Opening Statement

Serving on the Board of Education has been a great honor, to look out for what we value the most, our children and their education, on behalf of our great community. To ensure an excellent education for every student and value for all taxpayers.

I am Lucy Li. I am a current board member seeking reelection. I am a Ph.D. scientist, educator, and, most importantly, mother of three children attending district schools. People often say serving on the BOE is a thankless job. Many of us here have been working hard on it. I extend my great appreciation to my board colleagues here in this room, and candidates who aspire to join the rank and serve this important role. Thank you for stepping up, aspiring to serve, and thank you for the tremendous work each in this room has already done throughout the campaign. We may disagree on approaches, but sharing those thoughts, ideas, and approaches by itself is a contribution from our community. Thank you to everyone here today for sharing your ideas that I look forward to hearing, and I hope more talented, dedicated community members will be inspired to step up and serve this role in future years to come.

大家好，我是李兰芳。我是伊立诺伊毕业材料学博士毕业，但是很多人可能不知道，我妈妈是老师，而我本科是北师大物理教育专业的，所以一直对教育充满热情。我今年竞选连任桥水镇的学委。我有三个孩子上桥水的公校。谢谢支持。

I am seeking reelection because I care about education. I have a vision to provide a well-rounded, balanced, and excellent education for all students in a safe environment; to empower, respect, and partner with parents and families; and to equip students with resilience, skills, knowledge, and character so that they are ready for opportunities in the life directions of their choosing. I would like to continue to bring this vision to fruition, translating it into excellent education for every student and value for all taxpayers.

What are the strengths of BRRSD that need to be preserved and protected because they directly contribute to the district’s success, and what are the opportunities for growth? Please name 2 in each area. 

Our district has many strengths, but I believe the foundation lies in two key areas: our students and staff, and our supportive community.

First, our aspiring students and devoted teachers make it possible for us to offer outstanding programs, including exceptional arts education recognized among the best in the state. Their dedication keeps our schools vibrant and successful.

Second, we are fortunate to have families and community members from diverse backgrounds and cultures who all value education. This generosity of time, talent, and resources helps our students grow and succeed. It’s important to preserve open channels of communication so parents and community voices continue to be heard. As a board member, I’ve made it a priority to listen and respond to those voices.

As for areas of improvement, transparency and collaboration remain essential. Major topics such as school start times and school security should be developed with community input through committees or town halls.

We must also continue driving toward academic excellence—ensuring high-quality core instruction and improving proficiency in reading, math, and science for every student. Bridgewater already outperforms the state average, but with our tradition of excellence, we can and must do even better.

Do you support shifting high school start times and elementary start times, and how would you address the challenges this creates for families and the district?

In an ideal world, schools would start within the same optimal time window for all students. This means high schools should not start too early, and other schools should not start too late. The current discussion about school start times is largely a transportation issue. I have written two articles on this topic in the past, and they remain relevant today.

Compromises must be made in practical situations. I believe primary schools, where students are more dependent on parents to get them ready for the bus in the morning, should not start too late. A late start for younger grades not only impacts parents’ work schedules but also affects young students, who are often awake, alert, and ready to learn yet cannot begin their school day because of transportation limitations. It is possible to better define which requirements can be relaxed and which cannot when optimizing school start times. Having a start time for primary schools that’s not too late should be one of those requirements, as it ensures both quality learning for young students and support for families with typical work schedules.

What are you uniquely bringing to our students as a candidate? 

I am a current member of the BRRSD Board of Education. Professionally, I am an educator and entrepreneur. I hold a Ph.D. in Materials Science and a B.S. in Physics and Pedagogy. My work experience spans higher education—teaching and mentoring college and graduate students—as well as industry research and project management.

As an incumbent board member, I have gained a solid understanding of how the board operates and can continue the important work that has been started. I have also learned, on a broader level, how legislation influences our policies and curriculum, which is vital to the board’s policy work. I advocate for our local community regarding laws and guidelines that affect our students, teachers, and families. I understand how professional organizations, such as the New Jersey School Boards Association and the State Board of Education, shape educational practices. This knowledge is valuable for developing and implementing best practices in our district.

As a first-generation immigrant, I understand the experiences, challenges, and cultural adjustments many families face. Having successfully navigated them, I hope to be both an inspiration and a resource for students and families going through similar experiences. I also serve on the board of the local Chinese American Association and enjoy organizing community events and sharing cultural experiences with the broader Bridgewater-Raritan community. I hope my cultural background and bilingual proficiency can help bring our community together and contribute to representing the diversity of our district.

My knowledge and experience in higher education, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and research equip me with an analytical perspective that supports strong curriculum development and student learning. With three children currently attending district schools—from elementary through high school—I can relate to a broad range of families, not just one school, or one age group. I am commited to relate to and connect across our school community and representing broad range of voices.

Closing Statement

Our community aspires to provide the best opportunities for students and supports our schools. Parents’ role as primary decision-makers is essential to their children’s success, and schools should keep parents fully informed while reflecting community values. I have been a consistent voice for student achievement, educational excellence for all, responsible spending, and enriching student experiences, using a common-sense, data-driven, evidence-based approach while listening to families.

I look forward to a board with supportive leadership and constructive collaboration. A recent example is when the board worked collaboratively to advance STEM education to the state level at the delegate assembly. The spirit of collaboration can already be seen in this campaign. I am joined by Dr. Ketrin Maxwell and Deanna Nye. Dr. Maxwell is highly respected in her professional field of counseling psychology, and I believe she will bring valuable knowledge and insight to our board to benefit students. Ms. Nye, with her experience in special education and supporting students with complex needs, will help ensure all students are valued, supported, and seen.

I envision a board that, with the addition of these areas of expertise, brings together unique strengths and perspectives—working independently yet collaboratively—to serve every student in the district. These combined experiences cover a broad and diverse spectrum that reflects the needs of our students. Together, we share a vision of excellent education for every student and value for all taxpayers. See our website Li-Maxwell-Nye for more information.

This November, vote Column D.