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Four candidates seek election to three board of education seats

On May 17, 2022, residents will elect three members of the Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District Board of Education. Voters will fill three vacancies that are each three-year terms. Four candidates are seeking election to the three available seats. The three candidates with the highest number of votes will fill the vacancies.

Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at J-D High School, 6845 Edinger Dr., DeWitt. More information about the proposed budget and the vote is available on the Budget and Finance web page.  

The board of education candidates are listed below in alphabetical order. 

Information about each candidate is below, listed in alphabetical order:

Sharon Archer

Sharon Archer, of Edwards Drive, Fayetteville, is seeking her second term on the J-D Board of Education. She is a 10-year district resident. She and her husband David have three children: one each at J-D High School, J-D Middle School and Moses DeWitt Elementary School. She is a Liverpool High School graduate and received her bachelor’s degree in education from SUNY Oswego and her master’s degree in education from University of New England. She earned National Board Teacher Certification in Adolescent Mathematics, a Certificate in Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from SUNY Oswego and a Doctorate of Education in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher College. She is a Syracuse City School District vice principal where she completes teacher evaluations and leads master scheduling, special education compliance and supervision of individualized education plans, 504 plans and the Committee on Special Education. She also is responsible for state Education Department Data Reporting, Data Driven Instruction and leads the district’s Expeditionary Learning Professional Development, Mathematics Department and Math Intervention Programming as well as its Culturally Responsive Education (CRE) Committee and Climate Committee. She is also the district’s state testing coordinator, Code of Conduct/Restorative Practices Coordinator and Dignity for All Students Act Coordinator.

Candidate Statement: I am a lifelong educator who believes in public education. As part of the board who approved our strategic plan, we have made strides in diversity, equity and inclusion, curriculum, social-emotional supports for students, and increased parent communication. However, our work has only begun. I am here for the hard, comprehensive work of cultural change and support for students, staff, and families. Advancement of all students— in particular our black and brown students and students with IEPs who experience disproportionate success at J-D. J-D can and should be a place where all students succeed and want to be.

Stanley Chen

Stanley Chen, of Maple Drive, Fayetteville, is seeking his first term on the J-D Board of Education. He is a six-year district resident, and he and his wife Kieu Tran have three children: a fifth grader at J-D Middle School, a kindergarten student at Jamesville Elementary School and one child who is not yet school-age. He is a Walter Panas High School graduate and received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Syracuse University. He is the owner of Taste of Asia restaurant.

Candidate Statement: As an immigrant to the United States, I had an opportunity to experience two different school systems. Taiwan was focused on academic development, and here is more of a balance. When my wife and I decided that we wanted to move out of the city of Syracuse, we picked Jamesville-Dewitt. I want to be part of the Jamesville-Dewitt Board of Education so I can help the children of our community with all the tools and knowledge to be competitive in the future world market.

Lorianne DeForest

Lorianne DeForest, of East Genesee Street, DeWitt, is seeking her second term on the J-D Board of Education. She has lived in the district for 22 years. She and her husband Scott have two children: one graduated from J-D High School and the other is a J-D High School junior. Lorianne graduated from Lancaster Central High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a concentration in business and a minor in Spanish from St. Bonaventure University and a master’s degree in technology for education from Johns Hopkins University. She earned a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Leadership at Syracuse University. She has taught both second and sixth grade in the Buffalo and Syracuse areas and served as a math instructional specialist, providing intervention to students and professional development to staff. She has also served as a middle school assistant principal, a school district data coordinator/chief information officer and is currently employed at the OCM BOCES Central New York Regional Information Center as a supervisor of Educational Data Services, which supports schools in state and federal reporting and in leveraging data systems to inform decision making and improve student achievement. She is the current president of the J-D Board of Education, previously served as its vice president and has been a member of the board’s facilities and finance committees and a member of the district’s Strategic Planning Committee. She has volunteered for PTG, Booster Club, musical and school activities at Tecumseh and Moses DeWitt elementary schools and the middle and high schools. She served six years on the board of the New York State Data and Technical Assistance Group, working with educators from across the state to offer conferences in identifying and modeling best practices in the analysis and use of school data. 

Candidate statement: I am grateful for the education, support and opportunities my daughters have received at Jamesville-DeWitt, and I would like to continue to work with all stakeholders to foster every student’s social, emotional well-being and academic success. I value the high standards at Jamesville-DeWitt in educating the whole child and would like to continue to promote a school culture that respects and values the diversity of our community and provides programs that challenge and prepare our students for an ever-changing global society. I look forward to continuing to increase communication and build relationships across our J-D community. 

Renee James Murad

Renee James Murad, of Turnwood Drive, Jamesville, is seeking her second term on the J-D Board of Education. She is a 20-year district resident. She and her husband John have three children who each graduated from J-D High School. She is a Johnson City High School graduate and received her bachelor’s degree in elementary and early secondary social studies education from SUNY Cortland and her Juris Doctor degree from Albany Law School. She is an attorney with Hancock Estabrook, where she specializes in representing school districts, and also for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. She also teaches education law as a Syracuse University adjunct professor and is involved with the SUNY Cortland College Council, the Tioughnioga Lake Preservation Foundation and the Syracuse Chapter of Box of Balloons. She has been involved with the J-D school district’s School Resource Officer Task Force and the district’s Code of Conduct Review Committee. She currently chairs the J-D Board of Education’s policy committee and is a member of the board’s audit committee.

Candidate Statement: I hope to continue on the board of education to follow through on the Strategic Plan which focuses on supporting the social, emotional and mental wellness of all students and staff, curriculum and program review, diversity, equity and inclusion and family and community engagement. I believe the district can continue to strive to make sure each and every student feels supported in an equitable and challenging learning environment.