Meet Washington Twp. BOE Candidate Elizabeth Moliterno

LONG VALLEY, NJ — With Election Day approaching, Patch is putting together a series of candidate profiles so readers can learn more about who is on their ballot.

Elizabeth (Liz) Moliterno is a former special ed. teacher and current Educational Consultant who is throwing her hat in the ring for one of three available seats on the Washington Township Board of Education.

Long Valley Patch asked candidates to share some information about themselves and asked identical questions to all candidates.

See Moliterno's responses below:

Basic Information

• Full name: Elizabeth (Liz) Moliterno
• Age: 52
• Town of residence: Long Valley, NJ
• Position sought: Washington Township Board of Education
• Family: My husband, Savi, and our two sons 10 and 11.
• Education: University of Maryland — Bachelor’s degree in Government & Politics and Sociology; Touro College, New York City — Master’s degree in Education and Special Education
• Occupation: I spent 17 years as a special education teacher, and this year I transitioned to an Educational Consultant.
• Previous or current elected/appointed office (if applicable): I am a newcomer; this is my first time running for office.

1. Why are you running for this position?

When I was in the classroom last year, I kept zooming out. I kept thinking to myself, how we can take care of kids better. How can we take care of our teachers and staff better? This was all I could think about. I kept seeing the bigger picture.

We teach our students so many wonderful things, and it’s amazing! But I still see kids struggling and trying to figure it all out. I see teachers working so hard and still not getting to all the things they want to do because they are overloaded. I see staff doing everything they can to take care of the people in our schools in every way possible. There is so much that goes into this work because we all care so much!

I think it's really hard to understand what the classroom and school experience is truly like unless you've worked in one. I've spent 17 years in the classroom, and I believe that perspective would be extremely valuable to have on the Board of Education.

2. What do you believe to be the most pressing issue in the school district, and what do you intend to do about it if elected?

We have amazing schools and live in a wonderful town! I want to make sure that when we're making decisions, we're thinking about how those decisions affect the people in our schools and throughout our community.

I think about how much everyone has on their plates. Our teachers are teaching, planning, and constantly adjusting lessons to meet our students' needs, grading work and providing meaningful feedback, writing and implementing IEPs and 504 plans, communicating with parents, attending meetings, collaborating with colleagues, preparing students for assessments, planning with their departments, meeting state standards, managing behaviors, and helping students with so many different learning styles and needs. That list could go on and on and on! Our kids are doing so much as well! They're expected to sit still, listen, focus, follow directions, complete assignments, manage their emotions, handle teasing and disagreements, keep track of their belongings, make mistakes in front of other people, navigate friend groups and social situations, make friends, adapt to different teachers, personalities, expectations, and classroom environments, and keep up academically. And every child is different, with their own strengths, challenges, and needs! I also think about our bus drivers, secretaries, administrators, paraprofessionals, nurses, and custodians. Everyone works so hard in our schools. I wish we could all spend a day in each other's shoes. I think we'd understand so much more about what everyone is going through.

And that understanding goes beyond our schools and into our community, because the decisions we make affect our neighbors, too! Recently, my neighbor opened her property tax statement. She and her husband are retired, living on a fixed income, and their children have been out of our schools for years. She took a picture of the increase in school taxes and sent it to me. She said, "Liz, what can we do about this?!" That really stayed with me. I want to help her. And I know there are so many other residents in town who opened that same letter.

Things should get easier in life, not harder, especially for people who are retired and trying to enjoy this time in their lives. They shouldn't have to spend their retirement years worrying about rising costs. I know there are no easy answers, and I understand that running our schools costs money. But I don't want to just shrug my shoulders and accept that nothing can be done.

When my neighbor asks me, "Liz, what can we do about this?" I don't want to just explain why her school taxes went up. I want to solve it. I want to find out what we can actually do to make things better. That means looking closely at how we're spending money, asking questions, exploring every possible efficiency, and finding ways to ease the burden on our neighbors while continuing to give our children an excellent education.

I may not have all the answers, but I am willing to put in the work to find them. I think we should always try to make life better for one another. We can have excellent schools AND take really good care of each other.

3. What qualifications and qualities do you possess that make you best suited for the position?

I've spent 17 years as a special education teacher, working closely with students, families, teachers, and staff. I've seen firsthand what works in our schools, where students struggle, and how decisions made outside the classroom affect the people inside it. I believe that experience would bring a valuable perspective to the Board of Education.

I'm also a mom of two boys in our district and a neighbor who genuinely wants to help people! I listen, I ask questions, and I constantly put myself in other peoples shoes to try to understand what they are going through. I may not have all the answers, but I'm willing to put in the work to find them. Above all, I want to make thoughtful decisions that support our students, teachers, staff, and community.

4. What role do you believe parents should have in decisions about curriculum, school policies, and their children's education?

I believe parents have an extremely important role in their children's education. As both a mom and a teacher, I've seen how wonderful things can be when parents and schools work together. Parents know their children better than anyone, and teachers get to know them in a different way through their experiences at school. When we share those perspectives, listen to one another, and work together, we can do so much more for our kids!

I want parents to feel comfortable asking questions, sharing their concerns, and being part of conversations about curriculum, school policies, and their children's education. While we have a responsibility to follow New Jersey state laws and district policies, I believe it's important to keep communication open and make sure parents feel heard and included. Everyone brings their own experiences and perspectives, and we can learn so much from one another. Above all, I want parents to know that their voices matter, their concerns are taken seriously, and that we're all working toward the same goal of giving our children the best possible education and school experience.

5. In a few words, what is your favorite thing about your school district/community?

I love the people and the connections we have in our community! I love helping people, and I'm always thinking about how I can make someone's day a little easier, whether it's lending a hand, listening to someone who's struggling, or helping find a solution to a problem. I think about people's well-being all the time. I love living in a town where I can get to know my neighbors, build friendships, and work together to find solutions that make life better for the people in our schools and community!

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Election Day is Nov. 3.