Marie Hakim, a member of the Clifton Board of Education, is New Jersey’s Board Member of the Year.  Hakim, a lifelong Clifton resident and a graduate of Clifton public schools, is in her 17th year of service for the Clifton Board of Education.

“Marie truly is a dedicated volunteer who serves the community and the school district that she loves with enthusiasm,” said Edwina M. Lee, NJSBA executive director. “She knows policy, fights for quality education initiatives and understands how to energize her community.”

Selection Process NJSBA established the Board Member of the Year program in 2005 to recognize the contributions of New Jersey’s local school board members.

An independent, out-of-state panel selected Hakim from among 21 nominees. Nominations were made by other board members, superintendents, business officials, school district staff or members of the community.

Community Involvement Hakim has served on the Clifton board for six three-year terms, four of them as president.

She founded the Clifton Education Foundation to raise money and to award grants to students and staff for creative programs and special projects that are not funded through the district budget.

Notably, Hakim also has achieved Master Board Member status through NJSBA’s Board Member Academy. Master board members complete a comprehensive set of courses designed to enhance their competence in strategic planning, negotiations and leadership and must pass an NJSBA-administered exam. Only 179 school board members have earned that designation since the NJSBA created the program in 1992.

Hakim works as an adjunct professor supervising student teaching from William Paterson University and serves as a commissioner for Clifton’s Clean Communities Committee.