Members of the Board

Melissa joined the Board of Education in August of 2018 and was elected in January of 2020.

A 1985 Morristown High School graduate, Melissa has lived in Morris Township since 2005 with her husband. She has one daughter who attends the high school.

Melissa earned a B.A. in Sociology from Bucknell University and has her M.A. in Organizational Behavior from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Melissa’s corporate experience includes various leadership roles in several Fortune 500 companies, including JPMorgan Chase. Melissa is a realtor with West End Residential real estate in Morristown.

Melissa‘s community involvements include President Elect of the Junior League of Morristown and Membership Chair of Hillside Hose Ladies Auxiliary. She also currently serves on the Morristown-Morris Township Joint Municipal Alliance. Some of her past involvements include President of Hillcrest Home and School Association, Trustee of Morris Educational Foundation, Library Board of Morristown and Morris Township, and Committee Chair for Mansion in May.

Current Committees: Current Board President; Member of Human Resources, Policy, Board Governance, and Negotiations; Past Chair of Human Resources and Policy.

Term Expires:  December 2022

Contact: melissa.spiotta@msdk12.net 

Katie  joined the Board of Education in January of 2022.

She and her husband Yemi have lived in Morris Township for 14 years. They have loved raising their three daughters here, now in 9th, 7th, and 5th grades, and being a part of the Morris School District. One attends Morris County Vo-tech as part of the Academy for Performing Arts. The other two attend elementary and middle school in the district.

Katie has spent her entire career in education. She got her start in NYC public schools at PS 200, James McCune Smith School. After coming to New Jersey, she taught 5th grade for 11 years at Far Hills Country Day School before moving into learning support in their academic learning lab. She then became Center Director of the Morristown Lindamood Bell and is currently the Head of School for Fusion Academy.

Katie has a bachelor’s degree in Education from Smith College.

Katie has been an active volunteer in the school district, serving as Co-President of the Hillcrest and Alexander Hamilton Home and School Associations. She has been a member of the board of trustees of the Morris Educational Foundation for 2 years.  

Current Committees: Member of Human Resources, Policy, and Governance.

Term Expires:  December 2024

Contact: katie.cole@msdk12.net

Meredith joined the Board of Education in January of 2018.

Meredith has lived in Morristown, NJ, for ten years with her husband Erick and her two daughters ages 13 and 11, who attend middle school.  

Meredith has a B.A. in Psychology from Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA. She also has an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Antioch University.  

Following graduation from Holy Cross, Meredith worked for fifteen years as a community organizer advocating for citizen involvement and community improvement both in the Midwest and Central America. Meredith also worked as a high school Social Studies teacher and as an Early College Awareness mentor for the federal program GEAR UP.  

Meredith is a past Co-President of the Alexander Hamilton Home and School Association and served on the K-5 Parent Advisory Council, advocating for parent involvement and school improvement. She now serves as the Volunteer Coordinator for Table of Hope in Morristown. 

Current Committees:  Chair of Board Governance, Member of Curriculum, Human Resources, and Finance.

Term Expires: December 2023

Contact: meredith.davidson@msdk12.net 

Bio Coming Soon!

Linda joined the Board of Education in January of 2019.

Linda has been a resident of Morris Township for more than 30 years. Her daughter graduated from Morristown High School and, in the 2021-2022 school year, her two grandchildren are attending the middle school.

As an AT&T executive, Linda completed sponsored Executive Education Programs at the University of California – Berkeley (International Business and Economics), as well as the University of New Hampshire (Strategic Management). She also attended Boise State University, majoring in Business Administration. In her professional life, Linda was a corporate executive with AT&T, NCR, and others, providing international and domestic clients in a variety of industries with consulting services focused on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of business operations. Since 2010, she has managed her own consulting practice which specializes in customer operations and shared services.

Linda has served continuously for sixteen years as a member of the Morris Township Planning Board and is a Volunteer in Service with Global Volunteers, teaching conversational English to middle school students internationally. Previously she volunteered as an AARP Tax Counselor for fifteen consecutive years, serving low income and elderly residents in Morris County; was a member and Secretary of the Morris Arts Board of Trustees for six years, working to integrate Arts in Education; and also served on the K-5 Parent Advisory Council for three years, with focus on elevating early grade learning in the Morris School District.

Current Committees: Current Board Vice President, Chair of Finance, Member of Curriculum, Policy, Board Governance, and Negotiations.

Term Expires:  December 2024

Contact: lindak.murphy@msdk12.net
 

Susan joined the Board of Education in January of 2020.

She has been a resident of Morris Township for 15 years with her husband Jason and their three sons, ages 7, 9, and 13, who attend elementary and middle school.

Susan received a B.A. from Rutgers University, a K-8 Teaching Certificate from The College of St. Elizabeth, and an Associate School Library Media Specialist Certificate from Rutgers University. She has been an educator for over 18 years, employed by Hanover Township Public Schools since 2003 and has worked as a third grade teacher, school librarian, and currently as a second grade teacher at Salem Drive Elementary School. Prior to teaching, Susan was a publicist for 5 years for Edelman Public Relations and Baker Winokur Ryder LLC.

Current Committees: Chair of Curriculum, Member of Human Resources

Term Expires: December 2022

Contact:  susan.pedalino@msdk12.net   

Vivian joined the Board of Education in August of 2021 and was elected in January of 2022.

She has lived in Morristown for six years. She has two daughters and three grandchildren.

Vivian has a B.A. in Spanish as well as one in Elementary Education from Kean University. She also has an M.A. in English as a Second Language as well as one in Educational Leadership from Kean University. Vivian has a Ph.D. in Bilingual Literacy from Fordham University. Vivian has forty years of experience in public education and is currently an Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in the Perth Amboy School District. She has also had many of her works published as well as many citations.

Vivian has served on the board of trustees of many schools in New Jersey and served on many NJ state educational committees.

Current Committees: Member of Curriculum and Human Resources.

Term Expires:  December 2024

Contact:  vivian.rodriguez@msdk12.net   

Alan was appointed to the Board in late 2019 and elected in January of 2021.

Alan has lived in Morris Township since 2006 with his wife and two daughters. His youngest daughter attends the middle school.

Alan has a B.A. from Wesleyan University and an M.B.A. from Columbia University. He is an HR executive who currently serves as Chief Human Resources Officer for AIG in their Life & Retirement Division.

Current Committees: Chair of Human Resources, Member of Finance

Term Expires: December 2023

Contact:  alan.smith@msdk12.net 

Beth joined the board in January of 2021.

Beth has lived in the Washington's Headquarters area of Morristown with her husband since 2013, both having grown up in nearby Mendham. Beth has a son who attends elementary school.

Beth is a graduate of Muhlenberg College (B.A. in English, cum laude) and a graduate of Penn State Dickinson School of Law (J.D.). Beth has been a licensed attorney in the state of New Jersey since 2004. She began her law career as a judicial law clerk in Morris County for the Honorable David B. Rand, P.J.S.C. and then spent the following eleven years at mid-size law firms and then Thomson Reuters.

Beth is a former member of the Junior League of Morristown and served as the President of the Washington’s Headquarters Neighborhood Association for four consecutive years. She also served as Treasurer of the Home & School Association. Beth currently serves on the Morristown Zoning Board of Adjustment.  

Current Committees:  Chair of Policy, Member of Curriculum and Negotiations. 

Term Expires:  December 2023

Contact: elisabeth.wall@msdk12.net

Lucia has been a member of the Morris Plains Board of Education since 2002. She has been living in the community for 50 years in both Morristown and Morris Plains. She is a proud alumna of Morristown High School. She and her husband raised their sons, also graduates of the high school, in Morris Plains.

Lucia is a former Human Resources Manager at Honeywell International. She is currently working as a Paraprofessional at Whippany Park High School.

Morris Plains has a send-receive relationship with the Morris School District, and Lucia has been serving as the liaison to the Morris School District Board of Education all 9 years of this arrangement.

Contact: lucia.galdi@msdk12.net