YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT COVERED UNDER IEPs!

We get so many contacts from families pouring their hearts out about their experiences trying to get their children the right to free and fair education. This latest story tugged on my heart strings and hit very close to home.

Parent:
I need your help!Pl

PPM:
Whats going on? How can we help?

Parent:
My son has adhd/bipolar disorder he just graduated 8th grade. Very long story short...the principal PROMISED me she would make sure he got into West Caldwell for high school. That didn't happen . From what I understand they have a space for him they just need his IEP. But my son has no IEP. Child study team says it wasn't warranted! But apparently the principal felt it was since he sat in special ed all year with no IEP. I know she has tried to do for my son and I appreciate it but now what am I to do come September? Principal told me (last week of school) request another evaluation from CAT and she would push it through so it can be done over the summer. I've heard nothing. I text the principal yesterday and she said she would check on it but I've heard nothing since. When is enough enough? When do the students actually start to matter?

PPM:
Have you contacted SPAN? What school did he graduated from and what school are you hoping to get your son into? Mental health is a very close subject to us and your story is hitting home.

Parent:
I've tried to give the principal the benefit of the doubt that she would come through but it's just not happening. I did tell her on the last day of school that if he didn't have a school in Sept. We would be in her office every single day until he has one. I don't understand how they think it's ok to do this to people. He graduated from McKinley. I was very adimant from day 1 I want him in West Caldwell for H.S. she agreed that would be the best place for him and promised she would get him there. We applied to West Caldwell, Bloomfield Tech, & 13th (in that order).  Then the V.P said I had to fill out a One Newark form. I told them he's not going into a Public HS in Newark. But to be compliant I went in and said "I don't know what you want me to write on here, he's not going to these schools." The principal filled it out and his acceptance that came back was for East Side High School (which is not even a possibility or a choice for us). In a conversation with the principal she asked if he had to go to a Public high school  in Newark where do I want him, I told her Science Park. Haven't heard anything on that either!

PPM:
They chose the school for you? Why would you need a One Newark app if he was going to school outside of Newark?

Parent:
He told me the board of ed required one for every student.

PPM:
That is absurd. But we wasnt planning on going to a Newark Public Scbool! They also need to educate themselves on how mental illness does require IEPs. That is narrow minded thinking.

Parent:
His case worker said an IEP wasn't warranted. Of course it wasnt....he was in the classroom he belongs in and he was on meds. When he was in a Gen ed class and also in an inclusion class I was always getting called in. They make no sense, and my son is the one who suffers. 6th grade was so bad he was physically ill at the thought of going to school. Vomiting and diareah. Finally in Feb of 6th grade after an issue with a teacher and the then V.P I signed him out of school. We went to Barnes & Noble and bought a ton of workbooks for him to do, went to the library for books and I made him do book reports for me. He was home half of 6th and all of 7th and No one cared! No one cared to help us!

PPM:
He was already diagnosed with BP in 6th or did it come after?

Parent:
Yes in 3rd grade

PPM :
Unfair the school put him through that!

Parent:
It was real bad and as a parent I have to protect my child. Everyday he would get in the car and cry the whole way home. All  night he would have stomach pains and then in the morning he'd be throwing up. He's had multiple anxiety attacks! When he went back to school in September the principal had him on a staggered schedule. She felt he had "school phobia". So the first couple weeks he would go in until 10:30, then 11:30, then 1, then full day.

PPM:
Does he a therapist that can refer the IEP?

Parent :
He's not currently in therapy. I'm trying to find a good one for him. His pediatrician was refilling his meds for him because she is aware of the diagnosis. Early teen years are hard enough for kids. They are faced with tons of choices and for a kid who NEEDS structure...this situation isn't good. His grades are great. Even though his report. He's very intelligent. He didn't do great on the Terranova. He was nervous and also he's supposed to have a 504 which he's had since 3rd grade.

PPM:
We know its hard. SPAN should help. Mental health issues are just as serious as physical or learning disabilities. What is your top choice to get him in? Would you be willing to share your story?

Parent:
West Caldwell was our top choice, I'd settle for Bloomfield Tech. I never heard anything from Bloomfield Tech, I was told west caldwell has a spot for him if he has an IEP. So I submitted another request like the principal told me. She said she would push it through to be done over the summer. So far nothing. I text the principal and she keeps saying she's gonna check on it but that's it.

PPM :
Call SPAN today if u can lets push for that IEP as first step. Would u mind us sharing your story. We can keep  your name anonymous.

PARENT:
Yes please do.

PPM:
We will follow up with you tomorrow to see how you made out with SPAN.

Parent:
Thank You!

Mental health disorders such as ADHD and Bipolar Disorder are very serious and can impact not only a child's educational experience but how the world sees them. Just because you don't see a mental illness or because society still wants to stigmatize those who have mental  disorders doesn't mean that our children with mental health issues don't  deserve the same rights to fair special needs education and the rights of evaluations or IEPs. 

This is yet another solid example of The One Newark CHOICE! Now they are just telling you "your child will go to this school and thats about it!" I guess the brainiacks who developed the One Newark Algorithm simply left out the programming lanuaguage for the parameters for true choice. Not only does this family have to fight for choice but now they have to fight to prove that a mental health diagnosis since 3rd grade is worth a Child Study Team evaluation and an IEP to ensure their child's education is fair!

We will keep you posted on this family's journery.

Another One BITES THE DUST!

Working with the Power Parent Movement  Team, we come across many parents and their stories. Some we can assist and are happy to do so. We get no reward other than assisting a fellow parent and families with solutions to issues they are facing that feel like they have nowhere to turn. At times we are successful, the research, calls emails or social media posts pay off. Then there are times when it feels we have hit a brick wall ourselves.

I heard from a parent over the weekend that we have been communicating with since September of 2014.  Once we connect with a parent or family, we develop relationships with them and follow up even after they find a resolution. The parent at this time wishes to remain anonymous, as many do as they fear speaking up will result in their child paying the ultimate price.  This parent contacted us as she was trying vigorously to get her child evaluated and into a Prek class in NPS.

Parent Backstory:
SEPTEMBER 3, 2014:
Parent was referred to us as her daughter has a child speech delay. The delay was also causing social delay issues. Family was using speech therapist and felt special needs and an IEP would be needed. She called NPS and was transferes to Special Education Dept. Special Ed said she would need to speak with Child Study Team.  She was told she had to wait for her child's evaluation and she would be contacted. We recommend while waiting to contact and file official complaints to some other avenues to speed things up. The parents also contacted : Mayor Ras Baraka's Office, Newark Public Schools, Office of the Ombudsman Nancy J. Deering, Joseph Zarra, Interim Executive County Superintendent, Commissioner David Hespe, Education Law Center, Rutgers School of Law, Education and Health Law Clinic and of course SPAN.

She recieved this response from SPAN
"Hi,
While ONE Newark is a mess, especially for children with disabilities, it is very disappointing to me that the district was not able (willing) to follow the law and its own stated policy for evaluation and potential identification for special education services of pre-school children.  As noted in the attached notice from the NPS website, the district purportedly offers free screening for children 3-5 years of age whether they are enrolled in a school or not.  Were you able to capture the names and titles of the individuals in special education who told you otherwise?
You can refer your child for evaluation.  It is best to make the request in writing.  I am attaching a form of letter that you can use to make the request.  You should hand deliver the letter, AND e-mail it AND send via regular mail with a return receipt.
If you send me your phone number, I can have someone from my office, with more knowledge of Newark's processes, give you a call.
Debra Jennings" 

We followed up with her on September 20, 2014  and when asked "Have you made any progress?" This is the response we received " Not yet but they have 20 days to respond. Odd because I called Early Childhood  for my son 3 days ago and he has his evaluation today lol. "

There after, we had some correspondences about schools and the application process. Every time we asked about progress for her daughter she would answer with "NO!"  This led into almost the 2014 holiday season and call after call she would still be told someone will get back to her. You see she was a resident of Newark's East Ward District and pre-k seats were tough to come by. She tried applying to Lafayette St. School  as it was the closest. Still no evaluatio or call from the Child Study team. The family was just about to pay to have her evaluated when she reveived a letter to come down to the One Newark Enrollment  Center. The Enrollment  Center for parents is like walking into KGB headquarters! Like crossing into enemy lines!  So Mom did and was told her daughter could not attend Lafayette St. School, her neighborhood school. Her daughter would have to go to 13th Avenue School way across  town.  No evaluation, NO IEP from Child Study Team. Mom was told she had to go to 13th Avenue. Unfortunately, both parents were required to be at their employers before 7am and their  before care sitter did jot have a car so there would  be no way they would be able to drop the child off way across town. It was just impossible! Their daughter of course way to young to endure public transportation. The district, not supplying transportation to and from school.  So we tried calling the district as well as the parent and they said " They did not have notations of any calls from this parent." Emails and calls form the parents and our team were maden over several weeks. Same response "We will get someone to contact you back."  First round came and went!

Flash Fwd...
The Parents reapplied and by round two
Jul 24, 2015  eight schools were applied to through One Newark and eight schools were denied to this family! How is that for choice!  The familiy has totally given up! The child wants to go to school. The family wants the child to go to a neighborhood school. They now will be entering the child into private school. Incurring over $10,000 to educate their  child. They have to wait until December 2015 and have to travel from Newark to Clifton as many schools are facing over booking. A tremendous financial burden and stress on the family but they are left with no choice! 

Dear Superintendent Cerf, is this the choice you are allowing to plague Newark parents and families? You had an opportunity to come in and end this. End the One Newrk debacle...NO YOU ARE JUST THE CLOSER! 

ONE MORE NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOL FAMILY...BITES THE DUST!

ONE NEWARK...ANOTHER DISSATISFIED CUSTOMER!

Today, a distressed parent by the name of Sara Ferreira from the Ironbound section of Newark contacted our team at the #PARENTPOWER Movement for help. She is being pummeled by the NPS district and their One Newark Plan. Take a look at her story with our team.

THIS JUST IN FROM A NPS PARENT...

SF: Hi my name is Sara Ferreira and I am having issues with. One Newark Enrollment.

PPM: let's start from the beginning. What age is your child and school you are trying to apply to? What district do you live in?

SF: I live in the East District. My son is 4 & I am trying to apply to Oliver St. My daughter is already attending Oliver and is in 2nd grade. I am an Alumni of Oliver St. School as well.

PPM: Tell us what is going on?

SF: I applied online in 2014 for Pre-k3. I received a letter back stating there were too many applicants and not enough seats in PreK 3 & my application for my son was voided for enrollment for 2014. I than applied again online in 2015. April 27th to be exact. I also took my writen application  directly to the school. They were  not very friendly nor helpful and just told me I had to apply online and deal with NPS. NPS told me I had to wait for response. I checked every day for a status update.

In June, I got a letter telling me there was no match & I had to come to the walkin enrollment center. I was told to bring ID and 3 proofs of financial information. I asked why is this necessary for enrollment. They wouldn't answermy question!

PPM: DO NOT EVER PROVIDE THEM WITH PERSONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO ENROLL YOUR CHILD! Did they give you placement?

SF: No they told me I had tonbe on a waiting list. I said why doesn't  One Newark Plan state if a sibling attends the school already family will get 1st preference? They did not answer. They were rude and unhelpful. So I left and went to Assemblywoman Pintor-Marins office for help. I gave her a couple of days and she said she went to NPS with a "List" and NPS told her there was nothing they can do. NPS said all classes are full as they only allow 15 in a class. Now I know there is more than that in PreK classes. I contact Councilman Amador via Facebook Message but as of this call there still has not been a reply. I called the NTU and they said they would try to help but I should also call the #PARENTPOWER Team as you guys are helping parents out. I am about to contact a lawyer.

PPM# Sorry they are putting you threw all this mess. Do you mind us telling your story?

SF: Please do. I NEED HELP!

PPM: We are going to work as hard as we can to get you help and answers!

THIS IS YET AGAIN ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW THE ONE NEWARK PLAN IS FAILLING OUR FAMILIES!

If this is the choice we as families are now offered by the district and the State DOE...you can have it!

OPERATION: 411 ON UNIVERSAL ENROLLMENT

OPERATION: 411 ON UNIVERSAL ENROLLMENT 

My location: One Newark Universal Enrollment Center, 7/13/15, 10:35 am, 301 W. Kinney St. 

             I got in my car and took a drive to see what was going on since it was the first day of Open Enrollment at the One Newark Universal Enrollment Center. As I approached, I circled the block a few times to scope out the security at the front entrance of the center. The entrance was moved since the last time I was there. All appeared to be calm. I pulled over a few blocks down, flipped my #PARENTPOWER t-shirt inside out, put on my cap, grabbed my cup of coffee and headed on to the entrance.

As I approached the entrance to the courtyard, a security guard greeted me pleasantly. Mind you, in the past I would get thrown out or not even let in. Luckily a little weight gain, a beard and hat did the trick. Going incognito is now what parents have to do to investigate the district and see what is going on. I felt like a secret agent about to infiltrate enemy territory. At the door, a smiling Newark Public Schools employee named Brittney, who had about three NPS security guards around her, greeted me. She asked me my reason for coming and I told her I was there to find out more about enrolling my 4-year-old in the pre-school across the street from me. She told me to enter the first classroom and gave me small card with a number 1 on it. I WAS IN! Easy Breezy.

The classroom was arranged like a Motor Vehicle Center. You had to put your name on a list at a long desk separating the people from the registration stations. I entered a fictitious name. I was number 42, although there appeared to be more than 42 people seated. I overheard some of the parents saying, “This is ridiculous!” “Why can’t I go right to the school and register?” “Why are they making us go through this whole process?” I gently and quietly leaned over to the mom sitting next to me and said, “It feels like the DMV.” She told me this was her third time to the center and was told that she would need to come down in person to find a match for her child. As with the tension from the patrons who are at the will of the Division of Motor Vehicles clerks, so were these parents! When their number was called, they sat at a station with an NPS employee and were told where their children would be going to school in the fall. The process was definitely more structured and calculated than past enrollment sessions.

I got up and went out to Brittney and told her that I didn’t think I had time to wait, and did she know how many preschool seats were left? She said, “No” with that pretentious NPS smile they are trained to give. I then asked where the rest room was and was told to head down the hall. GREAT! Just what I wanted to see: what was going on in the other rooms! Heading to the restroom, I saw a familiar face that possibly would blow my cover. It was Dr. Lauren Wells, Chief Education Officer for Mayor Ras Baraka. She said, “Hey Frank!” I was hoping she would not say anything to the NPS staff about who I was! I quickly headed to the restroom. On my way, I made sure to look in every room. Each one represented a grade or group of grades with the same scene: parents signing in, waiting for their name to be called and sitting at desks with NPS employees getting their placements. The classrooms were guarded with at least two security guards. If you didn’t have that little card from Brittney with a number on it, you were not allowed in the classroom.

On my return from my restroom trip, I passed what looked to be the school’s main office. All the main NPS players were inside including Ruben Roberts, Executive Director of Community Affairs and Engagement, and Vanessa Rodriguez, Chief Talent Officer. There were also a few other district staff members outside speaking with parents. As I slowed my stroll past the conversations, I could hear parents were very upset. Their children were not being placed where they wanted them to be educated. One staff member told a parent, “If you are going to talk to me in a calm manner, I will speak with you, but if you get loud I will not!” The parent said, “I am pissed off and want my kids to go where I say they should go, not you!” This is typical of the upset and angry conversations that have been going on between Newark parents and the Newark Public Schools central office staff for the last year and a half. Vanessa Rodriguez walked out of the office, passed the upset parents and headed down the hall to the Pre-K enrollment class I originally was in. I followed right behind her. She relieved the staff member and began assisting a bilingual family looking for placement. In the 30 minutes I stood there, I did not hear one single parent called to a station. . 

Dr. Lauren Wells entered the room. I knew she was there to get the info and I wanted to know as well. We as parents need to let our fellow parents know! All the district staff immediately perked up and automatically went on alert. I moved closer to get within earshot of what was being said. Dr. Wells was asking all the same questions my parent team was messaging me to find out: How was the process going? How were families being treated? How many available seats were opened in the district? What did the numbers look like?

I followed her out of the room. I have always had respect for Dr. Wells because she has always treated me with respect. I told her I was here to get the 411 and she gave me a smile. I asked if she knew how many seats were available, but she didn’t know. She asked Brittney and got the standard, “I don’t know” reply. They surely get paid a lot for not knowing anything!

Dr. Wells was then met by Ruben Roberts. He was dressed in his best linen suit and he immediately gave the canned district responses. There was a bulletin board by the Pre-K room with postings that showed how many seats were available in each school. It was hard to take a snapshot of it as security and NPS district employees were guarding the info. Dr. Wells asked if the list was accurate with numbers and Roberts said that it changed frequently. She asked if the information was online for the public and he said, “The list is just for us, the numbers are changing all the time.” When Dr. Wells asked if families were being helped, he responded, “They are being placed, but it may not be where they hoped to be placed.”

Dr. Wells and I walked out through the courtyard of the Enrollment Center together. I again told her that I was here to get a report for the team and parents we serve. I said, “Looks kind of organized, better than it did in previous enrollment sessions.” Dr. Wells responded, “Organized…Organized Chaos.” We agreed with a smile. I wished Dr. Wells a good day, got in my car, flipped my #PARENTPOWER t-shirt the right way and headed home.

It is a shame that the city can’t even get the district to give us information that should be available to the public. When the deal was made that Chris Cerf would be the bargaining tool used for start of return to local control, we should have had an immediate moratorium on the One Newark Program. The district should have returned to having parents register their child at their local neighborhood schools. Remember those long registration lines outside the schools? Those lines don’t look too shabby right now. We as parents have to educate ourselves on how we are being treated by the district. A parent should not have to go incognito into an enrollment center just to ask some questions from district employees. That’s what they get those big salaries for, not for standing around saying, “I don’t know” and giving out hall passes. What “talent” does it take to do that? I guess I will have to continue to go incognito to find out the process and get information to my parent team and the parents we serve. The district should know that there are many of us and no matter how hard they try to keep it secure…WE WILL INFILTRATE!

#PARENTPOWER 

NEWARK IS READY & CAPABLE TO CHOOSE OUR OWN SUPERINTENDENT!

NEWARK IS READY& CAPABLE TO CHOOSE OUR OWN SUPERINTENDENT!

For over 20 years the people of Newark have been under the hands of the State of NJ and our public schools have not prospered! We have dealt with appointees like Cami Anderson brought us “solutions” like One Newark, causing absolute chaos with in our community! It has been an attack on our community neighborhood schools month after month year after year.  Now we have Governor Christie running for a presidential seat and he is holding over our head issues like Common Core and restoring Local Control over our heads. Issues that we,as Newarkers , have been fighting for years!

It’s very easy to say what Newarks need or want when you don’t live in our great city. To suit from afar and project what is best for our children and families! To write blogs and use our families and city as a petri dish of hot topics to speak upon. We look at other towns and see the freedom they have to follow the democratic process that all Americans should have. Yet, the “ poor and disenfranchised “ people of Newark are treated disrespectful by our local, state and federal government. 

Instead of given the right and freedom to follow the democratic process of having our Board, with whom we elected to make decisions and let the people choose our replacement for Cami Anderson as Newark Public School Superintendent, we are told “ Ya want Local Control restored, Newark you must deal with another appointed Superintendent Christopher Cerf!” Is that really the local control we have been fighting for all these years? Hell no! It is yet again having the state tell us that we the people of Newark are unable to follow the democratic process that the rest of the state has the freedom to follow. In turn it ultimately is saying to parents, who pay taxes and vote, “YOU DO NOT KNOW WHATS BEST FOR YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR CHILDREN!”

 What the hell are we teaching our children? That it is OK to just roll over and allow our democratic rights to be stripped and taken away from us?  That is insane!

Mark Beidon , President of State of NJ Board of Education stated “ the people of Newark having local control over their school district is a good thing!” So, Mr Beidon and Governor Christie why in the world would you rip our democratic rights from us and appoint Cerf to our school district without Newarkers having a say! He is unqualified for the job!

-         He trained and appointed Cami Chaos as an appointee to dismantle the Newark Public School System implementing the One Newark Program.

-         Her has his hands all in corporate schemes to expand the charter movement with companies he has great involvement in. Making his abilities to serve the Public School in our community families a huge conflict of interest.

-         He sat on the Board of Charter Schools Alliance and just recently stepped down after being exposed by the public.

WE DO NOT NEED THE CORPORATE SCHEMES OF CERF TO COME IN AND “FINISH  OFF” THE DISMANTLING OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO ALLOW THE CHARTER MOVEMENT TO ENGULF OUR COMMUNITY! LET NEWARKERS SAY WHAT IS BEST FOR NEWARKERS! NOT CORPORATE AND POLITICAL BULLIES! WE DON’T NEED COMMITTEES TO TELL US WHAT’S BEST AND WE DON’T NEED APPOINTEES TO TELL US WHAT IS BEST!

An open letter to President Beidon was sent to him to tell him to not vote for Cerf to be appointed as Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. Here is the open letter. PLEASE SHARE AND PASS IT ON! WE MUST FIGHT FOR OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS! BOY I NEVER IN MY LIFE THOUGHT I WOULD BE FIGHTING FOR RIGHTS THAT I THOUGHT AS AMERICANS WE HAD THE RIGHT TO POSSES!

OPEN LETTER T O PRESIDENT BEIDON OF STATE BOE:

Newark Residents Should Select Their Next Superintendent

We believe that the people of Newark should be able to democratically govern their public schools.

Fortunately, Mark Biedron, President of NJ’s State Board of Education, seems to agree. Mr. Biedron recently told the Star Ledger that “the people of Newark having local control over the school district…is a good thing.”

On Wednesday, Mr. Biedron will have anOPPORTUNITYto act on this belief when the State Board votes on whether Chris Cerf should become Newark’s next Superintendent.

If the State Board approves Mr. Cerf, it will beCONTINUINGa 20 year history of disenfranchisement for Newark’s nearly 300,000 residents, who have had no say in this decision.

If the Board rejects Mr. Cerf and instead approves a candidate selected by Newark’s popularly-elected Board ofEDUCATION, it will be putting Mr. Biedron’s admirable philosophy into practice.

There is plenty of precedent for allowing Newark to select its own superintendent.

Newark, Jersey City, and Paterson are all state–controlled school districts.  Yet Jersey City’s popularly–elected Board of Education selected its Superintendent, Marcia Lyles.  Paterson’s Superintendent, Dr. Donnie Evans, was selected by a committee that included members of Paterson’s popularly-elected Board of Education, along with other community leaders.  In contrast, Newark’s popularly-elected Board of Education has had no voice in selecting Mr. Cerf, who was nominated for thisPOSITION by Governor Christie.

Approving Mr. Cerf is also difficult to justify because Mr. Cerf lacks the qualifications necessary to run New Jersey’s largest school district.  Unlike Jersey City’s and Paterson’s leaders, Mr. Cerf has no prior experience as a superintendent.

Nor is there a record of success in related public-educationPOSITIONS on which to base Mr. Cerf’s nomination.  In fact, Mr. Cerf’s tenure as New Jersey’s Commissioner of Education was marked by numerous poor decisions regarding Newark, including:

• Appointing andCONTINUING to support Newark’s prior Superintendent, Cami Anderson, whose policies and behaviors generated broad-based rejection and rebellion from Newark residents;
• Improperly giving in to a demand from Ms. Anderson “to allow her to retain full control over 28 low-performing schools,” which resulted in New Jersey failing to comply with federal requirements; and
• Forcibly maintaining State control of Newark’s schools by dramatically lowering the district’s scores on the State’s monitoring system (QSAC) from the scores that Mr. Cerf had given the district less than a year earlier.

The people of Newark deserve the right to select their next Superintendent.  They also deserve an experienced public education leader with a proven record of success.  Mr. Cerf’s candidacy fails on all these counts.

We encourage Mr. Biedron and the other State Board of Education members to vote no on Mr. Cerf’s nomination and to allow Newark’s popularly-elected Board of Education to nominate the district’s next Superintendent.

Newark’s residents have been deprived of their right to democratically control their public schools for 20 years.  It is long past time to correct this wrong!

Rosie Grant, Piscataway, NJ
Parent and nonprofit leader

 Michelle Fine, Montclair, NJ
Parent and professor

 Judy DeHaven, Red Bank, NJ
Parent and writer

 Valerie Trujillo, Jersey City, NJ
Parent and public education advocate

 Jacklyn Brown, Manalapan, NJ
Parent and educator

 Julia Sass Rubin, Princeton, NJ
Parent and professor

 Linda Reid, Paterson, NJ
Parent and nonprofit leader

 Melissa Katz, South Brunswick, NJ
Future educator

 Bobbie Theivakumaran, Metuchen, NJ
Parent nd investment banker

 Lisa Winter, Basking Ridge, NJ
Parent, technology manager and former Board of Education member

 Marcella Simadiris, Montclair, NJ
Parent and educator

 Michelle McFadden-DiNicola, Highland Park, NJ
Parent and public education advocate

 Bill Michaelson, Lawrence Township, NJ
Parent and computer scientist

 Marie Hughes Corfield, Flemington, NJ
Parent and educator

 Rita McClellan, Cherry Hill, NJ
Parent and administrator

Sarah Blaine, Montclair, NJ
Parent, attorney, and blogger

 Susan Cauldwell, Spring Lake, NJ
Parent and nonprofit leader

 Heidi Maria Brown, Pitman, NJ
Parent and educator

 Julie Borst, Allendale, NJ
Parent and special education advocate

Susan Berkey, Howell, NJ
Parent and educator

 Darcie Cimarusti, Highland Park, NJ
ParenT and Board of Education member

 Amnet Ramos, North Plainfield, NJ
Parent and educator

 Elana Halberstadt, Montclair, NJ
Parent and writer/artist

 Ani McHugh, Delran, NJ
Parent and educator

 Jill DeMaio, Monroe, NJ
Parent

 Tamar Wyschogrod, Morristown, NJ
Parent and journalist

 Lauren Freedman, Maplewood, NJ
Parent and public education advocate

 Lisa Rodgers, South Brunswick, NJ
Parent and business owner

 Laurie Orosz, Montclair, NJ
Parent and public education advocate

 Michael Kaminski, Mount Laurel, NJ
Parent and educator

 Ronen Kauffman, Union City, NJ
Parent and educator

Frankie Adao, Newark, NJ
Parent and social media specialist

 Kathleen Nolan, Princeton, NJ
Parent, researcher and lecturer

 Sue Altman, Camden, NJ
Educator

 Jennifer Cohan, Princeton, NJ
Parent and publicist

 Daniel Anderson, Bloomfield, NJ
Parent and Board of Education member

 Debbie Baer, Robbinsville, NJ
Parent and educator

Dan Masi, Roxbury Township, NJ
Parent and engineer

 Susan Schutt, Ridgewood, NJ
Assistant principal and public education advocate

 Karin Szotak, Madison NJ
Parent and business owner

 Tiombe Gibson, Deptford, NJ
Parent and educator

 Lisa Marcus Levine, Princeton, NJ
Parent and architect

 Kristen Carr Jandoli, Haddon, NJ
Parent and public education advocate 

Jean Schutt McTavish, Ridgewood, NJ
Parent and high school principal

 Virginia Manzari, West Windsor, NJ.
Parent and businesswoman

 Stephanie LeGrand, Haddonfield, NJ
Parent and public education advocate

 Melanie McDermott, Highland Park, NJ
Parent and sustainability researcher

 Nora Hyland, Asbury Park, NJ
Parent and professor

 Beth O’Donnell-Fischer, Verona, NJ
Parent

 Susie Welkovits, Highland Park, NJ
Parent and Borough Council President

 Gregory M. Stankiewicz, Princeton, NJ
Parent and nonprofit leader

 Margot Embree Fisher, Teaneck, NJ
Parent and former Board ofEDUCATION member

 Stephanie Petriello, Dumont, NJ
Parent,EDUCATOR andBUSINESS owner

 Laura Begg, Bernards Township, NJ
Parent and public education advocate

 Gary C. Frazier, Camden, NJ
Parent and community activist

Debbie Reyes, Florence Township, NJ
Parent

 Christine McGoey, Montclair, NJ
Parent

 Regan Kaiden, Collingswood, NJ
Parent andEDUCATOR

 Moneke Singleton-Ragsdale, Camden, NJ
Parent and administrator

 Liz Mulholland, Westfield, NJ
Parent and former educator

 Toby Sanders, Trenton, NJ
Parent, pastor and educator