Board Term: April 2008 - April 2011
Personal Information:
Resident of West Orange since 1991, Husband Mark; children WOHS Graduate & freshman WOHS
Community Service Awards:
UNICO's Ben L. Spinelli Community Service Award (2007)
Parents Anonymous of NJ – Parent Leader Award (2007)
Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) – Parent-Educator Collaboration Award (2003)
Mayor's Citizen of the Year Award (2001)
WO Town Council’s Citizen of the Month – November (1999)
WO Community Participation:
Education-related activities:
Member - New Jersey School Board Association - Special Education Committee
Co-President of the Council of PTAS (2001-2004)
Co-Chair Council of PTAs Scholarship Dinner Dance (2006, 2007, 2008)
Member/Former member: Redwood, St. Cloud, Roosevelt, Edison, Liberty, WOHS PTAs
WO-Zone – school district e-newsletter, Assistant Editor
Project Graduation Chaperone
Member, West Orange Advocates for Schools and Community
Member, WOBOE Middle School Task Force
Parent Representative, Middle School Principal Selection Committee
WOBOE Parent Representative, Morris-Union Jointure Commission
Special Education Advocacy:
Co-President and Co-Founder, Parents Advocating Special Services in Education (est. 1997)
Chairperson of Mayor’s Program for Individuals with Disabilities (1998-present)
Member, Special Education Leadership Council of New Jersey
Member, Statewide Parents Advocacy Network (SPAN)
WOBOE’s Surrogate Parent as prescribed by the NJ Dept of Education’s Special Education Administrative Code (1999-present)
Member, Gov. Whitman’s Children’s Initiative Committee (1997)
Community-Wide Activities:
Board Member: New Jersey Arts Incubator (2009-2010)
Coordinated district-wide gift card collection for Katrina victims (2005)
Coordinated town wide collection of Holiday Packages for Troops in Iraq (2004)
Successfully advocated for County Police Sub-Station & reduced commuter parking fees - South Mtn. (Codey) Arena (2004)
Conducted Voter Registration Drive with League of Women Voters (2003)
Coordinated Minority Job Fair w/WOBOE & WOAHO (2003)
Coordinated town-wide UNICEF drives (1999 & 2000)
Education:
Masters of Arts – Criminal Justice – John Jay College of Criminal Justice;
Bachelor of Science – Criminal Justice Administration & Planning - John Jay College