What People Are Saying

“With so much going on with our schools it’s important to have experienced members who can hit the ground running again next January. That’s why I support Allison, Phaedra and Melanie.” – Buddy Feld

“We finally have the board that I was looking for. I feel that we are on track with Melanie, Phaedra, and Allison and I trust they will always put the needs of all the children first. I have worked alongside these candidates for many years in my volunteerism and appreciate their work ethic, their dedication to the children, and their desire to improve our school district.” – Colleen Dougherty

“I wholeheartedly endorse Allison Silverstein, Phaedra Dunn, and Melanie Deysher for reelection to the Montclair Board of Education. Their unwavering commitment to advocating for and understanding the unique needs of disabled students has not only improved the education experience but also exemplified their dedication to creating an inclusive and equitable public school system for all students” – Samantha Chipetz

“Board of Education meetings are much more respectful and productive than they used to be, and I know that Allison, Melanie, and Phaedra are part of the reason. I am also very concerned about the achievement gap in Montclair and like their focus on universal pre-K.” – Marissa Rothkopf

“I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with Melanie and Allison for several years as moms supporting our children’s school communities. I want to express my deep appreciation for the outstanding work they, along with Phaedra Dunn, have started within their abbreviated tenure as Montclair school board members. These three women bring to the board a wealth of experience, passion, and an unmatched commitment to our community’s academic advancement. I find that since being elected to the school board they each consistently bring a positive outlook, open minds, and collaborative spirit to the school board meetings which in my opinion is like a breath of fresh air in a space that could sometimes be challenging and contentious. I hope they will have the opportunity to continue the good work that they have started within the board of education to help steer our district towards a brighter and more constructive future. Melanie, Allison, and Phaedra have my trust and support as they lead the charge for positive change.” – LaNa Jones-Jules

“I’m supporting Melanie, Phaedra and Allison because I want to make sure the $187 million we approved for school upgrades is spent wisely.” – Jose Virella

“Our community requires fantastic leadership that walks the walk and represents the diverse perspectives, needs, and yes, even the joys that our children bring to it. In this slate, we have found that much needed sweet spot.” – Grace Williams

Do you know the expression, “if it ain’t broke, why fix it?” Montclair has three effective and committed incumbents on the Board of Education, Allison Silverstein, Melanie Deysher, and Phaedra Dunn. They all have a proven and successful track record working on school issues. Under their leadership, Montclair is expanding the universal free pre-K program to a total of twelve classrooms this year. All three are on the Finance Committee helping to oversee the $187 million bond measure. I trust them. I know they are personally committed to improving the schools for our children. They have my vote! – Jody Suden