Meet the Princeton Board of Education candidates: Erica Snyder

Age: 43

Occupation: Preschool Director/Educator

Your campaign slogan if you have one: Innovation & Communication

On Innovation, leverage my extensive background in educational technology to push for cutting edge integration that assists all students to close educational gaps. On Communication, provide regular updates on district activities and decisions, leverage feedback mechanisms for all constituents, and leverage multiple platforms to expand our reach to Princeton community members.

Campaign website or social media link: ericasnyderforboe.com

Please tell us about your personal background, including education and work experience:

I grew up in the midwest with two educator parents and always wanted to be a teacher. After earning my bachelor’s degree in secondary education from DePaul University with a concentration in history and political science, I moved to Ecuador to teach bilingual education and English as a second language in multiple schools. Upon returning to the States, I worked on the south side of Chicago and the east side of Charlotte as a project-based learning (PBL) specialist in high-needs schools that were part of the innovative New Tech Network. During this time I earned my master’s degree in instructional technology from East Carolina University, participated in a Japan Fulbright Memorial Program, and served as an instructional trainer in World Languages for PBL. My next steps in education included video-based teaching strategy analysis, micro-badging platform creation and credentialing, and online instruction in PBL.

Since coming to the Princeton area in 2021, I have immersed myself in the community as co-PTO president for Community Park Elementary School. This rewarding role has allowed me to participate in the PTO Council which was a great look into how the board functions and makes decisions in the district. I am currently the director of Cherry Hill Nursery School in Princeton. I also own my own business providing holistic health services around the area. My larger volunteer roles have included the military family community as a retired Army spouse, organizing and running summits.

How many years have you lived in Princeton: 3

What is your connection to the Princeton Public Schools? If you have children, what schools did they attend in the 2023-24 academic year?

I’m Co-President of the Community Park PTO and a proud Princeton Public School parent of three students that attended Community Park Elementary School in the 2023-24 academic year.

Please tell us about your public service background:

I volunteered for a year and a half teaching program in Ecuador and worked with underserved populations outside of Guayaquil. As a military spouse, I was the Family Readiness Group (FRG) communications lead for deployed Soldiers and kept the families well informed of the unit activities, via cutting-edge communications, which earned me the prestigious Yellow Rose of Texas Award, from the governor of Texas, for excellence in community service. I was a board member for the non-profit Cherry Hill Nursery school before assuming the position of Director. Currently, I’m in my second year as co-PTO president of Community Park and have been active in community outreach, fundraising and communication.

Why are you running for a seat on the Princeton Board of Education?

After my husband’s retirement from the U.S. Army, we chose Princeton, as our forever home, due to our town’s stellar reputation as a great community to raise and educate children. I’m committed to ensuring Princeton continues that legacy, for all Princetonian students, by leveraging my extensive background and experience in education as board member, since I feel I’m best equipped to work with our BoE to resolve the issues that our district currently faces.

What do you view as top three biggest issues or policy priorities for the school district?

First, we face growth of the student population while our existing infrastructure does not have the current capacity and capability to support that increase. Second, we need our BoE to hire a trustworthy and charismatic new superintendent with a clear vision to unite the district and I have the requisite background, as a professional educator, to ensure our board conducts a robust search and vetting process. Finally, our students are still recovering from learning loss, so we must close educational gaps, especially for lower-income, special education and black and brown students.

How do you anticipate coping with any cuts in state aid to the school district and what are your spending priorities when it comes to the school budget?

With 83% of the budget going to salaries, benefits, and charter, it is essential that we focus on ways to maximize the usage of the remaining budget. If NJ cuts aid to the district, we must ensure our students have what they need to thrive and teachers have what they need to be successful. I would have to conduct more research and collaborate with the school board on these ideas, but here are some initial thoughts on coping with state aid cuts to our district. First, we could combine professional development efforts with local districts and the charter school to offset costs. Second, we might explore additional partnerships, within our community, to help us better tackle challenges without needing contractors. Third, we could outreach to parents and other community members, in their home languages, to make sure they understand what is happening in the district and invite ideas for innovative solutions. Finally, from an operational standpoint, we need to address transportation by optimizing bus routes to reduce costs, reduce congestion and minimize student transportation times.

As the school district grows, what are your ideas on how to control costs and property taxes?

I think there’s already ongoing efforts, in Princeton, to increase multi-family units, including affordable housing, which based on the increased density of these areas, should raise our overall tax base and decrease property taxes. On controlling costs, our school board needs to work very closely with our City Council and our Mayor, to ensure our strategies are aligned, so we can reduce costs while increasing transparency for all Princetonians.

What is your position on payments in lieu of taxes agreements made to housing developers and what should the school board do about these agreements?

I think there is potential with PILOTs to help bring funds to the schools but should be approached with caution as the board navigates growing enrollment in conjunction with the town council. While these payments won’t solve our funding issues, any portion that we can receive would be great. The school board can advocate with the town for the funds with these agreements.

Should the school district purchase Westminster Choir College? Why or why not?

My understanding is that Westminster Choir College is in litigation and at this time is not up for purchase and that some of the buildings are in need of fairly robust maintenance and upgrades. If it became available and was affordable, it could be an interesting investment that would allow for expansion of our schools, in the central area, where our middle and high school already exists. It would need to be part of a comprehensive plan for long term utilization of the buildings.

What is your opinion on the curriculum taught in the Princeton schools and what would you change?

I think the curriculum taught in PPS is strong, but there is always room for improvement. However, the superintendent is in charge of curriculum and not the board which is why it is even more imperative to find someone for our district with a clear, specific vision for meeting all kids needs. That said, if elected, I would advocate for more dual enrollment classes at the high school level to allow for more types of accessible college credits outside of Advanced Placement.

I also think that we could look at different ways of setting up schedules to allow for more work release programs, internships, apprenticeships and vocational studies, if that is a pathway some of our students wish to pursue. I’d also like to investigate what associate degrees or certificates are available to some of our current programs, like the dual language program, so that there is a clear end goal that benefits the students.

Finally, the social studies teacher in me would love to see more civics classes, perhaps as Exploratory Periods, to help students navigate the changing world in a productive way.

Is there anything else you want voters to know about yourself, your campaign, or the issues you care most about?

What sets me apart in this race is my extensive background in educational leadership and my hands-on experience in schools from Pre-K through 12. Working with a wide variety of public institutions has allowed me to see the best in education along with innovative solutions to some of the current challenges facing Princeton today. My advocacy work and strategic planning skills equip me to effectively address the district’s pressing challenges. My unique international teaching experience also provides me with a broader understanding of diverse educational needs, making me a well-rounded candidate ready to bring positive change to our schools.