VOTE COLUMN 1 BY MAIL, EARLY, OR ON NOVEMBER 2.
VOTE FOR OUR TEAM ON COLUMN 1
1-1: Kimberly Scott-Hayden
Kimberly Scott-Hayden is a mother of 3 and a grandmother of 7. She was awarded Education Support Professional of the Year by the NJ Education Association (NJEA) and National Education Association (NEA) for her distinguished 26 years in education. Kim is the Inventory Control Specialist and Secretary in Security Services at East Orange Schools. Even in the toughest days of COVID, Kim helped turn school buildings into sites that offered nutritious meals to students. She also donated a kidney to her husband Eric who was managing Stage 5 Kidney Failure.
As President of the East Orange Maintenance Association, Kim grew its membership from 40 to 400. Kim wrote grants totaling over $235K and implemented professional development programs on communication, cultural competency, and trauma-informed practices.
Kim also serves as Vice President of the Essex County Education Association. In the NJEA, she is a member of its Executive Committee, Chair of its Human and Civil Rights Committee, and a member of its AMISTAD Advisory Group. She is also on the NEA Board of Directors.
1-2: CHASTITY SANTANA
Chastity Santana is a mother of 7. She became an advocate for children with special needs after learning of her son’s ADHD and Juvenile Diabetes diagnoses. After, Chastity co-founded Union’s Special Education Parent Advisory Group and currently serves as its Co-Director. She helped foster partnerships between district administration and parents to better meet the needs of children with special needs.
She became more involved in the community, especially in Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs). She was the 2017-18 Corresponding Secretary for Washington PTA and the 2020-21 Treasurer for Jefferson PTA. She was the Past-Chair of NJ PTA’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and served on its Board of Directors. When her son played Union Little League, she was a member of its Auxiliary Group.
Chastity has a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Accountancy from St. Peter’s University and a Bachelor of Science in International Business from St. Peter’s College. She is bilingual in English and Spanish. Chastity was a Consultant at Verizon for 15 years.
1-3: MARISSA MCKENZIE
Marissa McKenzie is a mother of 3 and has over 23 years’ experience in education. She is the Director of Labor Relations & Employment Services at East Orange Schools. In her role, she develops the vision for and oversees all human resources activities. Marissa worked to keep all her employees safe during COVID-19. She then implemented a back-to-work initiative prioritizing safety and district needs. Marissa is a skilled negotiator who builds trusting and collaborative relationships with unions – leveraging her extensive knowledge of labor policies and regulations.
She is a member of the Society of Human Resources Management, American Association of School Personnel Administrators, American Association for Employment in Education, and Personnel Administrators’ Association. She is a Chartering Member and Parliamentarian of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Central NJ Chapter.
Marissa has a Master of Public Administration from Kean University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from American Intercontinental University. She holds certifications in School Business Administration and Pre-K to 5 and Special Education Teaching.