About Corey

My wife and I have lived in Montclair for almost a decade. We have three children in Montclair Public Schools.

I grew up in New Jersey, and my mother was a public school teacher. I saw how much teachers put into their students and how much a strong public school can mean to a child, a family, and a community.

My Experience

 

I studied computer science, earned an MBA from Wharton, then cofounded a data analytics company. For a decade, I was the CEO of the company. I managed teams and budgets, decided where to invest, worked with a board of directors, and changed course when results did not match the plan. We sold the company in 2019, delivering a strong return to investors and stakeholders.

I believe that experience will be valuable for the Board of Ed. I will bring a respect for educators, curiosity about what is happening in our schools, and a willingness to follow questions through to clear answers.

Why I decided to run

 

I became much more involved in the district during the financial crisis and referendum. I supported keeping local control of our schools. I still believe that mattered.

But local control only works when our local institutions work. We need a Board that understands the finances, sets clear goals for students, oversees the superintendent, checks whether major initiatives are helping, and explains its decisions.

After spending so much time saying that was what Montclair needed, I had to ask myself whether I was willing to do the work. That is why I am running.

How I would work

 

“That’s how we’ve always done it” is not a good enough answer. Neither is “change takes time” when no one can explain what needs to happen, who is responsible, the timelines or progress, and how we will know whether the change worked.

While keeping in mind that some things can’t be measured purely in numbers, we can do much more to keep the BoE and the district accountable. When we say something is important, we should define success as clearly as we can, track progress, and iterate.

I would bring curiosity, preparation, independence, and follow-through to the Board. I would ask questions when something does not make sense and remember that the Board governs on behalf of Montclair’s students and public.