On March 21, 2026, pursuant to Article VII, §5 of the Association bylaws, the NJSBA Nominating Committee met to interview candidates to fill the vacancy for the above-referenced unexpired term in the office of Vice-President for Legislation/Resolutions. The office was vacated on January 6 of this year, and the unexpired term will expire at the close of the May 2027 Delegate Assembly. Five applications were received by the filing deadline of February 27, 2026.

The Committee discussed and deliberated over all five candidates. After deliberation, the Committee submits this report naming the following candidate to fill the unexpired term of the office of Vice President for Legislation/Resolutions. The vacancy will be voted upon at the Delegate Assembly meeting scheduled for May 16 of this year.

The Nominating Committee submits the following candidate to serve the balance of the 2025-27 term of office:

Vice President for Legislation/Resolutions

Charles Carabello, Bloomingdale Board of Education (Passaic)

Applications were also received by:

Richard Casey – Ocean Gate Bd of Ed (Ocean)

Jessica DeCicco – Washington Township Bd of Ed (Morris)

Julie Kozempel – Washington Township Bd of Ed (Gloucester)

Barry Fitzgerald – Lenape Regional High School Bd of Ed (Burlington)

Additional Information for Filling Officer Positions. According to NJSBA bylaws, candidates for the above-referenced unexpired term may also be nominated by petition, signed by at least 10 members from at least five different boards of education, filed with the NJSBA executive director, and received no later than April 10, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. No candidate may be nominated unless he or she has previously served one full term as a board member prior to his/her election to office. The signatures need not all appear on 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. In addition, candidates must have qualified for and received the Certified Board Member (CBM) qualification as set forth in NJSBA’s Governance and Operations Manual. A report of all candidates nominated by petition shall be submitted to the district boards of education in advance of the meeting.

Nominations by petition should be sent via Federal Express or registered/return receipt requested. The written consent of the candidate for nomination by petition must be filed with the executive director within the same time limit. Applications may also be emailed to the Nominating Committee by emailing Lauren Liu, executive assistant to the General Counsel/Legal Researcher, generalcounsel@njsba.org, with the subject line: Petition for Vice-President for Legislation/Resolutions. Petitions must be received by April 10, 2026, 5:00 p.m.

When submitting nominations by petition, it would enhance the election process if the candidate included a “head and shoulders” photo and resume, along with a 200-word statement 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 may be obtained from Lauren Liu in the Executive Office at lliu@njsba.org or (609) 278-5250. A report of all candidates nominated by petition shall be submitted to the district boards of education in advance of the NJSBA annual meeting.

Nominating Committee Members

  • Irene LeFebvre, Chair, NJSBA, Boonton Town Board of Education (Morris)
  • Diane Morris, Mine Hill Board of Education (Morris)
  • Michael Sprague, Norwood Board of Education (Bergen)
  • Marsha Hershman, Lindenwold Board of Education (Camden)
  • Jennifer Knittel, Washington Township Board of Education (Warren)
  • Donna Iacone, Cinnaminson Board of Education (Burlington)
  • Ray Morris, Newton Board of Education (Sussex)
  • JoAnn Groeger, Lawrence Township. Board of Education (Mercer)
  • Jacqueline McAlister, Ocean City Board of Education (Cape May)
  • Alan Paris, Clifton Board of Education (Passaic)
  • Courtney Washington, Rosell Board of Education (Union)
  • Victoria Pakala, Brick Township Board of Education (Ocean)
  • Patrick Ireland, Egg Harbor Township Board of Education (Atlantic)
  • Karen Cortellino, M.D., Immeidate Past President, Montville Township Board of Education (Morris)
  • Michael Jacobs, President, Ridgefield Board of Education (Bergen)

NJSBA STAFF

• Carl Tanksley, Jr., Esq., General Counsel

• Lauren Liu, Executive Assistant/Legal Researcher