Freehold Township School District

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Freehold Township School District

Board Member Bios

Michelle Lambert President of the Board of Education mlambert@freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us Michelle Lambert began serving on the board in 2010 and was elected to full terms in 2011, 2014 and 2017. Mrs. Lambert previously served as Board Vice President. She currently serves as the Board President and as a member of the Finance/Facilities/Transportation Committee. Mrs. Lambert holds a B.S. in Finance from St. John's University, and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. She practices law with her husband and at The Law Firm of James R. Lambert. Mrs. Lambert and her husband James have lived in Freehold since 1992, and have three children all of whom attended the Freehold Township Schools. They are currently in high school and college.
	Jennifer Patten Vice President of the Board of Education jpatten@freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us Jennifer K. Patten was first elected to the Freehold Township Board of Education in April 2011, and was elected to her fourth term in November 2019. She currently serves as Board Vice President and as a member of the Personnel/Communications Committee. Mrs. Patten holds a BA in Political Science from Villanova University. She has worked in Corporate Communications for the New York Stock Exchange, is a former teaching assistant, and now works as a substitute in a local school district. She also serves as a Freehold Township Recreation Commissioner. Mrs. Patten is a life-long resident of Freehold Township. She and her husband Tom, who also grew up here, have four young children attending Freehold Township Schools.
Michael S. Amoroso mamoroso@freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us Michael S. Amoroso was first elected to the Freehold Township Board of Education in 2011 and was elected to his third term in November of 2017. Mr. Amoroso served as Board President in 2019. He currently serves as the chairperson of the Finance/Facilities/Transportation Committee. Mr. Amoroso holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Lafayette College, an MS in Software Engineering from Monmouth University and a CKD from the National Kitchen and Bath Association. As an active member of the New Jersey School Board Association (NJSBA), he has also obtained Certificated Board Member (CBM) through the NJSBA Board Member Academy Program. Mr. Amoroso and his wife Maria, have been residents of Freehold Township for 18 years. They have three daughters currently spread across college, high school, and middle school. All three have attended the Freehold Township Schools.
	Debra Costanza dcostanza@freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us Debra Constanza was elected to the Board of Education in January 2020. She currently serves on the Curriculum/Policies Committee. Mrs. Costanza is currently retired from the Freehold Township Board of Education after serving as the Principal's secretary for both the Applegate and Donovan Schools. Debbie and her husband Vincent have been residents of Freehold Township for over 30 years and have 3 children and 9 grandchildren, 2 who currently attend Freehold Township schools.
Mary Cozzolino mcozzolino@freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us Mary Cozzolino was appointed to the Board of Education in July 2017. She currently serves as the chairperson of the Curriculum/Policies Committee. Mrs. Cozzolino holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Rutgers University where she graduated with honors. No stranger to public office, Mrs. Cozzolino previously served on the Manalapan Township Committee and as the Township’s Mayor, becoming the youngest female in NJ elected to public office in 1998. Mrs. Cozzolino has also worked for the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance as Assistant Commissioner of Public Affairs and as Special Assistant to the Commissioner. In the private sector, she worked as a public advocate, a public affairs associate, a paraprofessional, and Director of Administration for NJPLIGA. Mary is the former president of the Laura Donovan PTO, and has served as a soccer coach. She also teaches CCD at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine. She currently is a stay-at- home mom. Mrs. Cozzolino and her husband, Raymond Raya, have lived in Freehold Township since 2011. They have three young sons attending Freehold Township Schools.
	Michael Matthews mmatthews@freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us Michael Matthews was elected to the Freehold Township Board of Education in November 2017 for a three-year term. He currently serves on the Finance/Facilities/Transportation Committee. Mr. Matthews holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University. He was a high school math teacher for 15 years and currently works as a Teacher Coach for Technology Integration and Application in the Freehold Regional High School District. He holds a Google Educator Level 2 certification. Mr. Matthews and his wife Danielle have lived in Freehold Township for 10 years. They have 6 children, 4 of whom currently attend Freehold Township schools.
Elena O'Sullivan eosullivan@freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us Elena O’Sullivan was first elected to the Freehold Township Board of Education in November 2016 for a three-year term and reelected for a second three-year term in November 2019. She currently serves on the Personnel/Communications Committee. Mrs. O’Sullivan holds a BA in Child Study and Science from St. Joseph’s College, Brooklyn, New York; MS Ed.in Neurophysiological Learning Disabilities from Brooklyn College; Graduate Certificate in Science and Math Education from Long Island University; and a 6th Year Professional Certificate from Staten Island College, in Supervision and Administration. Mrs. O’Sullivan retired from the NYC Dept. of Education. She held positions as a teacher, Dean, Programmer, Assistant Principal and Principal. She is currently employed with Brooklyn College, CUNY; teaching Science Education to Graduate Students. She also works with the Teachers Performance Unit in the Department of Education of the City of New York. Mrs. O’Sullivan and her husband Michael have lived in Freehold since 1990 and her son Andrew attended the Freehold Township Schools.
	Kay Poklemba-Holtz kpoklemba-holtz@freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us Kay Poklemba-Holtz was first elected to the Freehold Township Board of Education in 2003. Mrs. Poklemba-Holtz has served as Board President in 2014-2016 and as Board Vice-President from 2009-2013. She currently serves as the chairperson of the Personnel/Communications Committee. Mrs. Poklemba-Holtz holds a BA from Gettysburg College and a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Arcadia University. She is currently employed at Hackensack Meridian Health where she serves as a Supervisor of Outpatient Rehabilitation at Riverview Medical Center. Mrs. Poklemba-Holtz is a lifelong resident of Freehold Township. She and her husband Jim have five children all of whom have attended Freehold Township Schools.
Kerry Vendittoli kvendittoli@freeholdtwp.k12.nj.us Kerry Vendittoli was elected to the Freehold Township Board of Education in November 2018. She currently serves as a member of the Curriculum/Policies Committee. Mrs. Vendittoli holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration/Management Information Systems from Montclair State University. She has served as President for the ECLC PTO, PACE and Our Place 2 Play as well as a volunteer for the Applegate PTO. Kerry and her husband, Anthony, have lived in Freehold Township for 14 years. They have two young sons attending Freehold Township Schools.