Charles Caraballo, president of the Bloomingdale Board of Education in Passaic County, has been named the New Jersey School Boards Association’s 2024-2025 Board Member of the Year.
Dr. Timothy Purnell, executive director and CEO of the NJSBA; Karen Cortellino, M.D., president of the NJSBA; and numerous other education leaders and officials were on hand to honor Caraballo with the award at the Bloomingdale Board of Education’s meeting on Oct. 16.
Given annually by the NJSBA since 2005, the award honors an individual board member who makes significant contributions to public education; exemplifies leadership in the field of education with a strong commitment to the children of New Jersey; demonstrates a strong commitment to his/her personal and professional development as a board member; and shows active involvement in school governance at the local, county and state levels. (Learn more about the award and its past winners.)
The winner is chosen by a group of judges at another state school boards association, who review the numerous nomination packages that NJSBA receives.
“I think we can all agree they chose well in honoring Charles,” Cortellino said. “During his 12 years as a member of the Bloomingdale Board of Education, Charles has served as president, chaired numerous committees and represented Bloomingdale on the Butler Board of Education, the receiving district for Bloomingdale high school students. Currently, Charles also serves as chair of the Negotiations Committee, and board liaison to the township seniors, mayor and council.”
Caraballo is a shining example of what it means to be a great board of education member, Purnell told the crowd.
“This is a board member whose work exemplifies commitment not only to the education of the children of his community, but to public education throughout New Jersey,” he said.
Purnell also shined a spotlight on Caraballo’s outreach to the local community. “For example, he has been a strong supporter of Bloomingdale’s initiatives such as the Senior-Student Bridge Program, which pairs middle school students and local senior citizens with the purpose of building bonds,” he said. “This project not only builds support for the school district, but it also connects generations and enriches the lives of students. What a fantastic program!”
Dr. Michael Nicosia, superintendent of Bloomingdale Public Schools, wrote a letter in support of Caraballo’s nomination. In it, he said that Caraballo has “demonstrated exemplary service, unwavering dedication and outstanding leadership in his role as a board member and most recently as board president, making him a highly deserving candidate for this prestigious recognition.”
The role that Caraballo has played in driving initiatives that improve education has been “pivotal,” according to Nicosia. “Charles’s dedication to putting students first is evident in his proactive engagement with fellow board of education members,” he said. “He has fostered a collaborative environment where the focus is always on the best interests of the students. His leadership has been instrumental in creating and supporting programs that bridge generational gaps and enrich the educational experience for all involved.”
Jeffrey P. Fischer, a past NJSBA president and past president of the Passaic County School Boards Association as well as a member of the Manchester Regional High School Board of Education, said in a nomination letter, “Charles’s visionary leadership is reflected in his innovative approaches to curriculum development, where he has successfully ensured cutting-edge educational practices and equipment is being secured to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.”
Fischer went on to note, “His ability to bring together various stakeholders, including parents, educators and community leaders, has strengthened the educational framework and enriched the overall learning experience for students.”
In addition to his service on the Bloomingdale board, Caraballo has served as president as the Passaic County School Boards Association since 2021 and as first vice president from 2017-2021, expanding its Unsung Heroes program, which recognizes students from county high schools that make outstanding contributions to their schools and communities. He was Bloomingdale’s delegate to the PCSBA for many years and currently serves as Bloomingdale’s alternate delegate to the Morris County School Boards Association.
He also served as a member of the NJSBA Legislative Committee from 2017 to 2023 and has served for several years as a small group leader at NJSBA’s New Board Member Orientation Weekend.
Moreover, Caraballo has been a diligent student of NJSBA’s Board Member Academy, earning the designations of Certified Board Member (2016), Master Board Member (2017) and Certified Board Leader (2023).
