FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2009

The Ethical Charter Community School of Jersey City, which just recently saw its application for charter enthusiastically approved, announced today that Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega will preside over the school's first official public lottery for fall 2009 enrollment. We are honored and pleased that Council President Vega will have an important role in the selection of our inaugural class, as his ongoing support of the school has been invaluable. It is fitting to have him draw the children's names in this week's lottery,î said Jersey City parent and TECCS board member Dr. Ann Wallace. The lottery will be held this Friday, January 16, at 3:30pm in the Board Room of the Jersey City Main Public Library (479 Jersey Avenue) to fill 60 kindergarten and 60 first grade openings. The school will continue to accept applications throughout the spring and will hold subsequent lotteries to fill any vacant places and to round out the waiting list.

TECCS has been making steady progress in establishing the school's infrastructure. The school formally constituted its board of trustees on Saturday, January 10, with its first six members and has hired its first employee, Ms. Kathy Mone, who will serve as a business administrator.  Ms. Mone, formerly the budget unit director for all Bronx and Manhattan schools, also works with Hoboken;s Elysian Charter School and will continue in her role there.

Howard B. Radest, Ph.D., the former Director of the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York, upon which the Jersey City school is based, will take the helm as chair of the board of trustees. Dr. Radest brings a firm yet wide grasp of the ethical education community to the board, having founded the University Seminar on Moral Education at Columbia University and helped to found the Association for Moral Education.†During his 30 plus years of residence in Bergen County, Dr. Radest taught philosophy at Ramapo College and served as president of the Bergen County Health and Welfare Council.  He then moved to South Carolina where he taught at University of South Carolina and served as Chair of the Ethics Committees and as Ethics Consultant at both local hospitals. Having recently returned to New Jersey, Dr. Radest is honored to play a part in bringing this unique, hands-on education to the deserving children and families of Jersey City. Dr. Radest is the author of nine books including the forthcoming "Ethics and the Catastrophic Event."

Also joining the board is Judith D. Wallach, Ph.D., who first envisioned a charter school based on the Ethical Culture Fieldston model nearly a decade ago. She finds it profoundly satisfying to see my dream of the past ten years become a reality.î A practicing psychologist and Chair of Palladia, Inc., a $40 million human services agency, Dr. Wallach served on the Ethical Culture Fieldston School Board of Governors. Having graduated from Ethical Culture Fieldston School in the Bronx, Dr. Wallach was inspired to give forward by providing children from families of modest means with the kind of superb education she was privileged to receive.

Ann Wallace, Ph.D., a Jersey City parent and a founding member of TECCS, will also serve on the board.  Dr. Wallace partnered with Dr. Wallach and other early TECCS leaders  a few years ago when exploring the educational options for her own children. Dr. Wallace has been active in various Hudson County organizations, having served on the boards of the Fund for a Better Waterfront and the Hoboken Clergy Coalition Shelter, and has a background in fundraising and management consulting. She is an assistant professor of English and Writing Center coordinator at New Jersey City University in Jersey City. 

Sonia Araujo, the assistant director of Jersey City's libraries, also comes to the board.  She is a founding member of Liberty Academy Charter School and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation of Hudson County.  Ms. Araujo attended St. Peter's College and is an active voice in several of the city's cultural groups.

Board member Leigh Roumila currently sits on the board of trustees of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County. While managing a full-time career in commercial real estate investment and management, Ms. Roumila also directs the Rainbow Warriors Youth Theatre, which encourages kids to use their performing talent to advocate against global warming.

Stephen L. Baker, Esquire, rounds out the TECCS board of trustees. Mr. Baker is president of Baker & Rannells, PA, a law firm specializing in copyrights, patents, and intellectual property. Mr. Baker is a long-time member of the New York Society for Ethical Culture.

Parents interested in learning more about the school can consult  http://www.teccs or call 201-606-8108 for more information.

For further information:
201-606-8108
Dr. Ann E. Wallace  
The Ethical Community Charter School
P.O. Box 249
Jersey City, NJ 07303-0249