The Newark Board of Education in Essex County has recently achieved Board Certification. They are now among their county peers, including Bloomfield, Livingston, Millburn, Roseland, South Orange-Maplewood, Verona, West Essex, West Orange, Roseville Community Charter School, and the Marion P. Thomas Charter School, all of which hold this prestigious credential.
This marks the third time the Newark Board of Education has earned Board Certification, having first been certified in 2016. The board received the Carole E. Larsen Master Board Certification in 2017 and achieved Board Certification again in 2025.
Over the past 12 years, the Newark Board has accumulated 70 credit hours of training. In reviewing Newark’s progress, members reflected on their 2013 board self-evaluation, which captured their experience as an advisory board under state control.
During that time, board responsibilities were managed by a state-appointed superintendent. The board was unable to set goals, modify policies, participate in budget development, attend conferences, evaluate the superintendent, or join board committees. Instead of succumbing to this situation, the board proactively pursued training, remaining optimistic that when local control resumed, they would be ready to advance.
In contrast, their 2025 board self-evaluation indicated that the board’s greatest strength lies in its commitment to high expectations for student achievement. They foster a culture of belief that all students can and will learn, without exception. The board effectively advocates for its students at both local and state levels, emphasizing practices and policies that enhance educational opportunities and address the diverse needs of the entire school community.
In addition to team training, the board members are dedicated to their individual development. Recently, two members, Hasani Council and Josephine Garcia, earned the New Jersey School Boards Association’s (NJSBA) highest individual award, Certified Board Leader, while Kanileah Anderson received the New Board Member Certification. To earn Board Certification over four years, a board must complete 16 hours of training collaboratively, conduct a policy wellness check to ensure their policies are current, submit a bargaining agreement to NJSBA’s Labor Relations team, and demonstrate board effectiveness through self-evaluation and the governance portion of the Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC). All members must also remain current with their mandatory training.
