OCEAN CITY – There are eight candidates running for the Ocean City Board of Education in the Nov. 3 election.
There are two slates of candidates, one independent and another candidate who is unopposed to fill in the unexpired term to which she was appointed earlier this year.
Lisa Capra-Mansfield was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board earlier this year. She is the only one seeking to fill the remainder of that term on the board.
The other seven candidates are vying for three full terms.
Running together are incumbent board members Corey Niemiec, Jocelyn Palaganas and Michael Allegretto. Allegretto, Palaganas and Niemiec were first elected to three-year terms in 2023. This would be their second full terms if re-elected.
The other slate of candidates includes Kelly Anne Hudak, Steve Flogaus and former board member Catherine Panico. Panico served for three years on the board, but lost her re-election bid last year.
Hudak, Flogaus and Panico are running under the banner of Parents Paying Attention.
In the 2025 election, Panico, board member Liz Nicoletti and former board member Robin Shaffer ran together on the Transparency & Common Sense ticket, but lost to incumbent school board President Kevin Barnes and newcomers Jennifer Cawley-Black and Jennifer Dwyer, who ran together under the Empower All Students Ticket.
The seventh candidate for one of the three-year seats is Matthew L. Maas under the election heading “Ordinary Average Guy.”
Voters can choose any three of the seven candidates for the three positions; they do not have to choose an entire slate.
Two incumbent Sea Isle City representatives are seeking new terms on the board — Kerry E. Mullance and Sue F. Williamson. They are the only two running for the Sea Isle City seats on the board.
This is a non-partisan election.
STORY and PROFILES by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
Michael Allegretto, Incumbent
What background – education, professional and/or affiliations – is relevant to your service on the school board?
I am a 1989 Ocean City High School graduate. Both of my children have graduated from Ocean City High School. I am a 1993 graduate of The College of New Jersey. I have served on the Ocean City school board for 10 years and was a member of City Council for nine years. I am a member of St. Damien’s Parish and have lived and worked in Ocean City my entire life. Having served on the library board, planning board, and tourism commission has allowed me to gain knowledge on all aspects of the Ocean City community.
I feel that all of my experiences in Ocean City give me the ability to represent the entire community in making decisions to guide the schools into the future.
If re-elected, what are your priorities for the next year?
As the current chairperson of the building and grounds committee I will work with the administration to continually plan for updates and replacements for our school structures and systems. This will keep our school’s safe and keep our capital cost within budget. I want to ensure the school district keeps working with the city through shared services to be as efficient as possible with the lowest cost to our taxpayer.
I will continue to make the Ocean City school district an attractive destination for families to move to Ocean City and enroll their children. This can be accomplished by supporting our administration and our new superintendent Dr. Latwis’ efforts to implement a challenging curriculum, supporting our staff and offering a variety of educational courses for our students to prepare them for their chosen path after high school graduation.
Why do you believe voters should re-elect you?
Having been in elected office in Ocean City for over 19 years I believe I know what our community expects for our schools and will continue to hold our superintendent to the high standards of our community. As a school board member, I listen to concerns presented by parents, students, school staff and our residents. I present these concerns to the administration to be evaluated and see if any improvements need to be made. I feel a good working relationship with the superintendent and administrators allows for questions and discussions to ensure the best outcome to help all students is achieved.
Why are you running on a slate with two other candidates?
I am running on a slate with Jocelyn Palaganas and Corey Niemiec because they share the same objectives and high standards for our school district. Having served together the last three years, I have seen the amount of work and time Jocelyn and Corey put into their role as a school board member to making positive changes affecting the district. The existing working relationships with the rest of the board allow all of us to continue to strive to improve our curriculum and learning experiences for the students.
What have you accomplished during your term on the board?
We just hired a new superintendent who understands the vision of the Ocean City School District and has plans to provide direction and support to our teachers, administrators and support staff to make the Ocean City School District a destination district for learning.
As a school board we have approved responsible budgets for the taxpayers which provide the resources needed to keep our school competitive going into the next decade. The district has continued to expand our partnerships with Stockton University allowing our students to enter college with credits to save on tuition costs. We have improved aesthetics and mechanical systems in our schools and completed a roof project at the high school with grant funding.
Steve Flogaus , Challenger
What background – education, professional and/or affiliations – is relevant to your service on the school board?
I’m a 1984 Graduate from the University of Delaware. I have more than 40 years of medical sales experience. In those years I have developed the ability to listen to problems and come up with solutions. I believe these skills will help me improve our school system.
As a parent of a child with special needs, I care deeply about ensuring all students have the support they need.
I also am a strong advocate for preserving our environment for future generations.
If elected, what are your priorities for the next year?
If elected, my goal is to bring common-sense leadership back to the school board. My top priority is to promote transparency and open communication between parents and teachers. Parents deserve to be informed, involved and treated as partners in their children’s education. I believe we should be excelling academically and competing with the top schools in our state.
Why do you believe voters should elect you?
I believe I am a team player and can work well with the other school board members.
Why are you running on a slate with two other candidates?
Together with my two running mates, I share a commitment to common goals and a strong interest in improving our schools. Our shared vision will help us work with greater confidence, unity, and effectiveness.
What do you want to accomplish that the current Board of Education has not?
More common sense. More transparency. More listening. That’s why I’m running. And I am a parent who is paying attention.
Kelly Anne Hudak, Challenger
What background – education, professional and/or affiliations – is relevant to your service on the school board?
I am a mother of eight children and have prior educator experience teaching students with special needs.
If elected, what are your priorities for the next year?
My goal is to strengthen the partnership between school and family through greater transparency, accountability and parental involvement. We should measure our success by results: students who are thriving, families who have confidence in their schools, and schools strong enough to attract and retain families.
Why do you believe voters should elect or re-elect you?
My experience in public, private and homeschool settings has deepened my appreciation for strong schools, engaged families and open communication between parents and educators.
Why are you running on a slate with two other candidates?
To have board members who are willing to challenge the status quo, not simply be a rubber stamp for the administration and Trenton, and work towards solutions that give Ocean City School District families more say in their kids’ education.
What do you want to accomplish that the current Board of Education has not?
If elected, I will work to make it easier for parents to know what is being taught in school, what resources are used, ask questions, and stay engaged, while demanding greater transparency from the administration.
Matthew L. Maas, Challenger
What background – education, professional and/or affiliations – is relevant to your service on the school board?
I have been a school librarian in public schools for over 20 years, the last 19 at the Upper Township Middle School. I am also a part-time reference librarian at the Ocean City Free Public Library, a position I’ve held for over 20 years.
If elected, what are your priorities for the next year?
My priorities would be to learn how to be an effective and involved Board of Education member. I realize there will be a lot for me to learn at the beginning of my term, and I look forward to discovering how to be an effective Board of Education member.
Why do you believe voters should elect or re-elect you?
My sole focus would be on making sure that Ocean City schools are the best they can be for staff and, most importantly, students. I have no political agenda or affiliation.
What does your “Ordinary Average Guy” slogan mean related to this election?
I took it from the title of an album, and song, from Joe Walsh. I meant it to convey that I am just a regular citizen looking to help our school district and students. I have no desire for any other public office, position, etc. I’m just an ordinary average guy.
What do you want to accomplish that the current Board of Education has not?
I do not have any particular agenda items I am looking to accomplish at this time. I do believe that the Board of Education needs to focus on future enrollment numbers and how they will affect the district.
A pet desire of mine is continued funding for arts programs; I was a band kid in middle school and a theater kid in high school. I think that such programs provide a wide variety of avenues for students to participate in school life that might not otherwise be involved in more traditional activities like sports.
Corey Niemiec, Incumbent
What background – education, professional and/or affiliations – is relevant to your service on the school board?
I earned my bachelor of arts degree from La Salle University in 2012 and my master of business administration (MBA) from Holy Family University in 2019.
I have served on the Ocean City Board of Education for the past three years, gaining valuable experience in school district governance, budgeting and educational policy.
I also serve as treasurer of the Ocean City Education Foundation, where I remain actively involved in supporting educational opportunities for our students.
My educational background, financial experience, and continued involvement in our school community provide a strong foundation for my service on the Board of Education.
If re-elected, what are your priorities for the next year?
If re-elected, one of my top priorities will be to work closely with our new superintendent, Dr. Latwis, and our administration to ensure that every student graduates from Ocean City High School with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities necessary to succeed in their chosen path, whether that means attending college, pursuing a trade or technical education, or entering the workforce.
Another important priority is to continue making the Ocean City School District an attractive choice for families who are considering moving to Ocean City and enrolling their children in our schools.
I believe we can accomplish these goals by supporting our administration in providing a challenging and well-rounded curriculum, giving our teachers and educational staff the resources and support they need to succeed, and offering a diverse selection of academic, career-focused, and extracurricular opportunities that meet the interests and needs of our students.
My goal is to ensure that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential and that the Ocean City School District continues to be a source of pride for our students, families, and community.
Why do you believe voters should re-elect you?
I am seeking re-election to continue providing consistent, experienced leadership on the Ocean City Board of Education. I strongly believe in the importance of a quality education and I am committed to supporting our students, teachers and families.
Ocean City is a community I deeply care about, and my motivation for serving has always been simple: to give back, make a positive difference and help ensure our schools continue to provide the best possible opportunities for our students.
Why are you running on a slate with two other candidates?
I am running on a slate with Jocelyn Palaganas and Michael Allegretto because we share similar goals and a common vision for the future of the Ocean City School District.
Having served together for the past three years, I am confident in our ability to work collaboratively with the rest of the Board and our administration to continue improving academic performance, supporting our teachers and staff, and providing the best possible educational opportunities for our students.
What have you accomplished during your term on the board?
During my term, I have been proud to help accomplish several important goals.
We hired a new superintendent, Dr. Latwis, and established clear goals to provide stability, strong leadership and a vision for the future of our district.
We have approved fiscally responsible budgets that balance the needs of our students with our responsibility to taxpayers, while ensuring our schools have the resources to remain competitive for years to come.
We also completed a new roof at Ocean City High School, utilizing grant funding to reduce the financial burden on local taxpayers.
I am proud of these accomplishments and look forward to continuing to build on our progress.
Jocelyn Palaganas, Incumbent
What background – education, professional and affiliations – is relevant to your service on the board?
I graduated from Holy Spirit High School and earned a business degree from Rutgers University. As a longtime Ocean City resident, I have been deeply involved in the community for many years. I served as PTA president for more than 10 years and currently serve as PTO president and treasurer of the high school’s After Prom committee.
For more than 20 years, I have worked for Advanced Hospitality Systems, selling point-of-sale computer systems to hospitality businesses throughout the tri-state area. I also help manage several family-owned businesses on the boardwalk, including George’s stores and Hangry Bites.
My experience as both a business owner and a corporate professional has given me practical expertise in financial management, strategic planning, communication, and collaboration.
As a mother of children who attended the school district, I have seen firsthand the dedication of our teachers, staff and administration. I offer the combined perspective of a parent, business owner, and committed community member who understands that strong schools are the foundation of a strong community.
If re-elected, what are your priorities for the next year?
As a current board member, I have gained valuable experience in school governance, district policies, budgeting and working collaboratively with fellow board members and administrators. My time on the board has given me a greater understanding of the challenges facing public education and the importance of making thoughtful decisions that benefit our students, staff and community.
We need to continue the work to provide a well-rounded education that prepares students for their future, whether that includes college, trade school, military service or the workforce.
I also understand the importance of balancing quality education with responsible spending and being mindful of our taxpayers.
Why do you believe voters should re-elect you?
I bring the perspective of a parent, business owner and committed community member who understands that strong schools are the foundation of a strong community. I believe in listening to different views but always keeping the best interests of our students at the forefront. I am proud of this community and would welcome the opportunity to continue building on our school district’s progress.
Why are you running on a slate with two other candidates?
I chose to run on a slate with my running mates because we share a common goal of putting students first and continuing to move Ocean City School District in a positive direction. We each bring different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives but at the end of the day, we all want our students to have the best possible educational experience and keep our district moving forward.
What have you accomplished during your term on the board?
During my time on the Board of Education, I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together. As both a parent and board member, I’ve been committed to making decisions that put our students first while being mindful of our taxpayers. I’ve worked alongside my fellow board members to strengthen academic programs, support our teachers and staff, address student attendance, update district policies, and plan for strong leadership and the future of our schools. I’m especially proud of the teamwork and collaboration we’ve built together.
Catherine Panico, Challenger
What background – education, professional and/or affiliations – is relevant to your service on the school board?
As an experienced educator and office manager – and first and foremost, a mother – I know that effective leadership requires both professional expertise and deep personal investment. Just like raising a child, serving on a school board means asking tough questions, caring enough to set boundaries, and work tirelessly every day for the betterment of our students.
If elected, what are your priorities for the next year?
As I look toward this next term, my top priority remains unwavering transparency. I am re-running because I believe deeply in the value of an independent voice. (Panico previously served three years on the Ocean City Board of Education.) A board functions best when its members ask tough questions and prioritize active oversight over passive agreement. We owe it to the community to do the heavy lifting of robust debate, rather than settling for an echo chamber that simply checks the boxes. I am asking for your vote so I can continue to bring genuine scrutiny, fresh energy, and complete accountability to this seat.
Why do you believe voters should elect you?
See above.
Why are you running on a slate with two other candidates?
We are running as a slate to ensure the board has members willing to challenge the status quo, not simply rubber-stamp the administration and Trenton, and to work toward solutions that give Ocean City School District families more say in their kids’ education. We are the Parents Paying Attention.
What do you want to accomplish that the current Board of Education has not?
(No response.)
