Ashley Caldwell, a 19-year-old Rutgers sophomore who served as the student representative to the Board of Education during her senior year at New Brunswick High School, has been appointed to fill a vacant seat on the board.
Caldwell was traveling to California and was unable to attend the board’s meeting Tuesday night when her appointment was announced after an 8-0 vote.
Caldwell demonstrated leadership qualities as a member of the Class of 2022 at New Brunswick High School. She served as student liaison to the board, president of the National Honor Society, captain of the girls' tennis team, and the school’s representative to the Greater Middlesex Conference’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council.
She expressed her inspiration from observing school board members and administrators conduct business and address community concerns at monthly meetings.
“I think now more than ever it’s important to have people from our generation in these kinds of positions,” she said. “I think what inspired me was this opportunity and knowing that if I got this, it would be nice to show other students what they can achieve. I feel like being from an urban area, I think a lot of times people don’t expect much from us. But I think it would be amazing for the youth of New Brunswick to see like, ‘Oh, maybe one day I want to be a board member or make a difference in the city.’
“I also feel like I had my whole educational career in New Brunswick, and it would be so nice just to give back,” she added. “I had a wonderful experience. Even in college, I’m still in New Brunswick. I love the city and I think our students have so much potential and I would just love to be part of helping prepare, empowering and inspiring them.”
Caldwell is studying public policy at Rutgers-New Brunswick. Her goal is to attend law school and become an attorney who will be “a voice for the voiceless.”
Social justice, activism, and community leadership are significant aspects of her background. Her late grandfather, Rev. Gilbert “Gil” Caldwell, participated in many landmark events during the civil rights movement.
One notable memory she shared was when he spoke with students at Woodrow Wilson School and New Brunswick High School during Black History Month about his experiences marching alongside Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
TAPinto New Brunswick first reported in May that Dr. Dale Caldwell was stepping down after 26 years on the Board of Education. He served as president for 22 years with the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey.
Dr. Caldwell commented on his daughter's appointment: “Ashley has always been mature for her age and deeply committed to improving public education,” he said. “At New Brunswick, Ashley was an excellent student, a fantastic leader and a successful athlete. She will provide an extremely important student perspective on the New Brunswick Board of Education."
“I am so very proud that my daughter will follow in my footsteps as a volunteer helping the students in the city,” he added.
