe it’s in building connection that we 9 board members are able to come together to do something good for our children, the next generation.

What do you consider the most important challenges facing the school district at this time? How would you address these challenges?

I’ve talked to a lot of people over the years and my takeaway is that the community supports its public schools but they want to know the funds are well spent. That applies to everyone, from those who don’t have kids, to parents with school-age children, to those whose kids are grown, to senior citizens. People are drawn to a community because of its strong school system, but they are also mindful of the tax implications.

In late 2021, there were questions surrounding certain activities authorized by the business office that had been reported to the Board. I was Board President during that time, and the Board notified the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and the Department of Education. I recognize there is distrust toward the BOE because there is no additional information while the investigation continues.

Re-building trust is the first step in repairing the Board’s relationship with students, parents, teachers, staff and the community. Without a foundation of trust, it will be difficult for the Board to effectively address the big items ahead, including the continued loss of state aid due to S-2 legislation. I believe when people understand the why behind decisions, trust builds, and proactive communication is the best way to start.

What are the most important factors for student success, and how will you, as a school board member, ensure that those factors are addressed?

I think the most important factors for student success include mental wellness, parental involvement and Board expectations. Achieving this comes in different ways. First, it’s through caring teachers who know and connect with their students so that students develop their best selves. How can the Board better support teachers so they have positive energy for their students and for their own families?

Second, it’s having a strong support network in place, such as school counselors and student assistance counselors (SAC). I was part of the Board that advocated for each elementary school to have its own school counselor and also to add an additional SAC at HHS. What additional supports are needed so that students are ready, willing and able to learn?

Third, it’s engaging parents as partners in the education process because schools and teachers cannot do it alone. The schools offer a lot of support resources beyond academic, but how often do those emails get pushed to the “I’ll read it later” folder? It’s understandable in our very full lives, and it’s also important for families to prioritize learning about these resources. I strongly believe everyone can use additional help, tips, and support. I believe the Board could set the expectation that parents attend at least one parent education seminar, such as drugs, anxiety, learning differences, etc., in their child’s K-12 journey. In this way, parents become full partners with the schools.

How will you communicate with parents and others concerned with education? How do you plan to respond to concerns?

The distinction about communication is that individual board members do not speak for the Board. Only the Board President is authorized to speak on behalf of the entire Board, and even then, only on items that have been discussed by the entire Board. The Board’s communication expectations are expressed through its goals, and it’s the Superintendent who creates a framework to address the community. Public board meetings are the Board’s meeting to conduct its business, and it is not intended to be a question and answer session. As a new Superintendent is appointed, I am confident they will create opportunities for the community to ask questions and express concerns outside public board meetings. As a board member, I am a resource for helping community members understand how to navigate the district, and I encourage parents to understand the district’s chain of communication.

Countdown to Election Day!

It's October 3rd - 36 days until Election Day November 8th! Mail-in ballots are available and please review both sides. Here's my Q&A from the Hillsborough Patch - thanks for sharing with your friends and neighbors. I appreciate your vote!

Name
Jean Trujillo

Age
51

Town of residence
Hillsborough, NJ

Position sought
Board of Education

Family
I am married with 3 children: HHS Class of 2021 graduate, HHS junior and HMS 8th grader.

Education
BE – Mechanical Engineering
MSE – Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Occupation
n/a
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeantrujillo/

Previous or current elected appointed office
I was first elected to the school board in 2016, and again in 2019. This November 8th, 2022, I am running for my 3rd term on the school board.

Campaign website
https://jeanforboe.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jeanforboe

Why are you seeking to run for School Board?
I am running for school board because I want to continue to support Hillsborough and Millstone’s children through a strong public school education.

School finances have been an issue raised recently. Do you feel the Board and administration are handling this properly? And why?
In late 2021, there were questions surrounding certain activities authorized by the business office that had been reported to the Board. I was Board President during that time, and the Board notified the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and the Department of Education. The Board is fully cooperating with the Prosecutor’s Office.

How do you feel about the current sex-ed curriculum in the district?
I have reviewed the updated Hillsborough K-12 curriculum maps and they are aligned with the 2020 New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

I think it’s great that parents are paying attention to the curriculum and are asking questions. As a parent, I believe it is important to learn proper terminology and age appropriate facts, and that is what the district’s H&PE curriculum accomplishes.

Would you be in favor of a later school start time for students?
Yes, I support later school start times. The book “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker is highly informative and explains the importance of sufficient sleep across the life span. I think we need to first ask the foundational question: do we as a community believe it is in our adolescents’ best interest to have a school schedule that better aligns with their circadian rhythm? If we agree (and I do), then we can ask the next question about how does the school district, with support from the community, create this change.

As an aside, often the discussion starts with how difficult it would be to start school later (athletics, after school jobs, caring for a younger sibling, etc.) and the conversation falters. I suggest first defining what we believe about “healthy school hours.” If it is a priority, I am confident in our collective creativity and resourcefulness to develop and implement a plan.

What other issues do you feel need to be tackled in the school district?
The school board’s role is policy, planning, appraisal, communication, plus negotiations with the collective bargaining units, and in my opinion, the most important role is hiring and evaluating a superintendent.

In the next few weeks, the current board will interview candidates and hopefully appoint a permanent superintendent.

After that, I think the board should work to define the community’s aspirations for Hillsborough’s students. What does it mean to be a Hillsborough High School graduate? What do we want our students to able to do? What distinguishes a Hillsborough student? Once we have defined this “profile of a Hillsborough graduate” then the board and administration will be able to develop a plan to make that vision a reality.

Maybe that means a new high school, maybe not. Before we can discuss a physical space, I believe we have to start with these foundational questions. For me, I want for all children what I want for my own kids. I want all our students to feel supported, to explore and discover their interests, to feel their contributions are meaningful, to learn to think, to develop a fulfilling profession, to know their inherent value and to know their values, to feel they belong.

I believe public school education is the community’s gift to the next generation. The school board’s work is all about the kids, and it’s important for us to remind ourselves of our student focus.

The board will also need to develop a long-term plan to address our program offerings in the context of S-2 state aid loss and a budget subject to a 2% tax levy cap. With the new superintendent, the board must work to rebuild the community’s trust in public school education.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates?
In the election for the 3-year board term, I look forward to the opportunity to learn the views of the other candidates, and if I am re-elected, I look forward to working with them.

I am very happy that Ms. Jane Staats is returning to the board in 2023 (she is running unopposed for the 2-year board term.) She is a strong advocate for our children, does her homework, asks questions and is an independent voice.

What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign?
I have the time, interest and energy to do the work. I educate myself on education and school board issues, and in 2021, I achieved the highest level of individual certification, “Certified Board Leader.” I advocate for Hillsborough at the county and state level through my volunteer work with New Jersey School Boards Association.

Your individual vote is important, and I ask for your vote. Thank you.