In a letter to the editor, Nuveen and Jen Marwah, parents of three children in the Jersey City Public Schools, explain why they’ll be voting for Natalia Ioffe in the local board of education race.Â
Dear Editor,
We met Natalia as parents of elementary school students at PS 16 Cornelia F. Bradford elementary school.
She served as the president and vice-president of our parent council, the Concerned Parents Association, and she was incredibly responsive and attentive to our needs.
We had no idea what to do for middle school, and she organized a Middle School Connection series where principals and program directors of various middle school programs would come to speak about the educational opportunities available in Jersey City.
We learned so much, and years later this series provided the inspiration for us to start a website called www.jerseycityed.com.
As dual working parents, we needed after school care for our children, and she and the CPA organized a robust after school program with a variety of enrichment opportunities for students.
For example, our boys participated in chess, drawing, martial arts, dance, and soccer.
She also organized a spelling bee competition in the school that has been so successful that each year it becomes more competitive as more students ace their spelling tests.
And second best to the sense of achievement that the spelling bee brings to the students, it serves as a great fundraiser for the school.
Natalia accomplished so many other things to the benefit of the students, parents, teachers, and administrators.
She helped drastically improve fundraising efforts, collaborated to upgrade air conditioners, started new scholarships, and generally improved the quality of life for so many families.
We will always remember the support that she provided for our family, and we hope for her success in the JCBOE election, so that she may continue to spur progress and effect change across our district.
Sincerely,
Nuveen and Jen Marwah
Parents of 3 Jersey City Public School Students
