At a meeting held on Friday, Oct. 10, the NJSBA Board of Directors voted to remove President Tammeisha Smith from office. The vote – 19 in favor, 4 opposed – was taken following extensive and candid discussions. Ultimately, the Board made this difficult decision based on the NJSBA Officers Code of Conduct and with the best interests of NJSBA, our members, and the integrity of our mission at heart.
The BOD determined Ms. Smith violated the Code of Conduct, which holds every officer to the highest ethical standards, and they are required to sign upon taking office. Specifically, the BOD determined Ms. Smith violated File Code 8250 (C), which states:
I refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interests or use my position or title of office for personal or financial gain, or for the personal or financial gain of others.
The BOD adhered to NJSBA File Code GO/8206, which states:
If the Board of Directors determines that an officer has violated the Code of Conduct for NJSBA Officers, GO/8250, or the Conflict-of-Interest policy, GO/8312, and the facts known, and in the interest of the association, warrant removal from office, the Board of Directors will act to remove the officer from their office.
Additionally, the board’s determination is limited to Ms. Smith’s role as president and a member of the NJSBA Board of Directors. It does not affect her qualifications for or ability to serve as a member of her local board of education.
To learn more about the role of the Board of Directors, as well as NJSBA bylaws and operations, please click here.
For the immediate future, NJSBA’s Immediate Past President, Karen Cortellino, will assume the role of Interim President. Dr. Cortellino is firmly committed to NJSBA and the continued success of New Jersey’s public schools.
