Bergen County School Boards Association Celebrates the School Year and Honors the County Teacher of the Year

Diane Jones, a member of the Rutherford Board of Education, is presented with a 25-year milestone for her service on the Rutherford School District Board of Education. Also pictured are Michael Jacobs, BCSBA president (at left), and Matt Lee, field service representative at NJSBA (at right).
Michael Jacobs, BCSBA president (far left), and Matt Lee, field service representative at NJSBA (far right), present certificates to the board members who were honored for 15 years of service. The three board members in the middle, pictured left to right are Maria Caruso, East Rutherford BOE, Louise Gerardi, Elmwood Park BOE and Douglas DeMatteo, Elmwood Park BOE.
Michael Jacobs, BCSBA president (far left), and Matt Lee, field service representative at NJSBA (far right), present certificates to the board members who were recognized for 10 years of service. In the middle, from left to right are Erica Cantatore, Demarest BOE, Elaine Stella, Lyndhurst BOE and Michael Accomando, Saddle Brook BOE.
Gary Whitehead, an English language arts teacher at Tenafly High School in the Tenafly School District and the 2023-2024 Bergen County Teacher of the Year, shared a powerful message with the BCSBA members.
Brenda Yoo, vice principal of Tenafly High School in the Tenafly School District, was honored to introduce the 2023-2024 Bergen County Teacher of the Year.
Matt Lee, field service representative at NJSBA, presented an update on behalf of the NJSBA field services team.
Louis DeLisio, interim executive county superintendent for Bergen County, delivered updates from the New Jersey Department of Education.
Irene LeFebvre, NJSBA's immediate past president, offered warm greetings on behalf of the NJSBA.
Michael Jacobs, president of Bergen County SBA, called the meeting to order and welcomed attendees.
The BCSBA Executive Committee posed for a photo. From left to right are Behrooz Pasdar, NJSBA board of directors' alternate, Emerson BOE; Dr. Letizia Pantoliano, first vice president, Cliffside Park BOE; Michael Sprague, NJSBA board of directors delegate, Norwood BOE; Laura Genovese-Behrmann, Ramsey BOE; Elisa Billis, Franklin Lakes BOE; Michael Jacobs, president, Ridgefield BOE; Marlene Somerville, Hackensack BOE; Diane Holzberg, Demarest BOE; Paula Colbath, second vice president for legislation, Fort Lee BOE; Mary Katherine Norian, Oradell BOE; William Barnaskas, Bergen County Special Services BOE. Not pictured is Melissa Delrosso, Old Tappan BOE.
Laura Genovese-Behrmann, president of the Ramsey BOE, was honored at the meeting for her recent Certified Board Leader Certification, which she received through the NJSBA Board Member Academy. Also pictured are Michael Jacobs, BCSBA president (left), and Matt Lee, a field service representative at NJSBA (right).
Bergen County board of education members are recognized for their Master Board Member certification, which they received through the NJSBA Board Member Academy. Also pictured are Michael Jacobs, BCSBA president (far left), and Matt Lee, a field service representative at NJSBA (far right). Pictured in the middle from left to right are Kristen Richter, Fort Lee BOE; HyunJu Kwak, Ridgewood BOE; and Karen Pena, Elmwood Park BOE.
Bergen County board of education members are recognized for their Certified Board Member Certification, which they received through the NJSBA Board Member Academy. Also pictured are Michael Jacobs, BCSBA president (far left), and Matt Lee, a field service representative at NJSBA (far right). Pictured in the middle from left to right are Theresa Riva, Dumont BOE; Behrooz Pasdar, Emerson BOE; Isaac Park, Leonia BOE; HyunJu Kwak, Ridgewood BOE; Louise Gerardi, Elmwood Park BOE; and Kimberly Curry, Fort Lee BOE.
Bergen County board of education members are recognized for their New Board Member Boardmanship Certification, which they received through the NJSBA Board Member Academy. Also pictured are Michael Jacobs, BCSBA president (far left), and Matt Lee, field service representative at NJSBA (far right). In the middle from left to right are Deborah Munoz-Maniscalco, Haworth BOE; Amy Mara, Emerson BOE; Kimberly Curry, Fort Lee BOE; Sheri Banks-Watson, Englewood City BOE; and Lissette Cordero-Outen, Hackensack BOE.
Joseph C. Smith (in the middle), a Wallington BOE member, joins the ranks of only a few and is presented with a 50-year milestone and pin for his dedicated service on the Wallington School District Board of Education. Also pictured are Michael Jacobs, BCSBA president (at left), and Matt Lee, field service representative at NJSBA (at right).
Dr. Joseph Amara (third from left), president of the Bergenfield BOE, is recognized for 30 years of service on the Bergenfield School District Board of Education. Also pictured are Michael Jacobs, BCSBA president (far left); Dr. Christopher Tully, superintendent of schools of Bergenfield School District Board of Education; and Matt Lee, field service representative at NJSBA (far right).

The Bergen County School Boards Association met May 7 at the Holiday Inn Hasbrouck Heights-Meadowlands in Hasbrouck Heights.

BCSBA President Michael Jacobs of the Ridgefield Board of Education called the meeting to order and welcomed attendees, both virtually and in person, to the final BCSBA meeting of the year. He introduced Louis DeLisio, interim executive county superintendent, who delivered updates from the New Jersey Department of Education. The update was followed by an update from Matt Lee, field service representative at NJSBA, and an update from Jonathan Pushman, director of governmental relations at NJSBA.

Brenda Yoo, vice principal of Tenafly High School in the Tenafly School District, had the honor of introducing Gary Whitehead, the 2023-2024 Bergen County Teacher of the Year. Whitehead shared a powerful message on the unofficial topic of “What Every School Board Member Should Know from the Lips of a Teacher.”

Irene LeFebvre, NJSBA immediate past president, attended and offered warm greetings on behalf of the NJSBA. LeFebvre was accompanied by Michael Sprague, NJSBA board of directors’ delegate, who provided a comprehensive report of the NJSBA board of directors meeting. Ray Pinney, lead director of member training and engagement at NJSBA, and Robert Acerra, county activities coordinator at NJSBA, presented the milestone awards and all NJSBA Board Member Academy certification recognitions, acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the board of education members in Bergen County.

Michael Sprague, BCSBA nominating committee chair, presented the slate of executive committee members to fill two unexpired terms on the BCSBA executive committee. Acerra installed the two members, Elisa Billis, Franklin Lakes Board of Education, and Laura Genovese-Behrmann, Ramsey Board of Education.