The Jersey City Board of Education started 2025 with new leaders and a focus on working better as a team.
Trustee Noemi Velazquez was chosen as president, and Christopher Tisdale became vice president after close votes.
The board also welcomed two new members, Matt Schneider and Tia Rezabala, and reelected Natalia Ioffe.
As they begin the year, the board is still discussing some changes made by former president DeJohn Morris, working to balance new ideas with what’s best for the students in Jersey City schools.
- Noemi Velazquez was elected president, and Christopher Tisdale was chosen as vice president of the Jersey City Board of Education.
- The board is debating whether to keep shorter caucus meetings introduced by the former president, DeJohn Morris, as some members feel more time is needed to prepare for decisions.
- Matt Schneider, Tia Rezabala, and reelected Natalia Ioffe have joined the board, bringing fresh ideas and experience to focus on improving education for students.
A New Start for the Jersey City Board of Education
The Jersey City Board of Education began the new year with big changes in its leadership.
During the reorganization meeting on January 7, 2025, Noemi Velazquez was chosen as the new president by a close 5-4 vote.
Velazquez’s election was a major comeback after being removed as vice president in 2024.
In another surprise move, Christopher Tisdale was elected vice president with six votes in his favor.
This shows that the board members are ready to work together for the schools and students, even after disagreements in the past.
The election ended a year of leadership changes and conflicts within the board.
In early 2024, Natalia Ioffe and Velazquez held leadership roles, but DeJohn Morris later replaced Velazquez as president, with Younass Barkouch briefly serving as vice president.
Barkouch was soon replaced by George Blount.
Now, Velazquez is focused on working with others as president.
She wants to guide the board through decisions and discussions, not control them.
She is committed to listening to everyone and making decisions that will help all the students in the district.
Lessons From Last Year’s Challenges
DeJohn Morris, the outgoing president, introduced several changes during his time in leadership.
One of his most talked-about decisions was shortening caucus meetings, which used to be held twice a month and lasted over four hours.
Under Morris, these meetings were cut down to one hour and held right before regular board sessions.
While some board members appreciated this effort to save time, others, including Velazquez and Ioffe, argued that the shorter meetings didn’t give them enough time to prepare for important votes.
The board decided to review this policy through its committee before deciding whether to continue it or go back to the old schedule.
Despite the disagreements, even those who voted against Morris recognized the positive changes he brought to the board.
Velazquez thanked him for his contributions and noted that some of his ideas might remain in place.
She made it clear that her leadership style would focus on teamwork and collaboration.
Welcoming New Members
In addition to the leadership changes, the board welcomed two new members, Matt Schneider and Tia Rezabala, along with reelected trustee Natalia Ioffe.
Their swearing-in ceremony was held on the same day and was attended by city leaders and former board members.
Council President Joyce Watterman and Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea led the ceremony, with Watterman swearing in Schneider and Rezabala and O’Dea swearing in Ioffe.
The election results showed strong support for the new trustees.
Schneider received 21,653 votes, Rezabala got 19,603, and Ioffe earned 19,073.
Since their addition to the board brings fresh ideas and experienced leadership, many believe it will help the board make better decisions for the district.
Not to mention, the ceremony also brought attention to the need for unity.
Watterman and O’Dea, both running for mayor of Jersey City, discussed the importance of the board’s cooperation.
Watterman reminded the trustees that disagreements should not prevent them from doing what’s right for students, while O’Dea urged the board to stop fighting with the city and focus on the schools’ needs.
Mussab Ali, a former board president and another mayoral candidate, also attended.
He acknowledged the challenges of leading the board and expressed confidence in the trustees’ ability to put students first.
