Roberto Inclan
Email: [email protected]
I am honored to be a newly elected member of the South Amboy Board of Education. Although this will be my first term as a Board of Education member, I bring with me over 18 years of experience as a public school teacher in the great state of New Jersey. After earning my Bachelor of Arts in English from Montclair State University in 2004, I have proudly served diverse communities throughout New Jersey as an English teacher, coach, mentor, and class advisor.
In 2018, I earned a Master of Science in Educational Technology from Ramapo College, because I believe that understanding the pros and cons of technology is essential in our ever-advancing digital world. While technology has undoubtedly simplified many aspects of our daily lives, its impact on education, including screen time and cellphones, has presented unforeseen challenges such as diminished engagement in our classrooms and negative impacts on the mental health of our students. We must collaborate as a community to identify any challenges that technology can pose, educate our students about the potential dangers they may face, and support each other in any way possible.
As a father of two, my wife and I are primarily concerned about the quality of education our two children receive. The educational landscape has transformed significantly since my own student days in the 1980s and 90s, with a notable emphasis on standardized tests. While data certainly plays an important role in identifying the needs of our students, data alone will not help us foster a community of learning that celebrates the individual talents of students. Tests alone do not build character or foster civic responsibility. Therefore it is important that we do not reduce our children to names and numbers on a spreadsheet but rather aspire to make their education about more than just grades.
Since moving to South Amboy in 2019, I have found the teachers in our district to be hard-working professionals who have demonstrated a willingness to go the extra mile for my children. We owe it to our teachers to recognize their efforts, heed their concerns, and respect the boundaries of their collectively bargained contracts. Nothing will influence the quality of our children's education more than their teachers, and my hope is that we as a board welcome their input as we work towards providing every child with a proper education. No one is more acutely aware of our children's academic needs than their teachers, and we would be wise to always take into consideration the impact our decisions have on the culture and climate of their working environment.
South Amboy's Board of Education is made up of a group of committed members who passionately advocate everything from the arts to athletics. I hope that together we can find a way to address all of the things that our children need to become thoughtful, compassionate, and productive members of society.