Pamela Chirls, president of the Livingston Public Schools Board of Education, recently filed her nominating petition to seek reelection to the Board. Below is a statement provided by Chirls announcing her candidacy.
Bringing her institutional memory and deep knowledge to the Livingston Board of Education, lifelong resident of Livingston Pamela Chirls filed for reelection with the Essex County Clerk’s office on Wednesday, June 5. A parent of three successful Livingston High School graduates, Pam demonstrates her commitment to educational issues through active engagement and professional development. She has earned the following certifications: Master Board Member, New Jersey School Boards Association; Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health Association of New Jersey; and Diversity and Inclusion, Cornell University.
A graduate of Livingston High School, Pam studied political science at Brandeis University and discovered her passion for the publishing business as editor of the campus literarymagazine. She is a Manager, Product Management, publishing print and digital titles for high school and college students in Humanities and Social Sciences. Pam is a strong advocate for what is best for Livingston’s more than 6,000 students and their families. Her support for district initiatives impacts the important work in our classrooms every day, drives student achievement, and enriches school life. Working collaboratively, Pam highlights important steps forward:
Students
• Supporting a progressive elementary math program, Math in Focus, with ongoing professional development and student assessment.
• Advocating for the LHS chess club to become the LHS chess team, whose accomplishments include a finish in first place in the NJ state championship and a finish in second place for the national K-12 High School Chess Championship.
• Investing in athletics with a new football field; renovated track and baseball, softball, and lacrosse fields; and refurbished tennis and pickleball courts.
• Changing policy to be responsive to student needs: (1) Valedictorian; (2) Salutatorian(s); (3) Student speakers at graduation; and (4) recommendation for core course credits to promote curriculum rigor beyond the NJ state requirements.
• Prioritizing the social and emotional needs of each one of our students, supported by one counselor and a counseling curriculum in each elementary school; three student assistance counselors at Heritage Middle School and Livingston High School; and an expanded program at Monmouth Court.
Staff
• Negotiating new five-year contracts with staff, supervisors, and administrators to ensure Livingston Public Schools hires, develops, and retains highly qualified staff.
• Investing in an in-house professional development program and university partnerships so staff can build their professional skills as teachers and leaders.
Community
• Collaborating with district stakeholders to develop a long-range facility plan based on what makes sense for students, staff, and stakeholders and coordinating as a member of the board-township Liaison Committee.
•Advocating for policy changes at the local, county, and state levels as the chair of the board policy committee and a 27th district representative for New Jersey School Boards Association’s Legislative Committee.
• During COVID-19, supported student, staff, and facility needs by engaging with a local panel of physicians and consulting with county and national experts on health and wellness studies and practices to inform our own policies.
• Passing a resolution on the challenges of the superintendent salary cap and advocating for legislation to enable retired superintendents and teachers to work on an interim basis.
She has served on the following school and community committees:
• Strategic Planning Committee. Pam has taken an active role as both a parent volunteer and board member in the development of the Strategic Plan, which outlines the core beliefs and the strategic goals for Livingston Public Schools.
• Grade Weighting Committee. She was on the first team to assess the grade weighting structure at Livingston High School. This work allows for a full-credit 4.0 for each student who earns anAand equitable access to the curriculum, so students can freely and responsibly pursue their academic passions.
• Middle School Sports and GT Art and Music Committee. Pam participated in a committee to restore programs, including GT art and music, high school jazz band, and middle school sports in partnership with the YMCA.
• Parent Advocate Group for Excellence. As district chair, Pam coordinated with teachers and administrators to create social programs for children in the GT program and run educational programs for their parents.
• School Committees. While her children attended Riker Hill School, Pam was a leadership team representative, a publicity committee chair, a budget task force representative, and a classroom mother, and later joined the Livingston High School safety team.
• Livingston Municipal Alliance Committee. With a commitment to building connections between home and school, Pam worked with district administrators to analyze data, seek grants, and develop informational programs for parents and schoolbased programs for administrators, teachers, and students. She created programs with bestselling authors including Rachel Simmons (“Odd Girl Out”) and film screenings including “Race to Nowhere,” which fostered discussions around the topic of student stress. Pam worked with media specialists and counselors to create The Toolbox of Character, a booklist that aligns with the curriculum, enabling parents of elementary school students to support the character education lessons that are delivered in their children’s classrooms.
• The Seeing Eye Institute. Pam and her family have a decade-long legacy of raising Seeing Eye puppies. Pam and her adopted puppy, Esma, are a regular presence around town. She has also served as a mentor for the National Federation for the Blind.
• Cycle for Survival. Pam is a 11-year member of 6 AM Spinners, raising needed funds to find new rare cancer treatments and cures.
Her children received a high quality education in Livingston Public Schools, and she wishes to build on the academic programs and extracurricular activities Livingston is known for. She is never too busy to listen: [email protected].
