Melanie Gaskins, Kristina Kroot, & Mitch Larsen for Merchantville BOE
Melanie Gaskins
It has been an honor for Melanie Gaskins (she/her) to serve the students, families, and staff of Merchantville as a member of the Board of Education. She is proud to be seeking a third term because she believes Merchantville's schools play a vital role in shaping not only students' academic success but also the future of the community.
As a mother, educator, and current Vice President of the Merchantville Board of Education, Melanie brings both professional expertise and personal investment to every decision she makes. Every vote is guided by one simple question: What is in the best interest of our students?
For nearly a decade, Melanie has dedicated her career to public education, teaching students in grades 1–5 and now serving as a Math Specialist in the Mount Laurel School District. Along the way, she was honored to be named Teacher of the Year in 2020. Before entering education, Melanie spent 12 years performing in Broadway National Tours, where she developed the perseverance, collaboration, and adaptability that continue to shape her leadership today.
Throughout her service, Melanie has worked to ensure that children have access to meaningful learning opportunities, educators feel supported, and families have a voice. She believes strong schools are built through thoughtful leadership, responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, transparent communication, and a willingness to listen to different perspectives while keeping students at the center of every decision.
Melanie is seeking a third term because she believes the work of strengthening public education is never finished. As education continues to evolve, she remains committed to continuous learning, thoughtful problem-solving, and long-term planning. She will continue to advocate for high-quality educational opportunities, support the well-being of students and staff, and help ensure that Merchantville remains a district where every child is known, valued, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential.
Melanie would be honored to earn the trust and support of the Merchantville community and continue working alongside fellow board members, educators, families, and residents to provide the very best for Merchantville's children.
Kristina Kroot
Kristina Kroot (she/her) is asking for the community's support for a third term, continuing work she cares deeply about on behalf of the district's students, families, and staff. She believes Merchantville's schools play a vital role not only in shaping students' academic success but in shaping the future of the community itself. It has been a privilege and honor to serve on the Merchantville Board of Education for the last 6 years.
As a mother and strategic communications professional, Kristina brings both professional expertise and personal investment to every decision she makes. Every vote is guided by one simple question: what is in the best interest of our students? Kristina is a married mom to two daughters, currently in 1st and 5th at Merchantville's school. Originally from Long Island, she has called Merchantville home for the last 7 years. She holds an MBA and an M.A. in Psychology, and this fall she begins graduate studies in Public Affairs and Community Development at Rutgers-Camden. Over nearly 20 years, her career has spanned marketing leadership, clinical research, and governance work, and she currently works as an independent policy analyst and communications strategist, and runs her own architectural and interior photography business.
Throughout her service, Kristina has worked to ensure that every student has access to meaningful learning opportunities, that educators feel supported, and that students, families, and educators have a real voice in the direction of their school. She believes strong schools are built through thoughtful leadership, responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, transparent communication, and a willingness to listen to different perspectives while always keeping students at the center of every decision.
Kristina is seeking a third term because she believes the work of strengthening public education is never finished. She remains committed to continuous learning, thoughtful problem-solving, and long-term planning on behalf of Merchantville's children. She will continue to advocate for high-quality educational opportunities, support the well-being of students and staff, and help ensure that Merchantville remains a district where every child is known, valued, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential.
Kristina would be honored to earn the trust and support of the Merchantville community and continue working alongside fellow board members, educators, families, and residents to provide the very best for Merchantville's children.
Mitch Larsen
Mitch Larson (he/him) is seeking election to his first full term on the Merchantville Board of Education. Mitch has been a resident of the borough since 2021 and served on the board since 2025 when he was appointed to fill an unexpired vacancy. He cares deeply about the families that call our town home and is committed to making Merchantville School a place where every family knows that their child will grow academically, emotionally, and socially in an environment that is caring, sensitive, and supportive.
As the proud parent of a four-year-old daughter, Mitch is passionate about expanding pre-K services and availability throughout the borough. His top priority for this term is to work closely with his fellow board members and our interim Chief School Administrator, Mr. P., to find a permanent replacement who is empathetic, culturally sensitive, and knowledgeable about emerging technologies, curriculum, and best practices.
As a young student, Mitch received pull-out services starting in the first grade. His IEP and accommodations continued with him through college, and he feels a strong passion for supporting Merchantville's special education students.
This fall, Mitch began pursuing a PhD in Childhood Studies. He is passionate about reading and childhood literacy and intends to study genre literature and film. He holds Masters degrees in Criminal Justice and Education from Rutgers and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. He has also published scholarly research in the Journal for Interpersonal Violence on supporting youth at risk of academic failure and involvement in the criminal justice system.
Professionally, Mitch has spent the bulk of his nearly ten-year career in higher education. Currently, he is an Assistant Dean at Rutgers University-Camden where he advocates for and supports graduate students across more than 20 unique programs in the humanities, STEM, and social sciences.
Prior to his current position, Mitch spent was the Associate Director of Student Engagement at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate Student Center. In that position, he supported 18,000+ students across Penn's 12 graduate schools and directly advised the university's Graduate Student Government Association's advocacy and cultural divisions. He began his professional career working in Undergraduate Admissions at Rutgers and later Penn.
Outside of education, Mitch is also a professional photographer and videographer. He enjoys sports, film, and music. He holds an appointment as the Secretary for the Young Friends Board of the Philadelphia Film Society and has held similar volunteer leadership positions with other cultural organizations across the region such as WXPN.
Mitch lives with his wife Alexandria and daughter, Juliette. If you've ever walked down Volan St on the way to Merchantville School, you've likely seen their dog, Rory, hopping up and down at their fence greeting every family and dogs that walks past!