Tamara Moore is a candidate for at-large representative on the Newark Public Schools Board of Education in New Jersey.

Bio

Tave Padilla is a lifelong resident of Newark who has dedicated his life to public service and helping children. He currently serves as Assistant Recreation Director for one of the largest youth leadership and recreation programs in the state.

Padilla also worked as a legislative aide to Assemblywoman Nellie Pou of Paterson, who was at the time the chair of Assembly Appropriations Committee, and served as chief of staff to former Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo, who was the speaker pro tempore of the New Jersey Assembly.

Padilla also ran a successful business in Newark for more than 20 years on Broad Street and later on Halsey Street. He is an experienced manager, recruiter and marketing executive. He is actively involved with youth as a fundraiser and board member for Roberto Clemente and North Ward baseball leagues and the Newark Small Fry Basketball League.

He is a graduate of Essex Catholic High School. His children both graduated from Rutgers University.

Bio

D. Kim Gaddy proudly serves as the Environmental Justice Organizer with Clean Water Action of New Jersey, which is a leading advocacy group for environmental issues in this state. Her illustrious career as an environmental advocate began in 2001 after her daughter Frankie Mo ‘Nay was diagnosed with chronic asthma. Since then, she has established herself as a national voice on environmental issues and has emerged as a leading advocate for preserving and protecting our environment by promoting healthy and vibrant communities.

Kim, as she is affectionately known, graduated from Weequahic High School and Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ- where she earned a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Economics. Kim remembers her teacher’s request, “don’t forget Newark,” which influenced her to return to her native city to begin a career serving the residents of Newark. Her journey into community service began as an Aide to former Newark Council President and South Ward Councilman Donald Bradley. A few years later, Kim was appointed Chief of Staff to Councilwoman-At- Large Mildred C. Crump.

In addition to her many years of faithful and devoted service to the residents of Newark, Kim enjoyed a highly successful tenure as Founder and Executive Director of the South Ward Cultural Center. During her time as Executive Director, she received praise for establishing an array of noteworthy programs including the much acclaimed after school tutorial enrichment program for latchkey and at-risk adolescents, which has been adopted by a number of community based organizations throughout the City of Newark. Despite her demanding career, Kim remains active in the community by devoting many hours to various youth, civic, community and charitable organizations.

She is a member of First Baptist Church of Nutley, New Jersey. She also serves as State President of the International Black Women’s Congress of New Jersey and is the founder of the Urban Environmental Institute’s Leadership Training Program. In addition, she served as the former President of Weequahic High and Harriet Tubman Elementary Schools PTA and previously served as Vice President of the Newark Legacy Charter Parents Circle. She is the proud mom of Sonny, Frankie Mo’Nay and Julian.

Questions

Based on your qualifications and experience, what makes you a suitable candidate to serve on the Newark Public Schools Advisory Board?

I have the direct benefit of having previously served as an elected member of the Newark Board of Education and my experiences as a board member coupled with my active involvement as President of the PTA at Weequahic High and Harriet Tubman Elementary Schools have provide the necessary insight to properly address the hefty challenges confronting the Newark Public Schools. These challenges include improving the quality of education for all students, securing adequate funding for our schools, and returning local control to the district. These are just a few examples of the challenges facing our district. Needless to say, there is much work to be done and I will dedicate my time ro finding remedies to eliminate these challenges once elected.

Also, I have a son currently attending Harriet Tubman Elementary. As a parent of a public school child, I am constantly in contact with school Administrators and teachers who often share their concerns regarding the overall academic outlook for students. My interaction with school representatives is a tremendous asset. It provides me the opportunity to learn first-hand the most pressing issues facing our Administrators and teachers.

Finally, I am a proud product of the Newark Public School system. Our schools have produced some of the most brilliant and talented students in the nation. So many NPS graduates have achieved greatness in their professional career. Today, we have so many students who continue to display greatness. One of my goals as a school board member will be to rewrite the narrative that nothing good comes out of the NPS. I hope to achieve this goal by partnering with parents, teachers, students and community leaders to highlight the success of students all schools.

What are your reasons for running?

Even though it has been more than three decades since I graduated from Weequahic High School, my appreciation for the high quality education that I received while attending NPS remain fresh in my mind. I vividly recall the extraordinary teachers who encouraged students to excel and made learning exciting.

My personal experience as a graduate of the NPS and continued involvement as a parent of a Newark Public School child have inspired me to become a candidate for the school board. I believe that I possess the experience and wisdom to help develop a plan of action designed to improve the quality of education for all of our students.
Moreover, the NPS can not educate unhealthy children so I will prioritize a Healthy Schools agenda to address the quality of the drinking water, the air they breathe and the food our children eat. Asthma is the number one reason children are absent from school and in Newark 1in 4 children have asthma verses 1in 10 in the County.

Are you running with an organizational slate?

I am running as part of the Newark Unity Slate, which includes Tave Padilla A 2, Leah Owens A-6 and Kim Gaddy A-8 Together we have the experience necessary to lead the district during these challenging times.

Our goal is to produce high quality education for all students, fight to regain local control, seek full funding and resources for the district, increase school/parent partnerships, ensure compliance will all special education mandates, increase student career and college readiness and improve student graduation rates throughout the districts. Accomplishing these goals will lead to a more successful and productive school district.

What are your priorities for the district in the coming year?

The priority of the Newark Unity Slate over the next year is to enhance the quality of education for all of our students. We will accomplish this by working cooperatively with state, county and local leaders to make educating our children a top priority.

What attributes and qualifications do you consider essential for effective school board members?

An effective school board member must have a vested interest in establishing sound policies, which serve the best interest of our students. A board member must be willing to work with community stakeholders throughout the district and maintain an open mind about conventional as well as unconventional ways to expand educational opportunities for all students.

A board member must be willing to challenge the status quo and remain committed to those ideals and principles that benefit the students within the district, which may be contrary to the overall expectations of the community.
An effective board member must prioritize the interest of the students over politics and self interest. At the same time, board members must be deliberative when acting upon proposals and legislation which impact the students within the NPS. Board members must be mindful of the fact that not only do we represent ourselves, but we also represent the 48,000 students enrolled in the district.

Bio

Leah Owens has dedicated her life to fighting for educational justice. As an educator, an activist, and an organizer, Leah is deeply committed to ensuring equal education for all children. According to her educational philosophy, equity plus justice equals equality.

In 2004, Leah began teaching English in the Newark Public Schools, where she stayed beyond her two year commitment to Teach for America and became immersed in the Newark community. She developed curriculum and after school programs, professional development presentations, and wrote grants. Leah’s teaching experience extends to adult learners. She served as an adjunct professor at Rutgers-Newark’s Urban Teacher Education Program and Essex County College’s Humanities Department.

Leah is currently employed as a community organizer for New Jersey Communities United where her focus is on improving the quality of early childhood education and access to affordable child care.

Leah’s organizational memberships include the Newark Branch NAACP and the Coalition for Newark Public Schools. She founded Teachers as Leaders in Newark, and she is a founding member of Newark Education Workers Caucus. Her organizing activities have included rallies and demonstrations focused on securing democratic public education and educational equity, particularly in New Jersey’s low-income communities.

Awards include the Advocacy in Teaching Award from the Abbott Leadership Institute and the Woman of Strength, Honor, and Service Award from Newark’s Circle of Sisters. Leah serves on the Advisory Board of the Urban Education and Teacher Unionism Policy Project at New Jersey City University.

Leah earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Duke University, a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University (emphasis on educational policy,) and New Jersey School Principal certification. She has studied, written about, and presented on the layers of education reform in urban areas—from the intimate details of the Abbott legacy to national and international trends in education reform.

Questions

Based on your qualifications and experience, what makes you a suitable candidate to serve on the Newark Public Schools Advisory Board?

I am a suitable candidate to serve on the Newark Public Schools Board of Education because I have the knowledge and skill set to determine effective education policy in addition to the commitment to secure justice for the children and families of Newark. I am a former educator in the Newark Public Schools District, so I know firsthand the challenges students and education workers face. As a teacher, I developed and implemented solutions. When I observed the Barringer auditorium full with students who arrived late to school, subsequently losing valuable learning time, I organized a group of teachers to rewrite the tardy policy so that students could still attend their first period class. I hold certification to be hired as a principal in New Jersey, so I understand a systems approach to strategic planning and budgeting. I am an activist and organizer in the community; I have been using my voice for nearly a decade to engage others in the social and political aspects of education.

What are your reasons for running?

I am running with the sole intent to strengthen the Newark Public Schools District so that it is governed democratically. These 21 years the District has been under state control have not put Newark Public Schools on a path to greatness. If public education is to serve as the great equalizer, then we must administer it from an equity-based frame. I am running so there is one more voice on the Board of Education who is committed to being an advocate for equity.

Are you running with an organizational slate? If so, please provide information about your platform.

I am running on the Newark Unity Slate with Kim Gaddy and Tave Padilla. We strongly advocate for full funding and resources for all schools, and increased graduation rates. Newark Public Schools has never received an adequate amount of state funding from this current administration. This is to the detriment of programs and instruction the students receive. The low rate of graduation is not a high school problem; we have to build our students up all along the way so that they are prepared to graduate when it is time.

What are your priorities for the district in the coming year?

My priorities for the District in the coming year are twofold. One priority is to ensure we have an action plan to pass all areas of QSAC. Another is to develop a team at each district school whose purpose is to carry out a needs assessment and then create a strategic plan for success. Each school-level plan will be directly inform the district-wide strategic plan.

What attributes and qualifications do you consider essential for effective school board members?

Attributes and qualifications I consider essential for effective school board members are active listening skills, sharp research and reading skills, commitment to public education, critical thinking skills, solutions-oriented, empathy, and a deep desire to see all children learn and be successful.

Bio

Sheila Montague is a lifelong resident of the city of Newark. She is a married mother of three and a tireless community advocate. Sheila is currently a professor at Essex County College, and a veteran teacher of 20 years in the Newark Public School system. She is a graduate of Kean University with a major in secondary education and a minor in African American studies. In addition, Sheila also has masters level credits in philosophy as well as administration and supervision from Montclair State and Seton Hall Universities, respectively. She has experience working with Newark Public Schools students on an elementary level as well as high school, with numerous local and national honors, which include, but is not limited to, The National Honor Roll of Outstanding American Teachers. Sheila’s teaching experience includes a decorated record as a debate and basketball coach that encompasses a decade of championships, debate tournament victories and numerous awards. Her dedication and work ethic has opened the door to higher education for countless urban students. In 2009-2010, Sheila was the first place winner in an Elementary School City-wide Film Festival Award for best Middle School film/documentary on the topic of how growing up in an urban district without a dad effected several student’s. Sheila is a published author of poetry and founder of community based organizations, CTLT (Changing The Lens Together) and Face Structure, which hosted The First Teen Hip Hop Competition 2010 where teens all across the city performed original pieces grounded in historical messages and political issues. Sheila has a passion for community outreach and aside from growing her own, supports many community driven meetings and events, inclusive of collaborating with neighborhood churches and other community organizations which also share the same common goals of community building and uplifting. Sheila is also an active founding member of PULSE (Parents United for Local School Education), an active member of POP (People's Organization for Progress), a member of The National NAACP (National Association for The Advancement of Colored People) and a certified notary public of New Jersey.

Questions

Based on your qualifications and experience, what makes you a suitable candidate to serve on the Newark Public Schools Advisory Board ?

For all of my adult life, I have served my community through the vehicle of education. I have had the opportunity to grow fractions of our society through teaching not just academics, but social growth as well. One core concept that accompanies coaching basketball and debate, teaches our youth early on that discipline, good listening skills, execution of best practices and being parts of a whole are key elements to effective citizenship that sustains a successful community. Understanding these essential attributes and having a strong academic background in administration and supervision form Seton Hall, makes for a wonderful mixture of ingredients for an adequate candidate to serve on the Newark Public Schools Board.

What are your reasons for running?

As a home owner, tax payer, parent and stakeholder, I feel that it is my responsibility to do more to help my society grow. In twenty years of helping students I discovered that the very best way to help a child is to be more dutiful in helping their parents. I have assisted and encouraged hundreds of parents to go back to school and redirect happier paths for their desired outcomes. It was so fulfilling to see the increase of happier students prevail, that I decided to continue serving my community on a higher level. And what better way to serve my community than to be apart of the decision making processes of The Newark Public Schools Board? I see this as the ideal way to insure the education gets prioritized in our city, straight form the table of decision making at the onset.

Are you running with an organizational slate? If so, please provide information about your platform.

I am running as a parent-teacher team mate to Jason Dotson. Somewhere along the line, a division has developed between the teachers and the parents. It is my goal that that relationship is re-established to ensure that I students thrive and have a dependable resource of support when needed. We are pushing for a hub in every ward where parents will be welcomed to come in at any time to address concerns and have their needs met. Community information will be readily on hand for them, such a services offered that otherwise they may not know about, i.e. food, shelter, clothing depots, curriculum information, workshops, etc. We also are encouraging that STEAM be implemented in to the curriculum to insure that our students are having access to adequate music, art, dance, wood/mechanical shop, home economics, recess, as well as gym, daily. Additionally, our platform includes collaborating with every entity available to increase safety for our children, by examining situations of bullying, as well as analyzing the urgent situation with lead in our students water and to not only take each and every proper precaution needed moving forward, but to also be transparent with our findings, to the community, to maximize expediency in resolution.

Moreover, we want to be a part of the change that initiates taking the politics out of education. Teachers and parents provide an excellent collaborative foundation to accomplish this goal.

What are your priorities for the district in the coming year?

Our top priorities for the year are to:

1. Get to work on resolving this issue with our water and insuring that these filters are up to date.
2. Insuring that every classroom has a certified teacher.
3. Demanding that the Amistad Act is implemented into each and every classroom and our students know their history.
4. Taking full responsibility to evaluate where exactly our district money is going. There will NOT be $230,000 being spent on food from local catering companies all day by any superintendent/staff, while our students are being denied breakfast for arriving five minutes late after a two hour bus ride! 

At least, these are are highest goals we will be achieving.

What attributes and qualifications do you consider essential for effective school board members?

The ability to listen and evaluate situations ranks high in my opinion. Common sense and book smarts are a wonderful combination for a board member to be in receipt of because it allows for good independent decision making that is geared toward positives outcomes, as opposed to political agendas. The nine board members can only function at their optimum to serve a community when each are acting as sincere parts to a whole and not merely puppets. We have a moral obligation to not ever place politics over the masses. My additional training as it relates to philosophy, secures my understanding of logic in decision making. My supplemental training in African American history gives me a deeper knowledge, understanding and  sensitivity to the plight of what my people are enduring and how to best be a part of the solution holistically. And my fear of God insures that I will be bound to make the best decisions for All of his children, not just some.

Bio

Carole Anderson Graves was born and raised in Newark, N.J., where she currently resides. She is a graduate of Arts High School in Newark and Kean University. She also holds certification as a Labor Relations Specialist from Rutgers Institute of Labor and Management Relations, New Brunswick. Carole’s career began as a special needs teacher at the Dayton Street School in Newark. Her life, and the lives of thousands of Newark teachers changed forever in 1968 when she was elected President of the Newark Teachers Union, Local 481, American Federation of Teachers AFL-CIO.

In 1971, Carole gained national recognition when she led the Newark teachers in a highly controversial 13 week strike. Over 200 teachers were jailed, and Carole served 6 months in the Essex County Jail. The resulting NTU contract settlement contained unprecedented contract gains, recognition of teacher’s rights, and improved working conditions for teachers, aides, and clerks in the Newark Public Schools. Carole went on to serve as the full-time President of the Newark Teachers Union for 27 years. One of her final acts as President of the NTU was to file a lawsuit against the State Takeover of the Newark Public Schools.

Carole also served as a commissioner on the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) and has been an adjunct professor/lecturer of Labor Relations at Essex County College and Rutgers Institute of Labor and Management Relations.

Carole was elected three times as the Essex County Register of Deeds and Mortgages and retired in January of 2010, after serving fifteen years in that position. Carole is the recipient of numerous awards and honors.

Questions

Based on your qualifications and experience, what makes you a suitable candidate to serve on the Newark Public Schools Advisory Board ?

Educational and leadership background and experience

What are your reasons for running?

Lack of equity in education for Newark Public School Children

Are you running with an organizational slate? If so, please provide information about your platform.

No slate.

What are your priorities for the district in the coming year?

Return to Local Control

What attributes and qualifications do you consider essential for effective school board members?

Concern for improving the entire school community and attending the necessary function to do so.

BIO

I am a parent with 11 children in NPS, from pre-k4 through 9 grade. I served as a commissioner on City of Newark Affirmative Action Review Board from 2008 - 2015. I am a Newark resident and local business owner of Construction Compliance LLC. As a parent I’ve endured 4 superintendents and 5 school closing that have psychologically and emotionally have impacted my children. As an advocate for social justice, I see a very desperate need for Parents and Children representation on SAB

Questions

Based on your qualifications and experience, what makes you a suitable candidate to serve on the Newark Public Schools Advisory Board?

The strongest qualification is that I’m a very concerned and engaged parent.

What are your reasons for running?

I’m running because I no longer entrust the future of my children education with people who interest seem to be other than my children future.

Are you running with an organizational slate? If so, please provide information about your platform.

No.

What are your priorities for the district in the coming year?

Parents and Children Rights.

What attributes and qualifications do you consider essential for effective school board members?

Parent - a vested interest in the overall success of the NPS system; Resident of Newark; High School Diploma/BA/Masters/PHD; Understanding Government and Policy Making; Commitment to our children and community

Bio

Jody Pittman has been a life-long member of the Newark community and the mother of two (2) children in the Newark Public Schools (NPS) district.  Educated in the Newark Public School system, Jody began her career at NPS in 1998.  During her seventeen (17) plus year tenure she was the first employee in the history of the Newark Public Schools to be named Employee of Month, for her hard work and dedication to students in the city.  In 2003, when political forces in the city moved to relieve Superintendent, Marion A. Bolden, of her duties, Jody again rallied employees, parents and students to fight and keep what she believed was a Superintendent, who cared for the children.  Leading trips to the Department of Education, a letter campaign, and the historical march to Newark City Hall, Marion A. Bolden was reappointed as Superintendent until her retirement in July 2008.

Jody Pittman, while being a mother of two students in the public school system, continues to use her voice to promote and uplift any cause for the betterment of children throughout the city of Newark.  As a steadfast advocate for her community, students and parents, Jody believes the ultimate goal should be an equal and quality education for each and every Scholar in the city.  Refusing to push political agendas, Jody is a legitimate activist, and it is without question that the next stage would be for her to serve as a Newark Public Schools Advisory Board member.

Questions

Based on your qualifications and experience, what makes you a suitable candidate to serve on the Newark Public Schools Advisory Board ?

What makes me a suitable candidate is I am a Mother of two (2) students in the district, my eighteen years of professional experience working in education at the Newark Public Schools, my twenty (20) plus years in community service (specifically helping the homeless/displaced and at-risk students in the district), and my constant advocating for an equal and quality education for all students in our city.

What are your reasons for running?

I am running for school board because I am a Mother in this community, where we lost 105 youthful and worthy souls and I am sure that the failed education system is a direct cause for the violence and death in my community; because, I unfortunately realized while working for an organization, which said they were here to advocate for children and parents, that many of the organizations, politicians and education leaders are not fighting for children, but power and money; because people make money of the failure of children in my community; and I meet children who are smart, inquisitive and truly wanting a solid education and I want to fight to secure they get it.

Are you running with an organizational slate? If so, please provide information about your platform.

• Equal & Quality Public Education
• Sharing of Successful/Best Practices of High Performing Schools
• Return of Local Control with monitoring
• Forcing NPS Compliance of Special Education State Regulations

What are your priorities for the district in the coming year?

My greatest priority is for the immediate sharing of best practices of high performing schools throughout the city with schools that are struggling academically; and pushing the district to implement true programming to help parents and children struggling economically and socially in order to ensure a home environment that is conducive for success via the very successful model of Parent Universities.

What attributes and qualifications do you consider essential for effective school board members?

The attributes and qualifications most essential for an effective school board member is the ability to independently think and make decisions, which are not aligned with a political agenda; the ability to critically think and comprehend the district’s budget and its complexities; a real understanding of Newark Public Schools and how the district functions; and honestly, board members should have a degree of formal education above high school.

Bio

Twenty Seven year old Jimmie White is a community advocate and business owner of Newark’s I.M.P.A.C.T (Initial Major Progressive Articles Creating Tranquility) LLC, whose mission is to showcase, spread and create positive and progressive news to better Newark, New Jersey and other communities through programs, events, and job creation.  He is a philanthropist, website designer, community and event organizer, and just a plain muse for community filled with the love and will to see the best out of the community.

He is a product of Newark Public Schools. Jimmie White  is a graduate of Miller St. Academy elementary and Malcolm X Shabazz High School (Newark, New Jersey) where he graduated top 10 percent in his class. As a youth he particularly remembers the first day after school during his sophomore year; Jimmie was jumped by members of the BLOOD gang. He knew something had to be done and from this experience being forever supplanted in his mind, the answer for solving the many issues of violence and poverty lied somewhere.

During the summer of 2008, at age of 19 Jimmie signed-up to become a member of People’s Organization for Progress (POP) – and organization founded by Lawrence Hamm based in Newark, New Jersey. The organization’s goal is eliminate social, racial, and economic injustice. It is under the tutelage of this organization where Jimmie learned about African American history, community organizing, civic education, and where poverty stems from. He regularly attends Newark City Council meetings and speaks about the concerns of citizens and local residents from many neighborhoods. Jimmie White also participates in demonstrations with various organizations throughout New Jersey. One of his greatest joys in 2012 was assisting New Jersey’s working families to help raise the state’s minimum wage. Also in 2012, Jimmie White was elected Chairman of the Newark Chapter of People’s Organization for Progress.

Though he was not completely satisfied, he volunteered with another local community organization – the International Youth Organization (IYO). As an elected Chairman of the Alumni and Friends Association of IYO, Jimmie’s duty was to help bring back alumni and increase contributions to aide in the growth of IYO’s youth programs. Established in 1970, the International Youth Organization is an 501c3 organization whose mission is to empower disenfranchised youth and their families to take responsibility for themselves and their community through programs and services that promote positive social and civic values; to create opportunities for self-improvement through academic instruction, employability training, community service, and to implement intervention strategies to foster family stabilization and neighborhood preservation. According to IYO Bylaws, Jimmie’s chairmanship extends an automatic seat on their Board of Trustees. Under the instruction of Mrs. Carolyn Wallace, he learned how to become an effective Board Trustee as well as assisting in governance to aide our local youth of Newark, New Jersey to become educated and employed.

In 2013, Jimmie White made the decision to move on from IYO to continue his work with People’s Organization for Progress and open his own business known as Newark’s I.M.P.A.C.T to provide employment. Jimmie has been employed by UPS (United Parcel Service) for the past eight years as ramp agent at Newark International Airport and as a cashier for the Home Depot for two years. His next move is to purchase a home and develop Newark’s I.M.P.A.C.T program to become the leading media company that best represents Newarkers to the world. Jimmie currently serves as a member of People’s Organization for Progress and is also on the executive team of FP YouthOutCry Foundation as Director of Education.

Questions

Based on your qualifications and experience, what makes you a suitable candidate to serve on the Newark Public Schools Advisory Board ?

What experience that makes me suitable to serve on the school board is my unwavering love for the people. Other than this fact, my prior board of trustee experience with the International Youth Organization in being key to preparing of youth in becoming strong leaders, career ready and furthering their education. Also as Director of Education of the FP YouthOutCry Foundation, I assisted in creating programs that improved the educational experience for our youth to prepare them for the 21st Century. I am person who have never given up on our youth. I am suitable because I have the tools , experience, persistence and determination to ensure they get a quality education to break this cycle of poverty.

What are your reasons for running?

I decided to become a candidate for Newark Public School Advisory Board because I want to put an end to the racist bad educational practices that puts our children at an unfair advantage that mirrored in every urban neighborhood that assisted in the poverty in inner cities like Newark NJ all over United States we witness today. I am running for our children to have the human right to a great quality Traditional Newark Public School using best proven educational practices that will prepare them for the 21st Century and this fast moving global economic market. I am running to for better future for many Newarkers and see a far less impoverish existence in our neighborhoods.

Are you running with an organizational slate? If so, please provide information about your platform.

I am not a member of any slate.

What are your priorities for the district in the coming year?

My priority for the upcoming school year are as follows:

1. Local Control with full funding from the state for the upcoming school year
2. Decrease classroom sizes to a maximum of 20 students
3. A complete renovation of each school with controlled temperature
4. Restoration of After school programs, clubs, etc.
5. Implement trade certificate programs within the school  system for Senior class
6. Create a stronger relationships with Study Abroad programs for more students to study abroad
7. All students must be required to visit and learn of colleges before gradation to make a sound decision of furthering their education.
8. Full implementation of the Amistad Act into Newark, NJ public school curriculum
9. Increase parent participation in PTA meetings and Schools board meetings to increase civic and educational awareness
10. Initiate programs to increase awareness of health education among students and parents.

What attributes and qualifications do you consider essential for effective school board members?

Attributes and qualities I feel are essential is love for the people of Newark NJ, strong advocate for education with experience of creating educational avenues for our youth, community servant, organizer of the people, tolerance, a sense and a plan for success to improve the Newark Public school district. Also have the impatience to not let pressing issues linger, organize and mobilize to ensure issues get resolved.

BIO

My name is Juan Silva; I was born in Riobamba, Ecuador and I am 27 years old. Our family came to the United States when I was 3 ½ years old and has been living in Newark, NJ since 1991. I attended Oliver St. School and graduated from Science High School in 2006. I had the opportunity to study Civil Engineering at NJIT and Business Management while attending. I am currently working with Solar Technology and Urban Farming here in the Garden State with some of my work present throughout our city of Newark. In 2014 I also had the opportunity to be the Campaign Manager for the East Ward Candidate seat here in Newark. I have 3 younger siblings that have also had the opportunity to be educated by our City; currently the youngest 2 attend our local’s schools.

Questions

Based on your qualifications and experience, what makes you a suitable candidate to serve on the Newark Public Schools Advisory Board?

Having lived in Newark and attended Newark Public Schools from Pre-k through 12^th grade, I have lived firsthand through the negligence of our past Board members and currently my siblings through these deteriorating buildings and collapsing infrastructure. Since graduation I have worked with Senior Citizens, Solar Technology and Green Urban Farming programs. During which I have had the opportunity to plan the All-American Soapbox Derby in Newark and ‘Slide the City’ here in Newark. Two events which engage all Newark Students and their families for participation and information to work on better their personal lives.

What are your reasons for running?

There is a huge disconnect between parents and all the elected officials in office now. With parents working more hours per week than ever before, they are leaving a void in time with their children. Hence allowing for others to raise their kids for them.  The streets are not the only ones raising our children; we have as much to blame our politicians for the failed results as we do ‘the streets.’ Our local politicians from the Local level to the State level have failed us; the cost of living continues to rise while salaries are at a standstill. We a minute amount of elected officials address this issue that leads to everything else that is going wrong in our community.

Are you running with an organizational slate? If so, please provide information about your platform.

No I am not running with a slate at this moment.

What are your priorities for the district in the coming year?

Work immediately on raising our High School students graduation rate and College bound rate. We also need to work on improving the available after school activities throughout the City. Work on partnering with outside school districts to gain new perspectives of education with teachers, parents, and students.

What attributes and qualifications do you consider essential for effective school board members?

A key attribute for members should be the ability to fund raise and grow new ideas.  They should be able to raise revenue for our schools through direct involvement and planning with Principals and Teachers. This is ideal for our School Systems survival and the continued growth of our communities. Between all 9 current board members, there should be a Million or Billion Dollar a year idea being produced to help cover the annual deficit our state and failed local leadership has put us in.

 The Newark School Board should be comprised of individuals that have an understanding that change comes every year, new problems and new solutions will emerge but they must have a personal vision of the future that includes new technologies, new ideas to raise salaries of parents, along with the continued education of all community residents.