Sudiak: We Don't Rest on Our Laurels

After 12 years on the school board, Mary Catherine Sudiak still has work to do. Sudiak is seeking her fifth term on Cranford's Board of Education. She is one of three uncontested candidates.

"We don't sit on our laurels," she said. "We're always looking to improve."

This full-time mother of two–son Billy is a sophomore at Villanova University and daughter Christine is a sophomore at Cranford High School–is active in both the Cranford and Union County communities, sitting on numerous boards and volunteering for positions including, but not limited to: Trailside Museum board in Watchung, Parent-Teacher Council board, Cranford Junior Women's Club, and Boy Scout Troop 75.

"I try to stay in touch with other things in the community," she said. "Cranford is a wonderful town and I do what I can to give to it."

A number of programs that identify children's and teachers' most effective learning styles, such as the Kaleidoscope Program and Teaching for Understanding, have come to fruition over the past few years. The result is a stronger focus on personalized learning this school year, and Sudiak hopes to build on this year's momentum. Sudiak is proud of her work on the Board of Education, but is quick to stress that she can't take all, or even most of the credit.

"The Board is collaborative," she said. "It really does work together."

Sudiak says her main focus for the coming term will be a greater integration of technology into the learning process. As a former employee of Bell Labs, Sudiak understands the benefits technology can bring to the classroom. Sudiak would like to see an overhaul of the school district's Web site and new interactive features such as an administrative forum that strengthens the "school-home connection."

"Using technology for students and the community is something I'd like to do better with," she said.

She acknowledges that one of the greatest difficulties in using the latest technology is funding, and feels that the greatest challenge facing Cranford's school system is the budget. She admits to being "very nervous" about Governor Chris Christie's coming cuts to school aid. To that end, the school board has come up with budgets incorporating cuts between five and 15 percent. Sudiak feels that Cranford shouldn't endure a drastic cut, but acknowledges that the state has changed the aid criteria with little notice before.

Overall, Sudiak wants to build on prior years' successes while looking for new ways for Cranford's children to compete in the global job market.

"Cranford is blessed with excellent schools, but we can always do better," she said.