• T.J. Belasco- President

    T.J. Belasco was born in Wildwood Crest, NJ and has lived in South Jersey most of his life. He tried moving to Massachusetts, but couldn't get the Jersey sand out of his feet. He graduated Rutgers College in 1989 with a B.A. in American Literature. He earned a post-baccalaureate degree in Secondary Education from Glassboro (Rowan University). He has been an educator in South Jersey for 25 years. He currently teaches Advanced Placement Literature and Composition, Public Speaking, and Tomorrow’s Teachers. He also organizes and takes part in the annual St. Baldrick’s Cancer Fundraiser. T.J .has lived in West Cape May since 1990 and was first elected on the school board in 1996. He proudly boasts that both of his children are graduates of West Cape May Elementary. He loves watching the incredible success of West Cape May students when they get to high school.

     

    Elaine Lawler- Vice President

    Elaine Lawler was born in North Jersey and has lived in Pennsylvania, New York City, Dublin, Ireland and London before finding her true home in West Cape May. Elaine moved to WCM in 2010 with her husband, Sam, and their three children. All of their children attend or are alumni of WCME. Elaine is a graduate of Lehigh Universtiy with a BS in accounting and finance and also attended Villanova University for additional graduate studies. Elaine brings over 20 years of business experience to our board where she has worked as an auditor, investment banker and a partner in a project management consultancy. In addition to her volunteer work at the school, Elaine has been active in coaching and mentoring youth activities. For the last 5 years, Elaine has coached for the Cape May PAL travel girls' basketball team.

     

    David LaPuma

    David  is the Director of NJ Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory. He is an ornithologist, conservationist, and photographer. In addition to birding, David can be found with his wife and two girls on the beaches of Cape May catching waves and pointing out Black Skimmers. David received his PhD from Rutgers University where he studied the effects of fire on the Federally Endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow in the Florida Everglades, and conducted two postdoctoral research projects on Radar Ornithology (using radar to study bird migration, stopover habitat usage, and ultimately to better inform migratory bird conservation) with New Jersey Audubon and the University of Delaware. David has also worked in the field of high-end optical devices, as the Product Specialist for Leica Sports Optics. David is excited about being on the West Cape May School Board because he feels WCME has great potential to be a leader in elementary education with its small class size and the benefit of being in one of the most naturally wonderful locations in the country - perfect for outdoor experiential learning opportunities!

     

    Daniel Kurkowski

    Dan Kurkowski lives in West Cape May with his wife Deanna and his two daughters. Dan loves living in West Cape May and truly believes the elementary school is providing his children with an excellent education. Professionally, he is a trial lawyer practicing employment law, civil litigation and criminal defense. He owns and operates his own law firm, Kurkowski Law. Dan is the former President the Cape May County Bar Association, where he also held the titles of Secretary and Treasurer. He is currently the Cape May County Delegate to the New Jersey State Bar Association and Chairman of Cape May County Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointment Committee. In 2019, he was appointed as a Commissioner to the Cape May County Superior Court. Dan is the former Prosecutor of the Borough of West Cape May and a former Deputy Attorney General for the State of Delaware. He is the former coach of the New Jersey Mock Trial state champion Middle Township High School and presently volunteers as a judge in the mock trial competitions. He has also sat on the boards of the Cape May County Bar Foundation and the Center for Community Arts. Dan received his law degree from Delaware Law School (formerly known as Widener University School of Law), where he studied primarily civil and criminal trial law, and graduated with honors receiving pro bono distinction. He has also studied law at Sydney University Law School in Australia and was trained in trial techniques at the National District Attorney Association’s Prosecutors School at the University of South Carolina. Dan received his undergraduate degree with honors from Drexel University.

     

    Brian Groetsch

    Brian was born and raised in Cape May, attending both Our Lady Star of The Sea & Lower Cape May Regional Schools.  After high school, Brian attended Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL earning a bachelors degree in Small Business.  While in college Brian met his wife Jessica, and moved home to Cape May knowing that was where they wanted to raise their family.  All 3 of Brian’s children have attended West Cape May Elementary School. Brian is a Real Estate Broker, and owner of RE/MAX in Cape May.  He actively volunteers both professionally & in his community having previously served as President of the Cape May County Association of REALTORS® & MLS and currently serving as First Vice President of The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities.  Brian’s family is big in to athletics, which has him coaching both youth basketball as well as Little League Baseball when he’s not in the stands watching a dance recital, basketball, soccer, lacrosse or field hockey game! In his free time, you can find him on the beach, out surfing or on the golf course.