Dear friends and supporters,

Recently, many of you have been encouraging me to run for the Perth Amboy Board of Education, a board which unfortunately appears to be seriously dysfunctional. Its condition saddens me beyond words. I, like many others, dedicated our professional careers to what was once a shining example of how best to help children achieve and succeed.

That noble goal seems to have largely disappeared. When teachers are unhappy, you can bet the students feel the same! During each day of my career, whether as a teacher, counselor or administrator, I was not only happy to go to “work”, I was also proud… proud to have come through an excellent system and even prouder to be able to give back with my knowledge and time. It is said a career is doing what you love, and I truly loved what I did.

While I have a strong desire to see the Perth Amboy schools return to their golden mission, I am also realistic enough to know that one person alone cannot accomplish this feat. In practical terms, to effect any change within the educational system, you need at least five people who share your mission of making children better.

I have always been a fighter, but at this stage of my life, I am also wise enough to choose my battles. As long as this board remains in its fractured state, the big picture of helping children is being blurred.

So allow me to thank you, my friends, for your expressed confidence in me. I appreciate your support but regret that I will not be a candidate this November.

Sincerely,

Linda M. Cruz
Perth Amboy