The latest iteration of the “For Stronger Schools” Jersey City Board of Education (BOE) slate consists of Jessica Taube, former Trustee Gina Verdibello, as well as first time candidates Chloe Williams and Danielle Walker.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Jersey City is not short on talent, commitment or resources. What families need is follow-through: a clear result for every dollar, a deadline for every repair, and a proactive answer when a student is not receiving the support they deserve. That is the standard we are running together to bring to the Board,” the four candidates said in a joint statement.
Taube, a parent activist, was the first candidate to announce for the non-partisan November 3rd BOE race, as HCV first reported, while Verdibello served on the board between 2019 and 2023.
Williams is a lifelong city resident, a graduate of Jersey City Public Schools, the daughter of two retired district employees, and is currently the associate director of operations for Gotta Go Gaming Hub.
“Jersey City also needs trustees who understand operations, budgets, accountability, workforce development, community engagement, and how to turn ideas into measurable results. That is the experience and perspective I intend to bring to the Board of Education,” she said Thursday.
Finally, Walker is a lifelong city resident and parent of three Jersey City Public Schools graduates who worked as a paraprofessional for the district for nearly a decade.
She currently serves as Project Manager for the Golden Neighborhood Homeownership Program and the Home Improvement Program where she administers federal housing and homeowner assistance programs for low- and moderate-income residents.
“I’ve spent almost a decade in JCPS classrooms beside fellow paraprofessionals and teachers who buy supplies with their own paychecks, cover unstaffed classrooms, and absorb trauma that no budget line accounts for,” Walker explained.
“The board’s job isn’t just to applaud them, it’s to fund fair salaries, safe staffing ratios, real professional development, and the mental-health supports that let them stay and thrive.”
Verdibello is seeking a one-year term, while her three running mates are seeking three-year terms.
While Jersey City school board races typically see three seats on the line, a fourth is up for grabs since Dr. Matthew Schneider resigned last month.
Schneider and Trustee Tia Rezabala successfully ran on the first incarnation of the “For Stronger Schools” slate in November 2024.
The Taube, Verdibello, Williams, and Walker slate are already pledging to take definitive actions in their first year in office if elected. Those initiatives include:
● A plain-language quarterly budget-to-results report showing the adopted budget, actual spending, major variances, the outcomes each major investment is intended to improve and the status of corrective actions.
● A public facilities dashboard listing each priority project, the documented need, responsible office, budget, funding source, status, target date and date of last update.
● School-based listening sessions with written follow-through, including a public log of unresolved issues, the responsible owners, next steps, and expected response date, subject to student privacy and legal requirements.
Further, they highlight five priorities: Academic achievement for every student, equity across every school, meaningful board oversight and financial accountability, trauma-informed and restorative school culture, as well as stronger school buildings.
“Policies exist on paper. What is missing is follow-through,” the slate explained.
“Full implementation of restorative and trauma-informed practices across the district means building a school culture grounded in accountability and care, for students and staff alike, and investing in the educator retention that makes that culture possible.”
Verdibello also said that the current board could use improvement.
“As a former school board member, I’m proud of what we accomplished. Today, I’m concerned that communication, transparency, and trust with parents have declined,” she expressed.
“I made parent engagement a priority during my tenure, and I want to help restore that trust and make sure every voice in Jersey City is heard.”
Taube also made her case on why she is the right candidate to serve on the volunteer governing body.
“I have spent my entire career inside public schools working alongside students, families, teachers, support staff, and administrators. I know what schools need to thrive, and I know what gets in the way,” she stated.
“I’m running because Jersey City’s children deserve a board member who will ask the right questions, listen to the right people, and fight to make sure resources actually reach our classrooms.”
The three trustees who are up for re-election this year are Board Vice President Dejon Morris, Alpa Patel, and Dr. George Blount. None of them have announced plans for November yet.
