NJSBA’s Nominating Committee to Present Slate of Officer Candidates for Election at Annual Meeting

January 17, 2025, was the deadline for candidates to submit applications to the NJSBA Nominating Committee for president and three vice president positions (county activities, finance and legislation/resolutions).  Pursuant to Governance and Operations File Code 8204, the Nominating Committee will present a slate of candidates for election at the Association’s Annual Meeting on May 10, 2025. 

That same policy (GO/8204), directs that all applicants seeking nomination as an officer by the Nominating Committee shall have their name, school district/county and the position sought announced in School Board Notes following the deadline for submission of nominations.

In accordance with the above policy, all members should be advised that as of the deadline, NJSBA received eight applications from the following local school board members:

President

Bernadette Dalesandro – Netcong Board of Education (Morris).

Barry Fitzgerald – Lenape Regional Board of Education (Burlington).

Chanta L. Jackson – Neptune Township Board of Education (Monmouth).

Tammeisha Smith – Knowlton Township Board of Education (Warren).

Kathy Winecoff – Millstone Township Board of Education (Monmouth).

Vice President for County Activities

Barry Walker – Bridgewater-Raritan Regional Board of Education. (Somerset).

Vice President for Finance

Tom Connors – Piscataway Township Board of Education (Middlesex).

Vice President for Legislation/Resolutions

Michael Dennison – Alloway Township Board of Education (Salem).

Nomination by Petition  NJSBA bylaws also provide for candidates to be nominated by petition, signed by at least 10 members from at least five different district boards of education and filed with the executive director. Beginning March 3, 2025, petitions may be obtained by visiting NJSBA’s Web site (www.njsba.org).  Petitions may not be circulated prior to March 3 and must be received by the executive director no later than March 28, 2025.

Signatures need not all appear upon a single petition and any number of petitions may be filed on behalf of a candidate, but no petition shall contain the endorsement of more than one candidate.

Nominations by petition should be sent via Federal Express or registered/receipt-requested mail. The written consent of the candidate for nomination by petition must also be filed with the executive director by the above deadline.

Information with Petition  When submitting nominations by petition, candidates should include a color or black-and-white “head and shoulders” photo and a resume that includes a statement of not more than 200 words explaining why they are seeking the position.  Resumes should contain information under the following headings:  Local Board Activities; County Activities; NJSBA Activities; Education; and Employment/Community Activities.  (A sample resume may be obtained from Cindy Harrison by calling 1-888-886-5722, Ext. 5254.)  A report of all candidates by petition will be made no later than March 31, 2025.  The report will appear in School Board Notes and on NJSBA’s website.

Nominating Committee  Members of the 2024-26 Nominating Committee include:

Karen Cortellino, M.D., president, ex-officio; Irene LeFebvre, chair, immediate past president; Diane Morris, Mine Hill BOE (Morris); Michael Sprague, Norwood BOE (Bergen); Victoria Pakala, Brick BOE (Ocean); Marsha Hershman, Lindenwold BOE (Camden); Jennifer Knittel, Washington Twp. BOE (Warren); Dr. Courtney Washington, Roselle BOE (Union); Donna Iacone, Cinnaminson BOE (Burlington); Patrick Ireland, Egg Harbor Twp. BOE (Atlantic); Ray Morris, Newton BOE (Sussex); Alan Paris, Clifton BOE (Passaic) and JoAnn Groeger, Lawrence Township BOE (Mercer).