The Henry Hudson Regional School District regionalized in July 2024, unifying the formerly independent Atlantic Highlands and Highlands elementary school boards with Henry Hudson’s. File Photo
By Emily Schopfer
In addition to contested municipal elections in both Atlantic Highlands and Highlands Nov. 3, the Henry Hudson Regional District (HHRSD) Board of Education faces a contested election. The Monmouth County Clerk’s office shows three candidates running for just one seat in Atlantic Highlands, and four candidates running for two open seats in Highlands.
The HHRSD regionalized in July 2024, unifying the formerly independent Atlantic Highlands and Highlands elementary school (preschool through sixth grade) boards with Henry Hudson (seventh grade through 12th grade), creating a nine-member board with elected members from both boroughs, each serving three-year terms.
In Highlands, the four candidates are current board president Diane Knox and incumbent Rebecca Wells on the Hudson’s Bright Future slate, Robin Manno and Lindsay Silberman.
Three candidates are running for one full-term seat in Atlantic Highlands: incumbent Daniel Sutton Jr., Megan McGuane and Brent Sonnek-Schmelz on the Excellence and Rigor slate.
No petitions were filed to fill the board’s current vacancy, a one-year unexpired term in Atlantic Highlands.
The League of Women Voters held a virtual forum for the candidates Oct. 7. All candidates attended, except Knox, who was unavailable.
Atlantic Highlands
Megan McGuane has two children attending Atlantic Highlands Elementary School, according to her candidate website, meganmcguane.com. In 2025, McGuane spoke against a proposed cell tower on school property. “Through that process I got to see first-hand how our school board operates, learning about the district’s bright spots and challenges,” her website reads. “With the success of tabling a proposal that would be detrimental to our schools and dangerous to our children’s health, I had an inspirational experience that motivated me to run for Board of Education.”
During the forum, McGuane added that her experience battling the cell tower, along with her decade of professional experience, made her a strong candidate. McGuane is currently the vice president of external affairs at Teach For America, Los Angeles and San Diego.
A Henry Hudson graduate, Daniel Sutton Jr. formerly served on the Atlantic Highlands BOE and was unanimously elected to fill a vacancy on HHRSD’s board after former board president Cory Wingerter resigned.
Sutton is the current vice chairman of the Atlantic Highlands Recreation Committee and formerly sat on the Atlantic Highlands BOE before regionalization. “I understand the responsibility that comes with being a board member,” Sutton said during the LWV forum. “More importantly, I understand how these schools and programs, how much they mean to our families and the community as a whole.” Sutton said he would focus on a diverse curriculum, strong clubs, “outstanding” athletic programs and supporting staff members.
Brent Sonnek-Schmelz has lived in Atlantic Highlands since 2007 and has two 5-year-old twins entering the school district next fall. As a former Atlantic Highlands school board member, Sonnek-Schmelz said during the LWV forum that in recent years “the administration has been comfortable with good enough,” but he finds that unacceptable. He also feels there is a disconnect among parents, teachers and administration over what is right for students, which he would aim to address if elected.
Highlands
Robin Manno is a Highlands-based photographer; this is her first time running for any elected office. She has two children, one in an LLD (Learning and/or Language Disabilities) classroom and another in general education. “I have a lot of experience dealing with the school and the board just because of my son” in the LLD classroom, Manno said during the forum. “I have to say that there are two very different experiences in education coming from a special needs side with a neurodivergent child and a general education side.” She said that experience pushed her to run for board of education, with the goal that “all the children’s needs are met, no matter what they are.”
Lindsay Silberman has two sons, one currently enrolled in Highlands Elementary and one starting pre-K next year. When her son started in the district, Silberman and her husband found a group of friends who became their “village,” she said during the LWV forum. She said this sense of community is why she chose to run. A writer and member of the Writers Guild of America East, Silberman said, “Every day of my life is one big group project.” She’d bring her professional listening skills to different points of view and take constructive criticism into her role on the board.
Rebecca Wells graduated from Henry Hudson and has two children currently in the district. She is also the senior captain of the Highlands Volunteer Fire Department and will become chief in January 2027. “Leadership is kind of what I do,” Wells said during the LWV forum. “I understand how to get people together, drive people together, get to a common goal.” Wells also added that it is OK to disagree, as long as you can “leave that room and shake hands afterwards” and as long as students come first. Wells served for over a decade on the borough council as both a member and president and ran for mayor of Highlands in 2025.
Diane Knox was unable to attend the Oct. 7 forum. She previously served in the borough, working as a part-time recreation leader in 2015.
This article originally appeared in the October 29-November 4, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
