The Secaucus Board of Education has made history as the first school district in Hudson County to earn the prestigious NJSBA Board Certification. This landmark achievement was officially recognized during the Hudson County School Boards Association meeting on May 27, 2026, at The Chandelier Restaurant in Bayonne.
Jeanne Cleary, NJSBA field service representative, presented the historic award to the board, celebrating their achievement as a pioneering, high-functioning governance team. Board Certification is a significant milestone that honors a full board’s collective dedication to effective leadership, technical fluency, and continuous professional growth.
Pioneering Excellence in Governance
By becoming the first district in the county to reach this level of certification, the Secaucus Board has set a new benchmark for local boardsmanship. This honor moves past individual accolades and serves as evidence that the entire board has committed to training as a single, cohesive unit. This achievement reflects the immense amount of “invisible work” and rigorous dedication put in by the trustees and the district’s administrative leadership team.
The Secaucus Board of Education includes:
- Kelli D’Addetta, president
- Christina DeBari, vice president
- Alexander de Hombre
- Lance Bartletta
- Mary Eccles
- Tatiana Geller
- Melissa Howard
- Joseph Lewis
- Gerald Lyons
The board was supported in this historic endeavor by Dr. Mark Toback, interim superintendent of schools, and Grace Yeo, business administrator/board secretary.
About NJSBA Board Certification
Board Certification through the New Jersey School Boards Association recognizes boards that have moved beyond the “on-paper” concepts of governance and mastered the essential mechanics of leadership. To earn this honor, the full board must complete a series of rigorous training sessions focused on:
- Ethics and Board Roles: Understanding the legal and ethical guardrails of leadership.
- Policy Development and Finance: Navigating the technical complexity of district audits and multi-million-dollar budgets.
- Strategic Goal Setting: Establishing a clear, long-term vision for the district’s progress.
- Direct Impact on Student Achievement: Ensuring every policy decision is measured against its benefit to the classroom experience.
This recognition underscores the Secaucus Board of Education’s commitment to professionalized leadership. By treating their volunteer service with the precision of a technical masterclass, these local officials have not only strengthened their own governance but have successfully blazed a trail for every other district in Hudson County.
The presentation was the definitive highlight of the final Hudson County SBA meeting of the year, marking a new chapter of collaborative, student-centered excellence in Secaucus.
