PETERSBURG — Six candidates on two slates are vying for three seats on the Upper Township Board of Education.
The nine-member panel oversees a primary, elementary and intermediate school, while the district pays tuition to Ocean City and other communities for high school. Three serve as non-voting members of the Ocean City school board.
Incumbents Michele Barbieri and Chris Lentz, along with former board member Brian Teeney, have formed the “Students First” ticket, while newcomers Logan Bird, Kristi Lancaster and Meghan Ludgate Miller are challenging on the “Kids First” slate.
Barbieri, the board president, has been serving on the board since 2004 and now is in her 21st year. A township resident for 33 years, she and her husband, Tom, have two daughters, both educators. She is seeking re-election to her eighth term.
Barbieri has worked as the surgical assistant and business manager for a podiatry surgeon in Atlantic County.
In addition to her service on the township school board, she has been vice president of the Cape May County School Boards Association and a member of the New Jersey School Boards Association’s Delegate Assembly, Legislative Committee and Leadership Committee.
Lentz, 63, an educator for nearly four decades, has lived in the same home in Upper Township for 35 years. Over a 38-year career, she taught middle school science in Delaware and high school science, biology, chemistry and physical science in Ocean City.
In 2022, Barbieri garnered 2,219 votes (16.8 percent) and Lentz was third for her first term with 2,208 in the seven-candidate field.
Lentz served as head girls basketball coach and assistant softball coach, and later as an assistant principal and athletic director in Ocean City.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Moravian University in biology, a master’s degree in educational leadership from St. Joseph’s University and a doctorate in innovation and leadership from Wilmington University.
She now works as an adjunct professor of biology at Stockton University and chemistry at Atlantic Cape Community College.
Brian Teeney, an officer with the Ocean City Police Department Traffic Safety Unit, served one previous term, from 2021-24, and is seeking a second term on the board.
He has been a resident of Upper Township for more than 25 years and both he and his wife attended township schools and Ocean City High School. Their two sons are currently following their educational path at the high school.
“With students, parents and teachers all navigating an ever-changing educational landscape, I want to help ensure that our schools continue to offer a safe, strong and supportive learning environment,” Teeney said.
Logan Bird, 39, is a lifelong resident of Upper Township and the father of six children — five who are students in the Upper Township School District.
Bird and his 10 siblings are all graduates of Ocean City High School. After graduation in 2005, he served a two-year service mission for his church and then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Bird is chief operating officer of EV+ Charging and has spent his entire career in the private sector, both building businesses and running large-scale operations.
He is actively involved in township sports, an active member of his church and provides career mentorship to young adults and early career professionals.
Lancaster, 43, has lived in Upper Township for 15 years. She has two children, one currently attending township schools. She is also a member of a local church.
With nearly two decades of experience in the field of education, Lancaster brings a strong foundation in teaching, leadership and advocacy for student success. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from West Chester University, followed by a master’s degree in special education from Rowan University. Lancaster is currently a doctoral candidate at Liberty University studying curriculum and instruction, further demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning and academic excellence.
Since 2006, she has served in a variety of educational roles within the same school district, including classroom teacher, instructional coach and currently as supervisor of special education. She said the experiences have given her a broad and practical understanding of what students and educators need to thrive.
Lancaster believes taxpayer dollars must be used efficiently and responsibly to ensure all students receive a high-quality education. She also believes in transparent leadership and open dialogue, viewing these as essential pillars for building trust and achieving positive outcomes across the district.
Miller, 41, has lived in Upper Township for most of her life.
After graduating from OCHS, Miller earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with an education certificate. She has worked as a math teacher at Lower Cape May Regional High School for the past 20 years and now is seeking a master’s degree in secondary math education.
Miller is a mother of two daughters, one in Upper Township Elementary School and another entering Upper Township Primary School next year. She is very active in the community and has coached many Upper Township soccer and basketball teams.
Miller’s key priorities include transparency and accountability in budgeting, key to moving forward; advocating for more recess and unstructured play for students; supporting teachers with the resources and respect they deserve; and creating safe and high-quality learning environments for all.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
