Hamilton Township School District

 Nanci Barr has served on the Hamilton Township Board of Education since being   elected in 2017 and currently serves as Board President. She is in her 23rd year as an   educator, having begun her career as a teacher and now serving as a K–12   administrator in a neighboring district. A lifelong member of the community, she grew up   in Mays Landing and attended Hamilton Township schools, and she is the
 parent of two children—one a district graduate and one currently in middle school.

 She is motivated to serve by both her perspective as an educator and her vested   interest as a parent, and she is deeply committed to supporting the district’s goals   through collaborative leadership. Her areas of focus include curriculum and instruction,   student achievement and wellness, special education, personnel and staffing, policy and governance, and community engagement.

Over her nine years on the Board, she has served on every committee, held multiple committee chair positions, and served as Vice President for one year and President for four years, guided by the belief that “Every decision begins and ends with what’s best for students.”

Shawn B. Ankrah has served on the Hamilton Township Board of Education since 2020 and currently serves as Vice President of the Board. She has been an educator in the State of New Jersey for 27 years and is a 21-year resident of the community, with all three of her children having attended HamiltonTownship schools.

Motivated by her love for education, she serves on the Board to help move the district forward and ensure continued growth and success. Her areas of focus include maintaining a rigorous and equitable curriculum that meets the needs of all students and strengthening the
connection between schools and the broader community.

During her tenure, she has served on the Curriculum and Personnel Committees. She is a wife and mother of three and spends much of her time attending sporting events, volunteering, and staying active. Her guiding belief is reflected in the quote, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Dr. Cheryl Cirino has served on the Hamilton Township Board of Education since being elected in 2023 and previously served as Vice President of the Board in 2025. A technology professional at a financial institution, she is a senior manager of a technical team that supports both users and complex technology systems.

A resident of the community with family attending district schools, she values the opportunity Board service provides to collaborate with administrators, teachers, parents, and community members in support of student success. Her primary areas of focus include student success,student wellness, and special education, guided by her belief in Commitment, Collaboration, and Communication.

Laura Batchelor was appointed to the Hamilton Township Board of Education in January 2025 and is a 20-year resident of the community with strong ties to the district, where both of her children were educated. She serves as Chief Marketing Officer at Atlantic Cape Community College, bringing more than 30 years of marketing leadership experience across hospitality, casinos, tourism, and higher education,
including oversight of marketing, public relations, digital strategy, and crisis communications.

She joined the Board to help ensure every student receives a high-quality education in a safe, supportive environment and to promote thoughtful governance grounded in accountability and academic excellence. Her areas of focus include student wellness and safety, academic quality, equity and access,fiscal responsibility, community engagement, and effective governance. Outside of her professional and Board service, she enjoys spending time with her family, exploring genealogy, and creative writing, and she is guided by the belief that “good governance starts with listening, asking hard questions, and keeping students’ best interests at the forefront.”

Ashley-Ann Dirkes has served on the Hamilton Township Board of Education since being elected in 2025. A lifelong resident, district graduate, and parent of children attending Hamilton Township schools, she brings 15 years of professional experience as an Occupational Therapist. She joined the Board out of a passion for shaping the future of education for all students and advocating for their individual success. Her areas of focus include community engagement, curriculum, and special education programs, and she is guided by the belief, “Every student can learn, just not on the same day or same way.”

Ryan Jackson has served on the Hamilton Township Board of Education since being elected in 2023 and currently serves as Chair of the Personnel/Policy Committee. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in the employee benefits field, where she has helped employers design comprehensive benefits packages, and is licensed as a Life, Health, and Accident Insurance Producer with extensive experience in HR and payroll matters.

A graduate and long-time resident of Hamilton Township, she is also the parent of two children attending district schools. She sought Board service out of a deep commitment to students and the broader community, with a belief that effective leadership is rooted in transparency, collaboration, and thoughtful decision-making. Her areas of focus include curriculum and instruction, student achievement and wellness, personnel and staffing, policy and governance, and community engagement.

In addition to chairing the Personnel/Policy Committee, she has served on the Negotiations Committees for both teachers and administrators and is guided by the quote, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Jennifer Lihach has served on the Hamilton Township Board of Education since 2020 and is a lifelong resident of the community who attended HTSD schools in grades K–8 and is now a district parent. A graduate of Rutgers University, she has worked in hospital pharmacy for over 20 years as a Clinical Pharmacist, specializing in medication safety, opioid stewardship, and optimizing clinical outcomes while
also precepting pharmacy residents.

She sought Board service to help students and staff return to normal following the COVID-19 pandemic and to serve as a transportation advocate. Her areas of focus include advocating for students and the community while gaining insight into the district from both a parent and Board member perspective, and she has previously served as Chair of the Operations, Finance, and Curriculum Committees. She hopes every family feels welcomed, supported, and proud to be part of the Hamilton Township school community.

Monyah McQueen has served on the Hamilton Township Board of Education since being elected in 2025 and is a proud product of the district, having attended Shaner, Hess, and Davies schools and lived in Mays Landing for most of her life. She is a School Social Worker in a neighboring district with eight years of experience and holds both a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work degree.

She joined the Board to give back to the district that helped shape her success and to support the continued growth of its students and community, and she is also the parent of a son who will be attending school in the district. Her areas of focus include student achievement, student wellness, special education, and community engagement. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and is guided by the belief, “It’s not about where you’re from, it’s about where you are now.”

Harry Rogers has served on the Hamilton Township Board of Education for four years and is a 50-year resident of the community. He brings extensive experience as a Merchant Seaman (15 years, Master of Steam and Diesel Vessels, Unlimited Tonnage), Marine Operations Manager (24 years), and small business owner (12 years), and is the founder of Cetacean Marine Companies. He has also served on the Hamilton Township Planning Board for 13 years and volunteers with Troop 254 of the Boy Scouts of America.

Mr. Rogers holds a B.S. in Meteorology and Oceanography and an M.B.S. in Finance. He sought Board service to address financial management and academic transparency, areas that have shown strong improvement in recent years, and his primary Board focus is finance and minimizing the need for bonding on capital projects. He has served on the Finance and Operations Committees, has been married for 47 years, and is the father of three sons and grandfather of two. His guiding philosophy is E Pluribus Unum—unity as a strength.