Noting that Erica Snyder is Board of Education Candidate that Princeton Needs and Deserves
To the Editor:
This is my first letter to Town Topics and I’m doing so to fully endorse my wife Erica Snyder’s candidacy for a seat on the PPS Board of Education.
In the fall of 2009, I met Erica while she was working as a hardworking teacher at Garinger High School in Charlotte, NC. This was the third opportunity, in a row, that Erica chose to teach at an economically disadvantaged, diverse, inner-city school following Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Chicago, Ill. (Garinger has a 96.5 percent minority enrollment — 2024 numbers). Erica worked tirelessly to ensure her students received the latest in innovation, with project-based learning and new technologies, she communicated clearly with the faculty, parents and students in English and Spanish, and she dedicated countless hours in coaching struggling teenagers to ensure they met grade level curriculum standards.
In 2010, I deployed to Afghanistan. Erica and I dated throughout my deployment, fell in love, and married in 2011. Since I was a full-time soldier, we moved together to my new duty station in Texas. After the move, Erica continued her dedication to teaching and educational innovation, with progressively responsible roles with New Tech Network, Teaching Channel, Digital Promise, K12, and currently as the director of Cherry Hill Nursery School in Princeton. In addition to her work in education, Erica’s volunteer work resulted in her earning the prestigious Commission of the Yellow Rose of Texas, awarded from the Governor of Texas, for her exceptional community service and advocacy.
For the next 10 years, Erica delivered at the highest levels to her family and communities (military, local, state, and federal) as we moved eight times, and I deployed again and again, leaving her alone, without family support, to raise our three kids. During that time, I promised Erica, when I retired from the U.S. Army, that we would settle in a local community, we made Princeton our forever home in 2021, and since she sacrificed for my military service that I would return the favor and support her work and passions, which have remained consistent since 2009.
Erica will provide the highest level of commitment to the students, parents, administrators, and Board members as a Princeton BOE member. My successes and those of our kids are due to her tireless support. So, I fully endorse Erica to support the Princeton community we love, and I hope you vote for her and appreciate her as much as I do.