We continue or Meet the Candidates series today with a look at Jean Cohen, who is running for a three-year term on the Board of Education.
Yesterday we profiled Christine Trampe, a Board of Education candidate seeking a three-year term.
Information regarding voting district locations in Cinnaminson for the general election on Tuesday, November 8th can be found here.
Cohen is running unopposed for her three-year term on the Board of Education.
She has been a resident of Cinnaminson for 22 years and has served on the Cinnaminson Board of Education for 18 years.
“We moved into the town for the Cinnaminson school district,” Cohen told Cinn City News. “We lived in Riverton for seven years and we moved here based on the reputation. My kids went through the district K-12. Because it’s a small school district they knew everyone and everyone knew them. My one son graduated in a class of 204 and my other son graduated in a class of 189.”
Cohen told Cinn City News what the favorite part of her job is when serving on the board.
“Interacting with the students and staff at various programs throughout the year. Interacting with the administration on policy and procedures; I really thoroughly enjoy that.”
There have been plenty of changes to the school district in Cinnaminson during Cohen’s 18 years on the board, but Cohen named one in particular as a major accomplishment.
“When we reorganized the district, when we no longer had the neighborhood schools. It was a huge difference for the district. All the kids start from kindergarten and go through 12th grade. It had a huge impact on the school district.”
Cohen named three areas within the school district that she thinks draws people to Cinnaminson.
“Our academic success. We have a very vigorous instructional program and an excellent extra-curricular and athletic programs. I think families moving here look at all three.”
Cohen outlined what she will be working on during her upcoming three-year term on the board.
“In the next year or two the board will be involved in hiring the next superintendent. Over the next year or so we will also be bargaining with the teacher’s union on a new contract.”
Cohen and the rest of the board got to tour all of the schools once construction was complete in September.
“I was so impressed. The vision that we had over eight years ago came to fruition. I think the community should be very pleased with the work done at the schools.”
Cohen explained how far the district has come during her time living in Cinnaminson.
“When I first started, I thought the district was a good school district and we’ve since moved into an excellent school district. We’re ranked among the top-tier in the three-county region. We’ve hired excellent administrators and excellent teachers. That’s what the community looks at and the children are doing so well academically. We look to see how we can improve and see how far we can bring the district.”
Finally, Cohen told Cinn City News about the letters the board receives from parents at the end of every school year.
“The end of the year letters that we get from the parents of how well their students are doing, how well the teachers have reached out to help the students; I love to read them. I feel that we are all doing the best job possible when I read these letters. They (the parents) are so grateful and the teaching staff here is second to none.”
We continue our Meet the Candidates series on Wednesday with a profile for Board of Education candidate Christine Turner.
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