On Monday, May 11, 2026, the warm and familiar atmosphere of Mario’s Restaurant in Clifton served as the backdrop for the final gathering of the Passaic County School Boards Association’s 2025-2026 season. The session brought together board members, administrators, and state educational leaders to reflect on a year of progress and honor local dedication.

PCSBA President Judith A. Bassford (Clifton) opened the evening with a message of gratitude, reflecting on a year of navigating complex challenges and consistently putting the needs of Passaic’s students first.

The Power of STEM: Honoring Alyssa Bitar

The room was captivated by the evening’s guest of honor, Alyssa Bitar, the 2025-2026 Passaic County Teacher of the Year. Introduced by Manchester Regional Principal Joseph Ercolani, Bitar—an Engineering and STEM specialist—shared a compelling vision for modern education. Her presentation went beyond textbooks, illustrating how hands-on engineering projects don’t just build machines; they build the critical thinking and resilience our students need to lead the 21st-century workforce.

A Roadmap for Success: State & Legislative Insights

While the night was celebratory, it also provided a vital look ahead at the evolving landscape of New Jersey education. Attendees received a comprehensive “state of the state” from a lineup of NJSBA leaders:

  • Harrison Silver (Advocacy) provided a pulse check on the legislative front.
  • Michael A. Jacobs (NJSBA President) shared the vision of the 2025-2027 officer team.
  • Alan Paris (Clifton) and Kelly Mitchell (Field Services) provided updates on the technical and structural supports keeping our boards steady.

Celebrating the Pillars of our Communities

  • President Judith Bassford sets the stage, welcoming the "heartbeat" of Passaic County leadership to the final meeting of a landmark 2025-2026 season.

The highlight of the program, presided over by NJSBA’s Robert Acerra, focused on the individuals who treat school board service not as a hobby, but as a calling. These awards represent thousands of hours spent in executive sessions, budget workshops, and community events.

Individual Mastery (NJSBA Academy):

  • New Board Member Boardsmanship Certification: Roxana Cerna (Haledon), Lakisha Johnson (Haledon), and Mohamed Rashid (Paterson)
  • Certified Board Member Certification: Colleen Dawson (Pompton Lakes), Legna Garcia-Rodriguez (Paterson Charter), Joel Ramirez (Paterson), and Anthony Santiago (Clifton)
  • Master Board Member Certification: Liliana Baez-Molina (Manchester Regional); Maryann Capursi (Passaic City) and Claire Lockwood (West Milford)
  • Certified Board Leader Certification: Alan Paris (Clifton)

Years of Service Milestones

  • 15 Years of Dedicated Service: Robert Barnhardt (Wanaque), Judith Bassford (Clifton), and Dr. Lucy Danny (Clifton).
  • 20 Years of Dedicated Service: Lynda Van Dyk (West Milford) and Ronald Van Rensalier (Passaic City).
  • 25 Years of Dedicated Service: Joseph Walker (Lakeland Regional).

Leadership Elections

The meeting also included the report of the PCSBA Nominating Committee and the election of NJSBA Board of Directors members for the 2026-2029 term. Alan Paris (Clifton) was elected as Delegate, and Maryann Capursi (Passaic City) was elected as Alternate. Past NJSBA & PCSBA President Jeffrey Fischer administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected representatives.

President Judith A. Bassford concluded the meeting with closing remarks, thanking the members for their unwavering advocacy during the past school year and wishing all districts a successful conclusion to the academic term.