Four candidates, including three incumbents, will vie for the three, three-year board of education seats in the Nov. 7 election.
Current board members Kenyette Jones and Peyton Ebbeson are running for the two uncontested, one-year unexpired terms on the board. David E. Stow is running for an open seat on the Lenape Regional School District Board of Education.
Alexa Folsom, who is running on the Children First slogan, did not return the Sun’s election questionnaire before press time.
Name: Katherine Santamore
Slogan: Experience Integrity Compassion
How many years have you lived in Medford Township? 40 plus
Married? Children? Grandchildren? Married to a university professor, have five children and six grandchildren.
School and degree: Bachelor’s degree, St Joseph’s University, master’s degree, Rowan University. Have 60 plus grad credits from other universities.
Profession: I teach writing at RCBC (Rowan College of Burlington County) and CCC (Camden County College). I am also a retired high school teacher.
Elected Office: I am a long-time member of the Medford school board (10 terms)
Community involvement: I have served in many volunteer capacities over the years. Most recently with Casa, Juvenile Conference Committee, other county volunteer work, board member/Woodbury Child Development Center.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
Honestly, so many neighbors, family, and school community members have urged me to run that I feel I have a responsibility to use the leadership skills I have developed over the years. Of course, I definitely encourage younger people to run, but I know I have the wisdom, patience, and empathy to serve the community. And, believe it or not, I am actually tech-savvy.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
These are tumultuous times, and the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of Medford’s students are of primary concern. Our education in Medford is top-notch, and we already have programs in place to assist our students. However, challenges lie ahead in our rapidly changing and demanding society. As a school board member, I want to be able to assure our parents and our community that our district is doing everything possible to help our students grow into confident, resilient, and successful adults … adults who can live, work, and love with joy.
Name: Trudy Cole
Slogan: Experience Honesty Excellence
How many years have you lived in Medford Township? 37
Married? Children? Grandchildren? I am married and have 2 grown children who attended the Medford Township Public Schools. My husband and I have 3 grandchildren.
School and degree: Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education from Rider College and 30 additional credits in elementary education from various colleges including The College of New Jersey.
Profession: I am a former elementary school teacher, having taught 4th, 5th and 6th grades at different times.
Elected Office: I have been elected several times before and have served 30 plus years on the board of education.
Community involvement: Besides the board of education, I have participated in many classroom activities, including being a room mother. I have had extensive involvement in the Home and School Association, having held several officer positions. My involvement included chairing several major fundraisers which resulted in many dollars for the school district.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
I am running for the board of education to maintain and expand the excellence in our schools. I am also running to maintain a safe and secure environment for learning. Of course, I am also interested in continuing our strong curriculum encouraging achievement opportunities for ALL students. I am a great proponent for fiscal responsibility and I know we must have the taxpayers in mind in all we do. I continue to be an advocate for children and families.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
One area to concentrate on is our growing enrollment. I would like to investigate the options and explore good solutions to ensure good results.
Name: Angela Zografos
Slogan: Supporting Education Together
Age: 46
How many years have you lived in Medford Township? 6 1/2 years
Married? Children? Grandchildren? Married, three kids ages 4, 5 and 14
School and degree: Bachelor’s degree, Adelphi University, law degree, Hofstra University
Profession: Attorney
Elected Office: I was appointed in 2021 to fill a vacancy and ran in the election that year for an unfinished two-year term.
Community involvement: I specifically joined the board to become more involved in the community and meet other families. On Oct. 5, I was voted to be the Burlington County Vice President of Legislation for the New Jersey School Boards Association.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
As a working professional parent, the school board is a way for me to give back to my community in the evening or on weekends. Additionally, the board is an opportunity to show my children community leadership. My election slogan, “Supporting Education Together,” encompasses my approach to the position. I am focused on making sure all stakeholders have a voice in education. We are a proud student first district, and this mindset naturally supports our parents, teachers, admins, taxpayers and businesses. All of us work together to put politics aside to provide the best educational experience for our community.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
Annually the entire board selects goals based on student needs, parent and community aspirations, standard requirements and district resources. For 2024, I would love our board to set a S.M.A.R.T. goal regarding Medford’s increasing enrollment. I envision our district creating a community-wide committee of various stakeholders: parents, administrators, teachers, business owners, Township Council and professionals. Together, these leaders would craft a right-sized Medford-focused strategic growth plan to alleviate the impact of our growing community. It is imperative to facilitate alignment in the solution in order to maintain our excellent schools and support our Medford culture and community.
One-year unexpired term
Name: Kenyette Jones
Slogan: For Public Education
Age: 51
How many years have you lived in Medford Township? Five
Married? Children? Grandchildren? I am married with three children ages 11, 9, and 4.
School and degree: I went to Yale University undergrad and University of California, Hastings College of the Law. I received chemical engineering and law degrees.
Profession: I am an attorney working in the Environmental and Toxic Tort group at my firm.
Elected Office: Running for her first elected term. I ran for a seat during the last election. Sworn in to fill a vacancy seat on the board on Oct. 16.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
I served on a Medford school district committee called Partnership for a Better Tomorrow. It was a committee of parents that worked with the superintendent and administration while they developed the new school curriculum. The intent was for us to act as liaison between the administration and parents during that process.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
I am running for an elected seat because I enjoyed my time on the Partnership for a Better Tomorrow Committee and developed a yearning to be more actively involved with my children’s public school system and also to give back to my community.
If elected, I would like to concentrate on the needs of our children, community and school system. I feel over the next year we need to give considerable attention to addressing the rapid increase in student enrollment and the ensuing need for school expansion.
One-year unexpired term
Name: Peyton Ebbeson
Slogan: For Public Education
Age: 38
How many years have you lived in Medford Township? 34
Married? Children? Grandchildren? Married with two daughters. One is 7 and is in 2nd grade at Chairville Elementary School and the other is 4 and will start Kindergarten in 2024.
School and degree: Bachelor’s degree in television, radio and film from Syracuse University
Profession: Public high school teacher (specializing in film, broadcasting and digital media)
Elected Office: Running for his first elected term. Selected by the current board in July to fill a vacancy through 2023.
Community involvement: In addition to teaching at a local high school, I have children involved in local sports and Girl Scouts and in college I worked for the township recreation department as a counselor and coach.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
I was born and raised in this community and attended the district as a student. It was an easy decision for my wife and I to choose Medford when we were looking to purchase a home. Great schools and a great community were so important to us. Going through the district as a student, I had incredible educational experiences. With my own children now in the school system, I am honored to have the opportunity to give back to help provide those experiences to this generation of Medford students.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
With my wife and I both being educators, I know how important it is for teachers to have the resources they need to help students achieve success. Great teachers are part of what makes Medford Township Public Schools such an outstanding district. As much as I am able, I want to help ensure that our teachers have the resources they need to support all students in our district. No two students have the exact same needs, so the district and its teachers need to meet students at their level. All students deserve the chance to achieve success.
Lenape Regional School District board
Name: David E. Stow
Age: 66
How many years have you lived in Medford Township? 43
Married? Children? Grandchildren? I am married for 42 years to a Cherokee High School graduate and have two daughters who both attended Shawnee High School.
School and degree: I am a graduate of Lenape High School, attended West Chester State University and received my bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison State College.
Profession: I am the owner and manager of the Bradley & Stow Funeral Home in Medford.
Elected Office: I have served on the Lenape Regional High School BOE for a number of years.
Community involvement: A member of the Medford-Vincentown Rotary Club, the Medford Lakes Lion’s Club, the Odd Fellows Lodge No. 100 of Medford and attending Fellowship Alliance Chapel in Medford.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
As a graduate of the district, a husband of a graduate, a father of two graduates and a lifelong resided of the area, I believe that my experience as a business owner, a resident and a parent allow me to continue the tradition of Educational Excellence that the Lenape Regionals High School District brings to our community and the communities that we serve.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
I would like to continue to concentrate on the lack of school funding from our elected officials in this state to the attention of the residents of Medford and our surrounding communities as we strive to maintain the standard of Education that Lenape Regional High School District has always been known for, while state officials continue to burden our residents with the costs involved through a continual pattern of reducing state support for our schools and our children!
