Holmdel Board Of Education Election 2026: Peter Hayden

HOLMDEL, NJ — Candidate Peter Hayden is running for election to the Board of Education in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

In November, Hayden will run for one of three open full-term seats on the board alongside Alison LoPresti and Anthony Libecci under the "Protecting What Matters" campaign.

The three will face off against Jayme Lowenstein, Jen Ashkar and Deborah Wilson, who are running under the "Advocates for Education" campaign.

Ahead of the election, Patch posed several questions to Hayden about his campaign platform, experience and what sets him apart from other candidates running. His replies are below.

Editor’s Note: The following article contains information about one of the candidates running for the Holmdel Board of Education in 2026. Responses are written as received by Patch and only edited for style.

Patch has contacted all other candidates in this race with the same questions and will post replies as they are received.

Are you running for election in Holmdel? Contact Sara Winick at sara.winick@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Peter Hayden

Age: 36
Town of Residence: Holmdel
Education: Master of Business Administration (MBA), William & Mary | Bachelor of Arts, John Carroll University
Occupation: Team Leader, Advanced Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Solutions; Life Sciences Management Consultant

What drove you to seek public office?
Education and public service have always been personal to me.

My mother is a special education teacher, my late father was a physician assistant and university educator, and I began my own career teaching in Detroit. Growing up, I learned that education is one of the greatest opportunities we can give the next generation.

Holmdel became home when I met my wife, Amanda, a proud graduate of Holmdel Public Schools. Her mother also dedicated 14 years to teaching in the district. Their experiences gave me a deep appreciation for the schools and community that have shaped so many families.

I'm running because I believe Holmdel is at a crossroads. We face mounting financial pressures while technology is fundamentally changing the world our students will inherit. We need leadership that can protect our academic excellence, respect taxpayers, support educators, and prepare students for opportunities that didn't exist a decade ago.

My campaign is about Protecting What Matters: our students, our schools, and our community's future.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?
I bring a unique combination of classroom experience, private-sector leadership, financial expertise, and a forward-looking perspective on education.

I began my career as a teacher in Detroit, and today I lead a team developing artificial intelligence and advanced analytics solutions for the life sciences industry. As the youngest candidate running for the Board of Education, I understand how quickly the workforce is changing and why our schools must evolve to prepare students for the opportunities ahead.

But preparing students for the future means more than teaching artificial intelligence and technology. It also means recognizing that a four-year college degree isn't the only path to success.

I want to bring renewed emphasis to skilled trades, vocational education, and hands-on career exploration, connecting students with opportunities in fields such as electrical work, plumbing, construction, manufacturing, and other high-demand professions.

I'm also proposing the creation of a Holmdel Alumni Volunteer Corps, bringing together graduates, senior citizens, retired educators, and community professionals to mentor students,
share career experiences, provide academic support, and strengthen the connection between generations. Our community has an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience. We should be finding creative ways to bring that experience back into our classrooms.

What sets me apart is that I'm not simply focused on managing today's challenges. I'm focused on building a school district that prepares students for tomorrow while preserving the traditions and educational excellence that make Holmdel special.

What are past accomplishments or experiences that make you qualified for this position?
My career has given me experience in education, business leadership, financial management, and emerging technologies, all of which are directly relevant to the challenges facing the Holmdel Board of Education.

I began my professional career teaching in Detroit, where I gained firsthand experience understanding the needs of students, teachers, and classrooms. I later earned my MBA from William & Mary and built a career in management consulting

Today, I lead a team responsible for developing and implementing artificial intelligence and advanced analytics solutions for the life sciences industry. I'm actively building AI tools and technologies that the next generation of Holmdel graduates will be expected to understand, work alongside, and use in their future careers.

That experience gives me a firsthand understanding of where the private sector is heading, the skills employers increasingly value, and how our educational curriculum can evolve to prepare students for a rapidly changing economy.

Beyond technology, my professional background includes financial forecasting, operational improvement, strategic planning, and helping organizations make difficult decisions about how to allocate limited resources. These are precisely the skills our district needs as it confronts rising costs, budgetary pressures, and the challenge of maintaining academic excellence without placing unnecessary financial burdens on taxpayers.

I also serve on Holmdel's America 250th Committee, where I have had the opportunity to contribute to our community and celebrate the history and values that connect us.

I believe a strong Board member must understand education, ask difficult financial questions, embrace innovation, and collaborate with people who bring different perspectives. My experiences have prepared me to do exactly that.

If elected, what will be your top priorities in your new role?
My priorities are centered on four commitments that I believe will strengthen our schools and protect Holmdel's future.

1. Protect academic excellence while restoring fiscal responsibility. We must protect the programs that make Holmdel exceptional, including special education, STEM, athletics, the arts, and strong academic instruction.
   At the same time, taxpayers deserve a Board that carefully examines spending, identifies operational efficiencies, pursues alternative funding opportunities, and measures the results of every major investment. Educational excellence and fiscal responsibility should go hand in hand.
2. Bring back skilled trades and expand career pathways. Not every student will follow the same path after graduation, and our schools should celebrate that. I want to expand exposure to skilled trades, vocational education, apprenticeships, and technical careers through partnerships with local businesses, trade professionals, and vocational institutions. Students should graduate knowing they have multiple pathways to success, whether that means attending college, learning a trade, entering the workforce, or starting their own business.
3. Prepare students for the future through responsible AI and data science education. Artificial intelligence is already transforming how businesses operate. As someone actively
   developing these technologies, I want to help Holmdel become a leader in preparing students for the future. That means introducing age-appropriate AI literacy, data science, and practical technology education while providing teachers with tools that support personalized learning and reduce administrative burdens. We can pursue this through thoughtful partnerships, existing resources, and carefully evaluated pilot programs without committing taxpayers to expensive or unproven initiatives.
4. Establish a Holmdel Alumni Volunteer Corps.
   One of Holmdel's greatest untapped resources is the experience of its residents. I want to create a volunteer program that reconnects Holmdel graduates, senior citizens, retired educators, and local professionals with our schools. Imagine retired teachers helping students with reading and mathematics, alumni mentoring students interested in their professions, local tradespeople introducing students to hands-on careers, and senior citizens sharing their experiences and knowledge with the next generation. This initiative could provide meaningful educational enrichment at minimal cost while strengthening the bonds between our schools and our community. Ultimately, my goal is to make Holmdel a district that honors its traditions, values its educators,
   respects its taxpayers, and gives every student the tools to succeed.

Name one thing about Holmdel that always makes you smile.
The pride people have in being part of Holmdel.

Whether it's families cheering on our student-athletes, neighbors coming together for community events, or graduates returning years later to support the schools that helped shape their lives, there's something special about a town where people remain connected across generations.

My wife, Amanda, is a proud Holmdel graduate, and her mother spent 14 years teaching in the district. Seeing how much this community and its schools continue to mean to them reminds me why we chose to build our life here.

What makes me smile most is knowing that Holmdel isn't just a place where people grow up. It's a place they remain proud to call home.

That's a tradition worth protecting.