Meet Catherine Barrier: Educator, Community Leader, and Champion of Fiscal Responsibility

Franklin families deserve leaders who understand education from the inside and who will make sure our schools thrive without overburdening taxpayers. Catherine Barrier has spent her career doing exactly that — teaching, mentoring, and serving the community with dedication and integrity.

Catherine has taught English and ESL at Rutgers University for over 30 years, guiding thousands of students from diverse backgrounds to succeed academically and professionally. She has also taught ESL at Raritan Valley Community College, where she helped make education more accessible and affordable. Her decades of classroom experience have given her a deep understanding of how to support both students and teachers in achieving excellence.

In addition to her teaching career, Catherine has served as a Franklin Township Councilwoman-at-Large, where she gained firsthand experience in governance and fiscal oversight. She understands the impact of rising property taxes on families and homeowners, drawing also from her years as a licensed real estate agent. Catherine knows that strong schools add value to the community — but only when managed with responsibility and transparency.

As a candidate for the Franklin BOE, Catherine is determined to bring her proven record of leadership, educational expertise, and fiscal responsibility to the table.

“Schools should be a place of opportunity and growth for students,” Catherine says. “That means keeping the focus on academics while making sure every tax dollar is used wisely. We can have both excellent schools and affordable taxes.”

This fall, Catherine Barrier is ready to serve Franklin families once again — combining her lifelong passion for education with her commitment to fiscal discipline.