Leadership That Listens is focused on four areas that we believe deserve attention across Jersey City Public Schools.
Responsible Financial Oversight
Increase transparency and accountability in district spending.
Safe & Modern Schools
Prioritize safe, clean, modern learning environments and long-term facility needs.
More Opportunities for Students
Expand extracurricular, enrichment, and after-school opportunities through community partnerships.
Listening to Our School Community
Listen to students, families, and educators to better understand unmet needs.
While we share these priorities as a team, each of us also brings different experiences, perspectives, and areas of focus to this work. Together, our individual commitments reflect the broader vision we have for Jersey City Public Schools.
Julietta Vogt | 7G
Three Year Term
I am running because…
Jersey City raised me, and I have always believed that giving back to this city is part of who I am.
Public service has been at the center of my career for nearly a decade, but running for the Board of Education is personal in a different way. Education has always been close to home for me. My mother is a paraprofessional, my twin sister is a teacher, and so many members of my family have dedicated their lives to education. I have seen how much our educators give to their students, and I have heard firsthand how decisions made outside of the classroom can affect the people inside of it.
I’m running because I believe public education is one of the most important investments we can make in Jersey City’s future. But I also believe the people closest to our schools, our students, parents, educators, and school employees need to know that their voices matter.
I don't believe being a Board member means walking in with all the answers. It means asking the right questions, listening to the people who know our schools best, being honest about the challenges we face, and being willing to act on what we learn.
That’s the kind of leadership I want to bring to the Board: leadership that listens and follows through.
I am committed to…
Facilities & Infrastructure
Students and educators deserve schools that are safe, clean, functional, and ready for learning.
I am committed to responsible, long-term planning for our school facilities and stronger oversight of the public dollars invested in them. That means addressing problems before they become emergencies, asking tough questions about how projects are prioritized and managed, and exploring opportunities to expand capacity and build new schools where the need exists. Our facilities planning should not only address the problems we have today — it should anticipate the needs of Jersey City’s students and families for years to come.
Accountability, Transparency, & Accessibility
Good governance requires accountability, transparency, and a willingness to be accessible to the people you serve.
I am committed to asking questions, carefully reviewing the information presented to the Board, and ensuring that decisions involving our schools and public dollars are made openly and responsibly. Our community deserves to understand how decisions are made, how resources are being used, and how those decisions affect our students and schools.
I also believe being accessible is part of the job. Families, educators, students, and taxpayers should know they can reach their Board members, raise concerns, ask questions, and be heard. I will make it a priority to listen, communicate, follow up, and remain engaged with the community throughout my term.
Enrichment & After-School Opportunities
Every student deserves opportunities to discover what interests them, what excites them, and what they may be capable of.
Growing up in Jersey City, I had access to a free evening program where we returned to school for homework help and electives like photography, cooking, sewing, and aerobics. We learned new skills, tried things we might never have experienced otherwise, and even sat down for dinner together once a week.
I want today’s students to have opportunities like that. I am committed to expanding access to free after-school and enrichment programs that give students safe places to learn, create, explore new interests, and build skills beyond the traditional school day.
Videsh A. Bahadur | 8G
Three Year Term
I am running because…
Jersey City has been my home for more than 50 years. I grew up here, attended Jersey City Public Schools, built my career here, and today my child is being educated by the same school district that helped shape me.
For more than 30 years, my work has centered on education and workforce development. I have spent my career helping people access educational opportunities, develop new skills, and build pathways toward meaningful careers. That experience has shown me how important it is that what happens inside our schools connects to the opportunities waiting for students after graduation.
I am running because I want to put that experience to work for the city that raised me. I want to ask thoughtful questions about what we are teaching, how we are preparing students for their futures, and how we are using the resources entrusted to our school district.
I believe good decisions begin by listening to the students, families, educators, and school employees who experience our schools every day. I want to bring that perspective to the Board while helping ensure every student has the opportunity and support they need to succeed.
I am committed to…
Curriculum & Student Achievement
Every student deserves an education that prepares them for what comes next.
I am committed to asking whether our curriculum is meeting the needs of today’s students and giving educators the tools and support they need to deliver it effectively. We should look closely at student outcomes, listen to the educators working in our classrooms, identify where students need additional support, and make sure our academic programs prepare students for college, careers, and life beyond graduation.
Responsible Budget & Financial Oversight
Every dollar entrusted to our school district should be used thoughtfully and responsibly.
Jersey City taxpayers make a significant investment in our public schools, and the Board has a responsibility to understand where those dollars are going and what they are accomplishing. I am committed to asking difficult questions about spending, identifying inefficiencies, pursuing grants and outside funding, and advocating for Jersey City to receive the resources our students need while protecting taxpayers.
Career &Workforce Pathways
Graduation should open doors to many different futures.
College is an important pathway, but it is not the only pathway to success. Drawing on my experience in education and workforce development, I am committed to expanding opportunities that expose students to careers, industries, skilled trades, certifications, internships, and other options before they graduate.
Our students should leave Jersey City Public Schools with a better understanding of the opportunities available to them and the skills, experiences, and connections that can help them take their next step.
Fernando Garcia| 9G
Three Year Term
Education has been one of the most important threads throughout my career. As an educator, workforce professional, and someone who has spent years helping people prepare for their next opportunity, I have seen how powerful education can be when students are able to connect what they are learning today with what they want for their future.
I am running because I believe our responsibility to students extends beyond getting them to graduation. We should be helping them understand the opportunities available after high school and giving them meaningful ways to begin preparing for those opportunities while they are still our students.
Not every student will follow the same path, nor should they. Some will attend four-year universities. Others may begin at community colleges, pursue skilled trades or professional certifications, enter the workforce, or build businesses of their own. Our job should be to help students discover those possibilities and make sure they have the foundation to pursue the path that is right for them.
I want to bring my experience in education, workforce development, and organizational leadership to the Board while listening to the students, families, and educators who experience our schools every day. I believe we can create stronger connections between what students learn in our classrooms and the opportunities waiting for them beyond graduation
I am running because…
I am committed to…
Dual Enrollment & Early College Opportunities
Students should not have to wait until after high school to begin taking meaningful steps toward college.
I am committed to expanding access to dual enrollment opportunities that allow Jersey City students to earn college credits while completing high school. By strengthening partnerships with local colleges and universities and identifying barriers that prevent students from participating, we can give more students the opportunity to experience college-level coursework, earn credits, and potentially reduce the time and cost required to complete a degree.
These opportunities should be accessible to students across our district, not limited to those who already know how to find or navigate them.
College & Career Readiness
Every student should leave our schools with clear understanding of what comes next and how to get there.
Preparing students for life after graduation means exposing them to the many paths available to them. I am committed to expanding opportunities for career exploration, internships, mentorships, certifications, skilled trades, and other experiences that help students connect what they learn in school with real-world opportunities.
Whether a student chooses college, a career, a trade, entrepreneurship, or another path, our schools should help provide the knowledge, skills, and exposure they need to make an informed decision about their future.
Partnerships That Create Opportunity
Jersey City students should benefit from the extraordinary educational, business, and community resources that surround them.
College is an important pathway, but it is not the only pathway to success. Drawing on my experience in education and workforce development, I am committed to expanding opportunities that expose students to careers, industries, skilled trades, certifications, internships, and other options before they graduate.
Our students should leave Jersey City Public Schools with a better understanding of the opportunities available to them and the skills, experiences, and connections that can help them take their next step.
Zebedayo Masongo| 12G
One-Year Term
I am running because…
Education has shaped my life in more ways than one. I was raised by educators, I spent time in the classroom as a teacher myself, and throughout my legal career I have seen what can happen when young people have - or do not have - the support and opportunities they need.
My time as a teacher gave me an appreciation for what educators carry into their classrooms every day. Teaching is about much more than delivering a lesson. Educators are often among the first people to recognize when a student is struggling, when something has changed, or when a child simply needs someone in their corner.
Later, working in the legal system gave me another perspective. I saw how challenges that begin early in a young person’s life can compound when they are not addressed and how important schools can be in helping students remain connected to opportunity.
I am running because I believe the Board has a responsibility to create the conditions that allow students and educators to succeed. That requires listening, thoughtful oversight, accountability, and a willingness to look beyond numbers on a page to understand how decisions affect the people inside our schools.
I am committed to…
Student Safety & Well Being
Students learn best when they feel safe, supported, and connected to their school community.
I am committed to making sure student well-being remains part of how we evaluate the success of our schools. That means listening to students and educators about school climate, examining the supports available when students are struggling, and looking for opportunities to intervene before challenges become crises.
Supporting students means addressing not only what happens academically, but also the conditions that allow them to show up, participate, and succeed.
Supporting & Retaining Educators
Supporting students also means supporting the people who work with them every day.
Having spent time in the classroom myself and having grown up in a family of educators, I understand the demands placed on teachers and school-based employees. I am committed to listening to their experiences, understanding the obstacles that make it harder for them to do their jobs, and ensuring their perspectives are considered when the Board makes decisions that affect classrooms.
Our district should be a place where talented educators want to work, grow, and build their careers.
Accountability & Good Governance
Public trust requires a Board that asks questions, follows through, and takes its oversight responsibilities seriously.
As an attorney, I understand the importance of process, accountability, and careful decision-making. I am committed to approaching Board governance thoughtfully, reviewing the information before us, asking difficult questions when necessary, and ensuring policies and decisions are implemented as intended.
Board members should understand the difference between governing the district and managing its day-to-day operations while still holding district leadership accountable for results.