Candidates: Kim Hopkins, Andrew Schlam and Mirna Hernandez
The Roxbury Township School District has 3 open seats for the Board of Education in 2024. Candidates Kim Hopkins, Andrew Schlam and Mirna Hernandez are well qualified to help our district by addressing educational needs, fostering respect for all students and staff, and looking at ways to manage growth and development.
Meet the candidates
we are parents who care about our community and our schools!
Kim Hopkins
KIM grew up in the Flanders section of Roxbury, a fourth-generation resident, and graduated from RHS in 1987. She and her husband, Chris, moved back to Succasunna 20 years ago when they were ready to settle down. They now live in Flanders again with their son Nathan, who attends Eisenhower Middle School, and Kim’s parents.
Kim has always made it a priority to support Nathan in school and extracurricular activities. Kim was a Den Leader for Cub Scout Pack 159 and has been the Treasurer for Troop 159 since 2023. Kim is also very active at Redeemer Lutheran Church as a volunteer with the children’s ministry and a member of the choir.
Kim graduated with a B.A. in history from Gustavus Adolphus College in MN and has worked in accounting most of her career. She spent more than 10 years working in the insurance field and has spent the last 7 years working in commercial property management. Her most valued skills that have transferred across all industries are problem solving and interpersonal communication.
“In this complex world I want to raise confident and independent kids who respect their Roxbury community, recognize their growth through their education, and can envision their future through the many excellent programs that Roxbury offers. We can create a school system that adapts to changing needs yet is rooted in respect.”
Andrew Schlam
ANDREW first moved to the Lower Berkshire Valley section of Roxbury in 2001 and since 2016, Andrew and his two children, Leah and Liam, reside in Succasunna. Leah is a Top Ten Graduate of the Roxbury High School Class of 2024 and is studying Psychology at the School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program at Rutgers University. Liam is a Freshmen at RHS, and a member of the football team. Liam is also excited to continue his drama club participation, most recently starring as Shrek in Roxbury’s Broadway Bound production of Shrek The Musical this past summer.
Andrew is the President of a project management and business analysis consulting and education firm, which he founded in 2004. Andrew coached boys’ and girls’ recreation and travel soccer teams with the Roxbury Soccer Club since 2012, and hung up his coach’s whistle in 2023. From 2016 to 2018, Andrew was on the Board of Directors at Temple HaTikvah in Flanders as the Director of Operations.
“I want to see Roxbury Public Schools prepare our learners to tackle the needs of today and be confident that their pubic school education gave them the underlying knowledge and skills to be respectful, empathetic, critical thinkers that will craft the future.”
mirna hernandez
MIRNA and her husband, Aaron, have been residents of Roxbury for 12 years. They have two children in the Roxbury School District. Isobel just started kindergarten, and Soren is a third grader.
Mirna, a lawyer by training, has taken on an active role in the community and schools. She helped secure state remediation of the Fenimore Landfill as a leader of the Roxbury Environmental Action Coalition. She has coached her kids in soccer and softball. She’s an active member of the Jefferson School PTA as a room parent and event volunteer. Mirna leads Cub Scout Pack 159 as the Committee Chair and Den Leader. This year her Girl Scout journey begins as a Troop leader.
Mirna grew up in New Jersey. She earned her B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, then her J.D. at Columbia University School of Law. She practiced law in NYC until she and Aaron decided they wanted to find a home and community for a family. Roxbury was their choice.
“I believe in the promise of public education. I want my young children to have amazing educations. That starts with great educators that are supported, parents that are invested, and a district that values education.”
education. Respect. growth.
Our goal is to ensure the best educational opportunities for all students.
We will support and trust our dedicated educators and staff — the core of our schools.
We will listen to the families and students that we serve and work to expand access to critical information.
We will advocate for innovative plans and best practices to address ongoing needs in the District.
We must meet our obligations to all students while sensibly attending to the District budget.
This is key to making Roxbury schools a more respected and sought-after education system – “preparing the students of today for tomorrow…”
UPDATES
Meet The Candidates – October 17, 2024
Watch the video recording of the Meet The Candidates event from October 17, 2024, on the League of Women Voters of the Morris Area YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/tko6gG99kD8
Thank you to the League of Women Voters of the Morris Area, along with co-hosts the Daily Record, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Morristown Alumnae Chapter, and the Roxbury PTO/PTA for hosting this event.
The transcript from the Meet The Candidates event is available here: https://shorturl.at/zAFvu
Thanks for the endorsementS!
We have met so many residents who support us and what we plan to do as Roxbury Board of Education members. It’s gratifying to read an endorsement in one of the local media outlets, too.
Here’s one endorsement in The West Morris Reporter here
Here’s another endorsement in Tap Into Roxbury here
We were at Olde Suckasunny Day on September 7th on Main Street and talked with many people. Thank you for coming by, asking questions and sharing your concerns and ideas.
We met so many people who are behind us. We’ll be reaching out this week to distribute the signs you signed up for!
Please consider a donation to cover costs by donating here