Board of Education Members

Jerry Nelson, President

Nanci Barr, Vice-President

• Nanci is a lifelong resident of Mays Landing. Throughout her years as a student in Hamilton Township, she attended Shaner, Duberson, Hess and Davies schools. After graduating from Oakcrest High School, she went on to receive her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Penn State University as well as a Master's Degree in Reading & Literacy and Certification in School Administration. She is currently an administrator in a neighboring district where she has worked for 20 years. Nanci currently lives in Mays Landing with her husband Paul and their two boys who both attend Hamilton Twp Schools. She is in her 7th year as a Board of Education member and currently serves on the Curriculum and Policy Committees. She originally sought a position as a Board of Education member to be able to provide leadership through an educator's viewpoint and she continues to do that each and every day.

Shawn Ankrah

• Shawn is delighted to serve her community as a member of the Hamilton Township Board of Education.  Education is her passion, as she has been a proud educator for the past 23 years.  She currently serves on the Instruction Committee and as a member of the Hamilton Township Board of Education she hopes to continue to ensure that our students have access to a world class education, and that all of their needs are met, both academically and emotionally. 

Cheryl Cirino

Ryann Jackson

• Ryann has lived in Mays Landing most of her life. She attended Duberson and Davies schools, followed by Oakcrest High School, which she graduated in 1998. Ryann attended Rider University and received her Bachelor's Degree in Communications. She wears many hats in her position as Director of Client Services for a boutique Insurance, HR and Payroll firm, based in Long Island, NY. Ryann currently lives in Mays Landing with her Husband, Dan, and two children, Cooper and Decker, who both attend Hamilton Township schools. Her interest in serving on the Board of Education for Hamilton Township is multi-faceted. She's looking to provide an opportunity to better engage and unite Township parents and staff, to encourage and strengthen communication within the Township, and provide a parent-based, not an educator based, viewpoint to the Board. 

Jennifer Lihach

• Jennifer attended Hamilton Township Public Schools K-8th grade and graduated from Oakcrest High School in 2002. She earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy from Rutgers and currently works as a hospital pharmacist. She is married with three children. She currently serves on the Operations Committee.  Jennifer is honored and enthusiastic to volunteer and give back to Hamilton Township School District's staff, students and community. 

Beverly Poretto

• My name is Beverly Poretto and I am a lifelong resident of Mays Landing. My childhood educational years were spent attending classes in Shaner, Duberson, and Davies school. My advanced educational background includes an Associates in General Studies from Atlantic Cape Community College, Bachelor of Arts from Georgian Court University with a Teacher of the Handicapped certification, Preschool through Third Grade certification and an Elementary through Eighth Grade certification. I have a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix. I taught preschool inclusion for 15 years in a neighboring district and have currently taken on the role of Master Teacher to support our Preschool Grant Program. I am the wife of a military veteran, proud mother of three young boys ages 12, 9, and 5. My children are active in local sports and when I am not busy with athletic activities, we find fun in adventures to do around our hometown such as quad riding, fishing, camping and hometown celebrations. 

Harry Rogers

• I moved to Mays Landing in 1978 from Brigantine.  My wife and I have three sons, and two grandchildren. I sailed on ocean tankers, roll on roll off vessels and passenger ferries for 14 years.  (5 years as ship’s Captain).  I moved ashore to shoreside management position for Interocean Management for 24 years.  IOM operated up to 22 ships in commercials and govt. service, worldwide.  I was the operations manager and emergency response coordinator as well as the creator of the ISM quality system and was ABS certified as lead auditor for ISM and Environmental operations.

   

  In 2013, the company fled NJ and moved to FL.  My wife and I really enjoy Mays Landing, so we decided to stay.   I now own a small business that specializes in ship management on the US Great Lakes and Oceans based in Moorestown.   We go by the name of Cetacean Marine Companies.   We also do project work for the Philly Shipyard and the NASSCO Shipbuilding in San Diego.

   

  I look forward to helping the HT BOE move to a more solid financial footing by reducing the endless dependence on bond issues for capital repairs/improvements. It is my goal to work to resolve the Duberson school issue.  Also, I intend to sponsor policy to post all course syllabus/curriculum (to include source materials) on the BOE web site.   Parents have a big role to fill in their child’s education and it is my intention to give them the tools to monitor what their children are being taught.