Mariella Soria-Flores, Danielle Brascomb and Dr. Shadab Maghsood are seeking seats on the Asbury Park Board of Education.
Dr. Shadab Maghsood, Danielle Brascomb, and Mariella Soria-Flores, running under the slogan “Support Asbury’s Children,” are seeking three seats on the Asbury Park Board of Education.
Dr. Shadab Maghsood, a licensed physician, is a 13-year resident with a child attending Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. She was appointed to the school board in January and is Chair of the Board Personnel Committee.
Danielle Brascomb, a a third generation Asbury Park resident and homeowner, is an APHS graduate, former track star, and class valedictorian. With a background in biology, education, and business administration, she is a professional full-time tutor for at-risk and disadvantaged children. She is a community volunteer and board member of the Asbury Park Little League.
Mariella Soria-Flores, a 40-year Asbury Park resident, is a bilingual Community Health Educator at the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium. She is a facilitator for the Community Teen Outreach Program and volunteers at Mount Carmel Church and with Asbury Park’s immigrant families.
The three women said they are laser focused on getting the schools back on track and supporting the changes led by Acting School Superintendent Mark Gerbino.
The Support Asbury’s Children team members said they are dedicated to:– prioritize reading and math instruction through comprehensive literacy screenings, bilingual instruction and early intervention. They also support
–student mental health services and would also expand arts, athletics and career pathways.
Other points in their platform include – requiring charter schools to verify student residency and selling empty buildings to right-size the district for students and taxpayers.
“Our mission is simple – to help shape a brighter future for our students, teachers, and communities,” Maghsood said. “Together, we will foster an environment of growth, innovation, and inclusivity in our schools.”
“Asbury Park continues to be a failing district year after year,” Brascomb said in a press release. “Our city is full of so many intelligent and creative children and it is our responsibility to help them become the best versions of themselves. We are doing them a disservice if we continue to leave them severely underprepared for their futures.”
“Our ticket embodies the diversity of our schools, the experience to get things done, and the power to drive change,” Soria-Flores said. “We champion community representation and advocate for all Asbury Park children, including our growing immigrant community, to succeed in school and in life.”
The candidates said in a press released failed leadership brought the district to an educational and fiscal crisis.
