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Jennifer Harris
PresidentJennifer Harris is a lifelong resident of Hackensack, the daughter of Colombian immigrant parents, proud graduate of the district (Class of 2003), a wife and mother of two sons who have been educated in our public schools.
She is a Middle School World Languages teacher in the Mahwah Public School district and a proud member of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA). Prior to that, she spent ten years working as a paraprofessional in a self-contained classroom for children with special needs at Tenafly Public Schools. Throughout her career, Jennifer has worked alongside talented colleagues who inspired her to pursue further education and advocacy in the field of special education, and during the 2019-2020 school year, she received the Educational Service Professional Award.
As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, Jennifer understands first-hand the frustrations of families of children with special needs in accessing information and resources for their children. This experience inspired her to advocate for her child, as well as all students and families in need of support.
Term: 1st (2022-2024), 2nd (2025-) President (2025-)
Mark Stein
Vice PresidentBorn at Hackensack Hospital, Mark Alan Stein was educated in the Hackensack school system, graduating from Hackensack High School. He attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating with degrees in Journalism and Public Relations.
Upon graduation from Oklahoma, he moved back to Hackensack to reestablish his roots. He raised two wonderful children who also attended and graduated from the Hackensack School System.
If he had to encapsulate his life in Hackensack, he would say that
“He has dedicated his life to bettering the lives of the Children of Hackensack.” Mark previously served as a Trustee on the Board of Education for 9 years, from 2009 to 2018, and was recently reelected to the Board for a fourth term. For 16 consecutive years, the residents recognized his leadership ability by electing him to four terms on the Hackensack City Council as Councilman and Deputy Mayor, serving from 1989 to 2005.
Trustee Stein has served in many capacities in organizations in Hackensack: Charter member of the Hackensack Education Foundation; past President of the Hackensack Troast Athletic Club; Past president of the Hackensack High School Athletic Alumni Association, and past President of the Hackensack Blue and Gold Scholarship Fund. Mark continues to be an active participant in many of these organizations.
He spent 21 years coaching Little League Baseball and Softball, 9 years coaching Junior Football, and, for 16 years, he was president and coach of the Hackensack Junior Field Hockey program.
He has been a mentor to students at Hackensack High School, and also served on the steering committee for Destination Imagination.
You might say he invested his time in the Children of Hackensack.
Mark has been serving on the Board of Trustees of Temple Beth El in Hackensack, having served as a Vice President, President, and currently as Treasurer.
Professionally, Trustee Stein served as a manager of printing corporations for 33 years. Changing career paths, until his retirement in January 2017.
Mr. Stein was a Senior Fiscal Analyst for the County of Bergen.
Term: Previous Tenure (2009-2018), Current Term (2024-), Vice President (2025-)
Email: markstein@hackensackschools.org
Melanie Alston-Balaputra
Melanie Alston-Balaputra is a proud alum of Hackensack Public Schools and a former teacher at Hackensack Middle School.
Melanie is a member of the PTA at Nellie K. Parker Elementary School and a former member of the PTA at the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC). Her 10-year-old son is autistic and attends school at an out-of-district placement, so she is also a member of the Hackensack Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG).
Melanie currently serves as the Vice Principal of the Bergen County Technical Schools, Paramus Campus (BCTS). She previously worked as an administrator with Newark Public Schools at Cleveland Elementary School and Barringer High School. She also served on the faculty at Fairleigh Dickinson University in the Instructional Technology Department. Before she transitioned into the field of education, Melanie worked as a corporate analyst, with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and later with PSEG Corporate Planning where she was responsible for corporate counterintelligence and data analysis.
Melanie received her Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA) from Howard University, her Masters in Teaching (MAT) from Fairleigh Dickinson University, her Education Specialist degree (Ed.S) in Educational Leadership from Seton Hall University.
Melanie sits on the Legislative Committee for the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA), and she is a member of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Incorporated, Delta Nu Chapter of Bergen/Passaic, an organization of predominantly African-American female educators. She is also a member of the Bergen County NAACP, a charter member of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Greater Bergen County Section, and a member of Bergen County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Term: (2025-)
Leila Amirhamzeh, J.D.
Leila previously served as a Trustee on the Hackensack Board of Education between 2017-2020. During that time, the Board adopted and implemented a districtwide policy to protect transgender students, making Hackensack one of the first districts across the state to adopt such an inclusive policy.
Leila is a first-generation American whose parents came to the United States over fifty years ago from Austria and Iran. She has been a Hackensack resident and homeowner for over 25 years and is currently the Director of Community Reinvestment at New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA), a statewide coalition- and community-based nonprofit organization that fights for social, racial, and economic justice for all. In her 25 years at NJCA, Leila has advocated for fair and affordable housing, banking, and consumer financial protection.
For the last ten years, she has volunteered as an ESL teacher for the district’s adult bilingual program, working with immigrant families across the district. In addition to her service to our school community, Leila also serves on the Board of her Condo Association and is Treasurer for the Friends of Johnson Public Library nonprofit.
Term: (2025-)
Demetrius Carroll
Demetrius Carroll was born and raised in Hackensack New Jersey. He is married with four daughters. Two daughters are grown and graduated high school. His other two daughters are currently in Hackensack Middle School.
Demetrius went to school in the Hackensack Public School District from elementary school through high school. He graduated Hackensack High School in 1988 and continued his education at Ramapo College, studying Accounting and Business Management. In 1992 he enrolled at Bergen Community College majoring in Criminal Justice.
Demetrius became involved with the community in the City of Hackensack. In 1992 he began coaching 7th and 8th grades in the Hackensack Jr. Football program. He coached for over 25 years and currently holds the position of Vice President of the program.
In 1999 Demetrius was also Vice President of the 1st City of Hackensack Citizens Police Academy. In 2001 he became a volunteer Police Officer in the City of Hackensack (HCOP). In 2002 he was hired as a full time Police Officer with the City of Hackensack. In 2008 he was assigned as a Detective in the Narcotics Division. In 2018 he was reassigned as a Detective with the Detective Division, a position he presently holds. He is also on the Hackensack PBA Local #9 Executive Board (2014 - Present)Term: 1st (2022-)
Lissette Cordero-Outen
As a 29-year resident of Hackensack and mother of 2 in our district (Class of 2018 and future 2026), I’ve had the opportunity to see many changes take place.
The parents, teachers and administrators I've been introduced to in our schools are very involved and passionate. You can see the fruits of that in the culmination of the student!
I want to ensure, to the best of my ability, that we continue THAT tradition. And I believe each member of our Community agrees.
Term: 1st (2023-), Vice President (2024)
Eugina “Gina” Gilmore
Gina is a dedicated community leader, parent, and co-founder of Kyle’s Strong Heart Foundation, a nonprofit organization she founded with her son to promote the importance of CPR and heart health awareness among students and their families.
She is a lifelong resident of Hackensack and was educated through our school system (Class of 1987). She is the proud parent of a son, Kyle, who also graduated from our schools. In 2023, he faced a life-threatening medical emergency, suffering cardiac arrest and requiring 90 minutes of CPR to save his life. Thankfully, he has fully recovered. This experience profoundly changed the lives of her and her son, leading them to establish Kyle’s Strong Heart Foundation. She is also an advocate with the American Heart Association, continuing to support efforts to improve heart health and emergency response in our community.
Gina’s mother, Mary Gilmore, worked for the Hackensack Board of Education for 29 years until her retirement in 2019. Gina is also a charter member of the National Council of Negro Women, Bergen County chapter, and an IT professional with financial management experience at Unilever, where she has worked for nearly thirty years and manages an annual budget of $2 million.
Term: 1st (2025-)
Kenneth Martin
Kenneth Martin is a lifelong Hackensack resident and a graduate of the Hackensack public Schools.
He has two daughters Taylor and Karen. Taylor is a Clinical Counselor with the Urban League andKaren is a Detective with the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.Kenneth is a retired city police officer who is the first School Resource Officer in the state of New Jersey.He has volunteered with the City's Ambulance Corps, American Red Cross,Hackensack Troast Club. He also was one of the founders of the Hackensack Youth On The Moveand past board member for the New Jersey School's Resource Officer, past president of theHackensack Rotary Club and presently serves as Vice President.Kenneth enrolled at Bergen Community College majoring In Criminal Justice then into the Bergen County Police Academy.He also holds several certifications in school safety. In 1987 he was assigned to the Juvenile Division / High Schoolwhere he finished out his career. He wrote a book Walking The Halls which gives parents, teachers, administrators andSchool Resource Officers a clear understanding of school safety.Term: 1st (2024-)
Shivonnie Pringle
Term: 1st (2024-)
Email: springle@hackensackschools.org
Lydia Singh
School Business Administrator/Board Secretary
Dr. Thomas McBryde, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools
