On Nov. 8, 12 candidates will be vying for five open seats on the Teaneck Board of Education (BOE). The increased interest comes on the heels of the controversial exit of Superintendent Christopher Irving, who left the district July 1 after a year of public disputes with board members. Irving’s departure left many concerned about the present leadership and its accountability.
Darryl Greene, longtime resident and community advocate, is running for a three-year term alongside Lori Bullock on the “Takes This Village” slate. Bullock is seeking election for one of the two one-year unexpired terms.
Greene was raised in Teaneck by a single mother who instilled in him the importance of community. An alumni of Benjamin Franklin Junior High School and Teaneck High School, his deep roots motivate him to work hard for a town he considers revolutionary. Hailed as the first district to desegregate the schools during the civil rights movement, Greene wants to restore those values and work together to create a better infrastructure for the children of Teaneck.
Professionally, Greene owns a film production company and has spent decades honing top talent. His exceptional management and interpersonal skills allow him to work well with others and he is confident that given the opportunity, he could successfully work with the BOE to facilitate change.
Bullock is a lifelong resident of Teaneck and a product of the Teaneck school system. She is a two-time Emmy winning media professional with nearly 30 years of experience in media production. She currently leads a team of content makers as a senior vice president, executive producer at Digital Health, a subsidiary of global media holding company, PUBLICIS. “We have a greater commonality in our diversity,” said Bullock, who is proud to be an ambassador of a thriving and safe township that puts its citizens first. Known for her problem solving and proficient communication skills, Lori has been dubbed a “solutionist” and plans to use those skills to increase productivity, specifically in areas she says have been largely overlooked.
As dedicated residents, both Bullock and Greene understand the pulse of the community and have created a platform based on their shared values. Their partnership was born out of a mutual passion to advance Teaneck youth and restore transparency to a system they feel has been corrupted. Fiscal responsibility is at the top of the list, said Bullock, who together with Greene believes the budget has been grossly misused. Despite a sizable budget of $114 million for seven schools, critical programs were cut, resources depleted and necessities like air conditioning (at Thomas Jefferson Middle School) went unmet. Moreover, students are suffering academically. “As a district we are underperforming,” confirmed Bullock, who wants to see the Teaneck school system ranked higher, not only on a state level but also nationally.
“As for the Jewish vote, while we recognize that much of the Orthodox Jewish population in Teaneck doesn’t use the public school system, they still pay taxes,” said Greene, and deserve premium services in return. Bullock and Greene have spoken to many Orthodox families who rely on special education programs and feel the system needs improvement. According to Greene, it costs an average of $69,000 for each student to be bused to the Paramus school district for special education, money he said “would be better spent improving our own special ed program right here in Teaneck.”
Both candidates are extremely concerned about the significant increase in mental health issues among children and teens. Bullying is on the rise, said Bullock, who believes mental health resources are necessary both in and outside of school. She added, “it’s a team effort and we need to support our teachers and parents more effectively in order to help our children succeed.”
After-school programming is another priority highlighted throughout their campaign. Most local families require affordable after-school care, said Greene, “and it’s the job of the BOE to make sure kids are safe and productive.” Opportunities he would like to see further developed include fashion design, mobile app development, pathways to healthcare, cooking and auto shop.
Greene recently collaborated with Chris Brancato, Teaneck native and film writer, on a free six-part series on screenwriting for 10th-12th graders. Classes were held at the Richard Rodda Center on Fridays starting at 4 p.m., yet kids were eagerly lining up outside by 3:30, said Greene, who joked that “we might have the next Shonda Rhimes coming out of Teaneck.” Greene is also working on a science training program for students in association with Holy Name Hospital.
Leveraging community resources is an excellent way to open new and innovative opportunities for our students, said Bullock, and the board should be responsible for facilitating those connections. “The BOE is supposed to be community serving, not self-serving,” she said, and worries that the current leadership is “caught up in political nonsense” that doesn’t serve the needs of community families. “I no longer see progress and that’s when it becomes clear that the leadership needs change,” she added.
At the end of the day, “we are in the business of educating our youth,” said Greene. Teaneck is full of talent and Bullock and Greene want to create more opportunities for students to flourish academically and culturally. From STEAM programs to music and performing arts, they want to help local kids uncover and hone talents they might not even know they have so that they can compete with other kids their age. “Old keys don’t open new doors,” said Bullock, “and it’s time to get some innovative thinking for us to do better for the community.”
By Andrea Nissel
