Chunxiao “Chris” Xu

Montgomery Township/Rocky Hill School Board Candidates 2026

Q:  How many years have you lived in Montgomery or Rocky Hill?

A:   My family and I have lived in Montgomery Township for 13 years. We’re proud to be part of this community.

Q:  Where do you work/job title?

A:  I work at Johnson & Johnson as a Lead Technology Product Management. 

Q:  Education

A:  I earned my PhD in chemistry from Purdue University and an MBA in from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Q:  Family/Personal

A:  My wife and I have two children, and Montgomery schools are an important part of our life. Our son is a 9th grader at Montgomery High School, and our daughter is a 6th grader at Lower Middle School. Like many families in our community, we want our schools to continue providing an excellent education and a supportive environment for every student. 

Q:  What skills do you have that would make you a good school board member?

A:   Based on my background and interest in education, I can bring four skills to the table that make me uniquely suited to serve Montgomery’s schools: data-driven, outcomes-focused governance; rigorous financial and budgetary oversight; strategic planning and future-proofing; and collaborative leadership and consensus building.

Q:   What issues do you believe our district needs to address? What changes would you recommend?

A:  Based on my background in business technology, I believe our district needs to focus on three critical areas: a) sustaining academic excellence while supporting student wellness; b) ensuring long-term fiscal stewardship; and c) integrating critical thinking into the current curriculum.

I would recommend the following areas for continuous improvement: a) championing student wellness through connection, belonging, and evidence-based support; b) ensuring long-term fiscal stewardship with responsible forecasting; and c) supporting teachers training program to embed critical thinking in the curriculum.

Q:   What are your thoughts on school taxes? What should be the MTSD priorities?

A:  Montgomery’s strong schools are one of the major reasons families choose to live here, and our investment in education is an investment in our children and the future. At the same time, property taxes are a significant expense for families, and we have a responsibility to ensure public funds are used thoughtfully and effectively.

I would focus on maintaining the quality of education our community values while strengthening transparency, accountability, and long-term fiscal stewardship. Our priority should be to put resources where they have the greatest impact on student learning and well-being, while making thoughtful, responsible financial decisions that respect our taxpayers.

Here are my thoughts on MTSD priorities: a) Use our resources effectively to support student success. b) Strengthen evidence-based financial oversight and transparency. c) Ensure transparency and accountability in the upcoming referendum.

Q:   What are your thoughts on how to increase trust between board members, educators, and the public?

A:  To build trust, we can use the same thoughtful, evidence-based approach we apply to finances and curriculum when listening to and engaging with our school community. My approach focuses on three priorities: validating and respecting educator expertise; increasing transparency in decision-making so families understand the ‘why’ behind outcomes; and closing the feedback loop to prove public input was genuinely considered, not just collected.

To uphold accountability, I advocate for implementing an MTSD Data Dashboard as an accessible ‘single source of truth’ for performance indicators. I also support more transparent and evidence-based budgeting, with regular public reporting that compares budgeted amounts with actual spending throughout the year.

Q:   What book would you recommend as being important for all high school students to read, and say why?

A:    I recommend Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World.” This masterpiece is important because it serves as a crucial, empathetic warning for students entering our modern, technology-driven world. It explores the profound distinction between efficiency and happiness, and between biological programming and human dignity. 

For students, especially those focused on STEM, this book is essential for developing the critical, ethical framework necessary to navigate the complexities of future scientific innovation responsibly.