Nikki, Sara, Ethan for BOE
We are a team of Highland Park parents and community members running for re-election to the Board of Education because we’re proud of the progress our schools have made, and we know there is more work to do.
Our vision is rooted in strong academics and a well-rounded education, support and opportunity for every student, safe and inclusive schools where every child belongs, and responsible stewardship of district resources. We believe our schools are strongest when decisions are thoughtful, transparent, grounded in evidence, and centered on students.
We look forward to listening, engaging with our community, and working together toward a shared goal:
Reaching for Excellence.
“Reaching For Excellence”
Top Priorities
Protect what’s working, strengthen what can be better, and continue expanding opportunities for every student
About Your Candidates
Nicole (Nikki) Longoria Stanio
Three years ago, I ran for the Highland Park Board of Education because I believe every student deserves access to an excellent education; not just in theory, but in a way that recognizes what individual children actually need to thrive. I am proud of the progress we have made since then, and I am excited to be running for reelection alongside Ethan and Sara so that we can continue Reaching for Excellence.
For me, educational excellence means looking at the whole child. Strong academics are essential, but so are mental health and well-being, a sense of belonging, the arts, athletics, STEM, clubs, enrichment, and opportunities for students to discover their own strengths and interests. And supporting every student means recognizing the full spectrum of learning needs - from intervening earlywhen a child is struggling, to providing strong services and supports for students with disabilities, to creating opportunities for students to learn, explore, and develop their potential.
I am running for reelection because I want to continue strengthening special education and advanced learning opportunities, improving academic achievement, investing in strong curricula, supporting the whole child, and making thoughtful, responsible decisions about our district's resources. Reaching for Excellence doesn't mean claiming our schools are perfect. It means recognizing our progress, being willing to identify where we can do better, and continually reaching higher for every student.
Sara Pixley
Three years ago, I ran for the Highland Park Board of Education because I believed I could bring both a parent's perspective and more than 20 years of experience in education, research, and learning to the work of our district. I am proud to announce that I am running for reelection. This is deeply personal to me. My two young daughters attend Highland Park schools. Like every parent, I want them to be known, challenged, supported, and given what they need to thrive. And I want that for every child in our district.
Serving on the Board has only strengthened my belief in Highland Park. We have extraordinary educators, engaged families, thoughtful leaders, and a community that cares deeply about its children. We have made meaningful progress, and there is more work to do. I am running again because I want to continue that work: strengthening academic opportunities for every learner, identifying and addressing needs earlier, making thoughtful decisions grounded in evidence, and ensuring that every student in Highland Park has the opportunity to succeed.
It has been an incredible privilege to serve this community for the past three years and I would be honored to earn your support for another term.
Ethan Schoolman
Three years ago, Nikki, Sara and I realized that we shared many goals for our town’s schools. We wanted education to be both rigorous and challenging, and accessible for everyone in town. We wanted students to feel heard and seen, and we wanted everyone to feel welcome. We wanted the school district’s buildings to be in better shape, so that everyone had a comfortable environment to learn and work in. And we knew it was important to make progress on all these goals, while keeping affordability in mind, given the hard economic times we’re all living in.
So we decided to run for school board at the same time. After three years on the board together, I believe the school district has made important progress on all of these goals, and I am proud of the part we played in that. And I am thrilled to announce that, along with Nikki and Sara, I’m running for re-election to the Highland Park Board of Education. We’ve accomplished a lot, and we want to keep our schools focused on reaching for excellence. I believe that our record of results makes us the best choice for another three years on the board.
Success During Our Tenure
Protect what’s working, strengthen what can be better, and continue expanding opportunities for every student
Continuous investment in early intervention in math and reading for students who need extra support
Academic benchmarks moving in the right direction
Updated ELA and Math curricula to match the current needs of the students while also reducing screen time.
Calmer and safer learning environment in all schools
Heat pump replacement at Irving Primary School
Swift action to reconstruct the damaged walkway at Bartle Elementary School
Better tools for parents to oversee Chromebook use outside of school
Refining our approach to technology in the classroom
Reductions in behavioral incidents
Improved Baseball Field at the MS/HS
Continuous pre-K expansion
Tailored the new NJ ELA standards to specifically meet the needs of Highland Park students.
Sensible budgets that protect core programs and keep education quality high, while respecting affordability concerns in town
New pre-k playground at Irving Primary School
Shiny New Bathrooms at Bartle Elementary
Established a systematic roll out for brand new k-5 math curriculum for the first time ever.
Works in Progress:
HS cupola is scheduled for repairs
Replacing Bartle Gym Divider
Boiler at Bartle being replaced
Continuous steady progress on infrastucture Projects
Finish new pre-K classroom
Continuous Monitoring the K-5 Math curriculum roll out and making adjustments accordingly.