NJTESOL/NJBE Executive Board – 2024
Current, Incoming, and Outgoing Board Members
Elected Officers
President
LeighAnn Matthews, Bridgewater-Raritan Public Schools,
president@njtesol-njbe.org
Vice President/President-Elect
Maria Cecilia Vila Chave, Township of Ocean School District
vice-president@njtesol-njbe.org
Past-President
Michelle Land, Randolph Township Schools, past-president@njtesol-njbe.org
Secretary
Kathryn Tepedino, Morris School District, secretary@njtesol-njbe.org
Treasurer (Appointed)
Maria Jaume, Clifton Public Schools, treasurer@njtesol-njbe.org
Liaison
Abdul-Qawwee Shabazz, Jersey City Community Charter School, liaison@njtesol-njbe.org
Presidential Appointees
Socio-political Representative
Sonya Bertini, Vineland Public Schools, socio-political-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
WIDA Representative
Margaret Churchill, Closter/Tenakill Middle School, wida-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
Graduate Student Representative
Julia Coronel, Newark Public School District, graduate-student-rep1@njtesol-njbe.org
Parent/Family Representative
TBA
Membership Chair
Joan Pujol, membership@njtesol-njbe.org
Social Media Coordinator
kiina dordoni, social-media@njtesol-njbe.org
Historian
TBA
Committees
Advocacy Sub-Committee, advocacy@njtesol-njbe.org Chair: Sonya Bertini, socio-political-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
Professional Development Committee, prof-development@njtesol-njbe.org Chair: Kathryn Tepedino, secretary@njtesol-njbe.org
Countering Anti-Black Racism Committee, cabr@njtesol-njbe.org Chair: kiina dordoni, social-media@njtesol-njbe.org
Parent Expo, parentexpo@njtesol-njbe.org Chair: Kathleen Fernandez, executive-director@njtesol-njbe.org
Elected Representatives
Representative-at-large
Mary Mansfield, Medford Township Public Schools, rep-at-large@njtesol-njbe.org
Special Interest Group Representatives
Bilingual/ESL Early childhood / Pre-K – K Representative
Veronica Murillo, Irvington Public Schools, early-ed-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
Bilingual Elementary 1-5 Representative
Mary Callirgos, bilingual-elementary-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
ESL Elementary 1-5 Representative
Jenna Maneri, Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, esl-elementary-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
Bilingual/ESL Middle School 6-8 Representative
Luigina Finneran, Fair Lawn Schools, middle-sch-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
Bilingual Secondary Representative
Jessica Duran, bilingual-secondary-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
ESL Secondary Representative
Liz Farro, Ocean Schools, esl-secondary-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
Higher Education Representative
Leah Carmona, Bergen Community College, higher-ed-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
Teacher Education Representative
Alex Guzman , Kean University, teacher-ed-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
Adult Education Representative
Kimberly Sharkey, adult-ed-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
Special Education Representative
Aphrodite Dellaporta, special-ed-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
Supervisors Representative
Keith Perkins, Irvington, supervisors-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
Family/Community Action Representative
Nurka Nieves, family-community-rep@njtesol-njbe.org
Contractors
Executive Director
Kathleen Fernandez, executive-director@njtesol-njbe.org
Business Administrator
Gwen Franks, business-admin@njtesol-njbe.org
Technology Coordinator
Marilyn Pongracz, Bergen Community College, webmaster@njtesol-njbe.org
Conference Coordinator
Caia Schlessinger, Highland Park Public Schools, conference-coordinator@njtesol-njbe.org
Exhibitor Liaison
Tina Kern, Morristown Public Schools, exhibitor-liaison@njtesol-njbe.org
Technology Assistant
Dale Egan, Bergen Community College, tech-assistant@njtesol-njbe.org
If you wish to contact any of the above, use the stated e-mail address if provided to contact the individual directly. Alternatively, you may e-mail the webmaster at webmaster@njtesol-njbe.org who will direct your question to the appropriate party.