BOE Members and Committees

Sam Frenda was first elected to the SHSD Board of Education in 2019 for a one-year unexpired term and was most recently re-elected to her second three-year term in November of 2024. She served as chair of the Community Relations committee prior to becoming Vice President of the Board of Education and is now in her third year as Board President.

Mrs. Frenda has been an active volunteer in the school community since her daughter enrolled in Kindergarten in 2010. She has served as Co-President of both the Bedwell and BMS HSAs, as VP at Bedwell as well as Corresponding Secretary at BMS. She chaired numerous parent committees at both schools including the Yearbook, Book Fair, Spirit Wear and Custodian Appreciation committees. She served as a trustee on the board of the Somerset Hills Education Foundation (SHEF) where she also co-chaired the much loved Chili Cook Off and was a member of the Community in Crisis school-based working group when they first launched  their work in the district.

Mrs. Frenda holds her BA in Spanish Language and Literature and her MS in Teaching English as a Second Language.  She spent several years teaching elementary and adult ESL as well as private pre-school prior to having children and becoming a full time stay at home parent. Her education and professional experience has been a tremendous asset as she engages in all areas of work related to curriculum, policy, personnel and operations as a Board member.

Mrs. Frenda has lived in Bernardsville since 2003 with her husband Michael, a commodities trader. They have two children, a daughter who graduated from Bernards High School in 2023 and a son who is currently a Junior attending Bernards High School.

“It has been an honor being able to serve my community on the Board of Education and to do my part to ensure our students have the best opportunities for success in an educational environment that is both appropriately challenging and supportive of them as individuals,” shared Mrs. Frenda. “I will always advocate for what is in the best interests of our students and to prepare them for the dynamic, ever changing  world they will graduate into.”
 

Heather Santoro was re-elected to the SHSD Board of Education in January 2024 and is serving her third, three-year term. She serves as Vice President of the Board, the chair of the Student Services committee, and is a member of the Operation committee, as well as Policy and Personnel.

An alumni of Bernards High School herself, Mrs. Santoro and her family moved back to Somerset Hills from Chicago, Illinois in 2005. She has been active in the school community through the HSA on all three campuses. She has volunteered with her family, including her four legged family members, with Creature Comfort Pet Therapy, providing pet therapy to various organizations and members of local communities.   

Mrs. Santoro currently works for Bedminster Orthodontics, where she is part of a team that serves to brighten the smiles of all patients.  She holds a B.S. in Business Management from North Carolina State University. Previously in her career she was an Account Manager for an IT Consulting firm focusing on the FDA regulated Life Science industries.  She enjoyed  working with large scale teams to ensure the implementation and validation of IT systems that automated and integrated laboratories and manufacturing environments. 

Mrs. Santoro resides in Gladstone with her husband Chris, a Medical Device Executive. They have three children; two are currently attending  University and one is attending Bernards High School.

“It has been my honor to serve our communities through my role on the Board and I remain fully committed to this district on behalf of the well-being and success of every student,” shared Mrs. Santoro.
 

Felicia Nigro Ballard was elected to the SHSD Board of Education in November 2023 and is serving her first three-year term.  She is the chair of the Policy and Personnel committee, as well as a member of the Student Services committee.

Ms. Ballard and her family have been residents of Bernardsville since 1995.  She has been a volunteer within the district for many years, serving as a classroom mom as well as working with the Home and School Association of the various schools in the district, serving as treasurer and also chairing the Young Authors Day committee for over ten years.  

Ms. Ballard has worked as a librarian for the Pingry School in Basking Ridge since 2014, where she is a member of the Diversity Team; she also co-chairs a team for the school’s upcoming accreditation process. Previously, she worked at the Bernardsville Public Library.  Ms. Ballard holds a B.A. in Communications, a Master’s in Library and Information Science, and Juris Doctor degree (law.)    Her passion for education, literacy and equity informs her work for the district, as does her legal background, particularly as it applies to policy work.  

Ms. Ballard’s three children are all BHS graduates, having attended schools in the district from grades K-12.

“As I enter my second year on the Board, I feel both that I have learned so much and that I have so much more to learn, but no better way to do that than to be in the trenches with other Board members, teachers, administration and parents,” shared Ms. Ballard.  “I am committed to collaborating and working diligently to ensure great outcomes for our students, because that is what they deserve.”
 

Nicole Cooper was re-elected to the SHSD Board of Education in November 2024 and is serving her third three-year term. She serves as chair of the Curriculum committee and is also a member of the Student Services, Business Operations, and Negotiations committees.  

Ms. Cooper has been a resident of Gladstone for 20 years. She is an active member of the community and can often be seen walking her Bernese Mountain Dog in town or at school events. She values collaboration and continuous, lifelong learning, both of which shape her service as a Board member.

Ms. Cooper is the owner of Cooper Johnson Communications, LLC, a medical communications company that specializes in developing educational content for physicians and other healthcare professionals, a company that she founded in 2003. She graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Ms. Cooper is the mother of a 2025 graduate of Bernards High School, and the fiancée of Tim Bozack, who also graduated BHS and is the father of twin 2024 BHS graduates.

“I believe deeply in public education and am committed to serving our district with dedication, openness, and a desire to do what’s best for all our students,” shared Ms. Cooper.
 

Holly Clark-Emery was originally elected in 2020 to the SHSD Board of Education and served one year as a write-in candidate. She had to run for two more years before being re-elected in 2024. She is serving her first three-year term. Mrs. Emery  serves as a member of the Policy and Personnel committee.

Mrs. Emery and her family have lived in Bernardsville since 2011. She currently works at the Little Lambs Pre-school at Saint James Church in Basking Ridge. Prior to that she worked with Sobi, a rare disease company. Over the years she has volunteered with, and for, her children as they attended Bedwell Elementary School, Bernardsville Middle School, and Bernards High School. She continues to volunteer countless hours of her time with Liquid Church on various projects she is passionate about.

Mrs. Emery and her husband James have five children together. Three have attended all of the SHSD schools. Her eldest is a recent graduate of Messiah University. Her middle daughter is a sophomore at College of the Holy Cross. Her youngest will be attending Bernards High School as a freshman in the fall.

Mrs. Emery’s leadership, determination, and strive for excellence allows a superior mix of academics, well-being and education for everyone. “I am truly honored and excited to be a part of making a change in our community for a better school system for all students,” shared Mrs. Emery.
 

Gabriela Gomez was elected to the Bedminster Board of Education in November 2022, and in 2025 was elected as the Bedminster representative for the Somerset Hills Board of Education. She is serving her second term. She is a member of the Personnel and Programs committee in Bedminster and the Business Operations committee in Somerset Hills.

Mrs. Gomez graduated from Anahuac University in Mexico with a Major in Business and obtained her MBA in Strategic Leadership from San Pablo CEU in Madrid, Spain. 

When she is not driving her kids around to their sports and activities, Mrs. Gomez works part-time for a non-profit organization. Her bible study group “Walking with Purpose” is very special to her and  she  can enjoy a good pick-up soccer or basketball game as well as pickleball. 

Mrs. Gomez and her husband George have three children and they enjoy community life and getting involved in numerous activities. 

“I am honored to serve the Bedminster and Somerset Hills School District. It is a continuous learning process in different areas, to make decisions for the best education for our students, in order to create a positive lasting impact in the community,” shared Mrs. Gomez.
 

Mindy Hoppe was elected in January 2025 to the Somerset Hills Board of Education, representing Far Hills, where she is honored to serve a three-year term. She currently contributes her expertise and passion for education as a member of the Curriculum committee. 

A dedicated advocate for students, Mrs. Hoppe brings a wealth of experience to her role. Before moving to Far Hills four years ago, she spent several years in Gladstone where she also served on the Somerset Hills Board of Education for a three-year term. During her tenure, she played a key role on both the Policy and Curriculum committees, and was instrumental in the strategic planning process, and the redesign of  the high school media center.

Professionally, Mrs. Hoppe is the Executive Director of the Somerset Children's Center in Bridgewater, a nonprofit organization committed to supporting children with special needs. Under her leadership, the center provides essential services, including occupational, physical, speech and language therapy, art therapy, and feeding therapy. It also offers parent workshops and social skills programs, ensuring that families and children alike receive the guidance and support they need to thrive.

With a master’s degree in Special Education and certification as a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant (LDTC), Mrs. Hoppe’s career has been dedicated to fostering academic success for all learners. She began as a special education teacher in both public and private education for over 10 years before transitioning to her role as an LDTC in the Bridgewater school district. Her philosophy of education reflects the wisdom of Ignacio "Nacho" Estrada: "If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn." She firmly believes that education should be adaptable, student-centered, and inclusive, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Mrs. Hoppe and her husband, Michael Hoppe, have been happily married for 39 years, and they take great pride in their son, Michael, who was fortunate to attend the Somerset Hills School District. 

“As a Board member, I remain committed to advocating for policies and initiatives that empower students, support educators, and strengthen the community,” shared Mrs. Hoppe.
 

Kelly Hunt was elected to the SHSD Board of Education in November 2025 and is currently serving her first three-year term.

Mrs. Hunt has been an active volunteer in the Bedwell Elementary School’s and Bernardsville Middle School’s Home and School Associations (HSAs), having served as a Co-President of the Bedwell HSA and as Co-Vice-President of Events at Bedwell and BMS’s HSA’s. She chaired many committees during her children’s time in SHSD including Teacher Wishlists, Library Volunteers, Winter Holiday Breakfast, Battle of the Books and the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon.

Mrs. Hunt holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from the University of Iowa. Prior to having children and becoming a stay at home parent she was an executive assistant in both financial services and at a union benefit funds office.

Mrs. Hunt has lived in Bernardsville with her husband, Gordon, since 2012. They have two children, a son at Bernardsville Middle School and a son at Bedwell Elementary School.

“It is an honor to join the dedicated volunteers who have been advocating on behalf of the students in our district for the benefit of our whole community. I look forward to learning from them and contributing to the work.” 

Allicen Librera was elected to the SHSD Board of Education in November 2025 and is currently serving her first three-year term.

Originally from Hackettstown, New Jersey, Mrs. Librera and her husband Billy moved to Bernardsville in 2013. She has been actively involved in her children’s education and school community for many years. She began volunteering as a homeroom parent for her first two children and later served on the Saint John’s Nursery School Board during their preschool years. For the past four years, Mrs. Librera has been a member of the Home and School Association (HSA) board—serving two years as Co–Vice President of Events and the last two years as Co-President of the Bedwell HSA.

Professionally, Mrs. Librera has worked for Sonopath, a veterinary imaging company, for nearly two decades. She earned her transcription certificate from Sussex County Community College, and her role has allowed her the flexibility to work from home while raising her family.

Mrs. Librera’s oldest two children were both Bernardsville High school graduates. Her oldest son has since graduated college, and her oldest daughter is currently attending college. She also has a daughter at Bernardsville Middle School and a son at Bedwell Elementary School.

“I believe that a thriving school is more than a place of learning—it is the heart of a community and the foundation of its future.”

Pat Wry is presently on the SHSD Board of Education for her third three-year term. She was the previous chair of Facilities and Operations and currently serves on the Curriculum and Student Services committees.

Dedicated to serving others, Mrs. Wry is a poll worker, a member of the Bernardsville Board of Health and US Selective Service, a communicant and lector at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, and a former Library Foundation member.

The first woman in her family to attend college, Mrs. Wry earned a bachelor's degree in English from Rutgers College and a master's degree from the Rutgers Graduate School of Education. She spent 42 years teaching language arts, public speaking, and drama in New Jersey public schools. Additionally, she spent 28 years at Rutgers College as a part-time lecturer. In 2023, she retired. Due to her broad educational experience, she is an asset to the Curriculum committee.

Since 2004, Mrs. Wry and her husband, Paul, have lived on Anderson Hill Road. Paul drives an ambulance for the Bernardsville First Aid Squad. Their son Liam, a K–12 graduate of the district, is a medic in the US Army.

"As a child, I was taught to respect the value of education and guided by the admonition that, ‘From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.’ My community relationships have grown stronger as a result of my service to the SHSD, and my tenure on the Board has allowed me to maintain connections to education after retirement,” shared Mrs. Wry. “Building a prosperous citizenry requires high-quality public education, and I am grateful and proud to serve our community in my role as a member.”