The Jersey City Board of Education Trustees

Natalia Ioffe is a first-generation immigrant from post-Soviet Ukraine, living in the US since 1992. She is a product of Philadelphia public schools and has a degree in International Management from Pace University. She worked as a Mortgage Processor at the United Nations Federal Credit Union, before settling in Jersey City in 2005, with her husband. They have two children- both Jersey City Public School students.

Natalia served as a parent council leader at P.S.16. Under her leadership, the non-profit revenues of the parent association grew from $15K to $250K/year to support school and community needs. A firm believer in “raising leaders” she trained new parent council teams in non-profit operations and understanding district policies as it pertains to public school support and advocacy.

Natalia serves her local community by volunteering with various groups such as Center St. Block Association, Greenville Neighborhood Alliance, Friends of Gateway Park and Van Vorst Park Association.

Gina Verdibello born to immigrant parents from Italy and Peru, she grew up in Fort Lee, NJ. While attending Rutgers University she met her husband Robert who grew up in Jersey City. They reside in Jersey City and have three young children Amelia (13), Iris (11) and Owen (9) that currently attend Frank R. Conwell MS4 and Joseph H. Brensinger PS 17. Gina has a BA from Rutgers University in Art History and has worked at Liberty Science Center, the American Folk Art Museum and The Picower Foundation in fundraising and development. She has also been a Realtor for over 10 years and is currently with Dominant Properties in Journal Square.

Gina has become very active in Jersey City. In February 2013, she started Girl Scout Troop 12026 at James F. Murray PS 38 where her children attended school. Originally starting with Daisies and Brownies, her troop expanded to Junior and Cadettes. Since moving into the Lincoln Park area, her troop moved to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where girls from the neighborhood are encouraged to join. In the past, the troop has donated its cookie money to the Liberty Humane Society and St. Joseph’s Peace Care. They also have marched in the Christopher Columbus Parade and St. Patrick’s Day parade for several years. 

She currently serves on the board of the Jersey City Board of Education, the Center for the Arts at Casa Colombo and is the President of the Rotary Club of Jersey City. 

At Joseph H. Brensinger PS 17 Gina is the Parent Council Vice President, as well as the Tech Officer at Frank R. Conwell MS4. She is the Title One Representative for both schools. She has been a parent member of the Early Education Committee at the Board of Education for 6 years. Gina is a parent advocate for the children that attend public school in Jersey City. Before she became of Board of Education board member, she attended and spoke at Board of Education meetings and also testified at the Trenton Board of Education against the new PARCC standardized tests and advocated for new Pre-K buildings for Jersey City. She would also like to assist in the betterment of facilities and making our public schools the best they can be.

Board Trustee-Paula Jones-Watson

Paula Jones-Watson is a native of Jersey City and educated in the Jersey City Public Schools. She is a retired educator from the Jersey City Public Schools after 34 years of service and an adjunct professor for 22 years at Hudson County Community College. During her tenure, Paula has served in various capacities, such as classroom teacher for both grammar and high school, head teacher-of the former Title One program at PS 24, after school program administrator of (Lincoln High School), Special Education Coordinator (Lincoln High School), and District Inclusion Specialist.

Paula began serving the community in the mid 70’s under the mentorship of the late Izetter McDuffy. She has successfully raised money for scholarships through Tau Gamma Delta Sorority, as well as, the Late Rev. Dr. Charles T. Epps Scholarship Banquet, and serves the community with the BITE Organization. She is also a trustee at Zion Baptist Church. 

Paula states, “As a stakeholder of Jersey City, I have a commitment to the Jersey City Public Schools. My experience allows me to utilize my gift of time and willingness to advance the mission of the Jersey City Public Schools.”

Board Trustee-Younass Mohamed Barkouch

Younass Mohamed Barkouch is a first-generation college student and the eldest of five children to Moroccan immigrants who came to the United States to pursue the American Dream. He is a product of the Jersey City public school system and a proud alumnus of Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic high school. Younass attended Rutgers University as an Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) scholar and earned his Bachelors of Science from Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and School of Arts and Sciences. Younass competed as an NCAA Division I student-athlete on both the Cross Country and Track & Field team while also serving as a mentor and the pre-medical field leader for the Rutgers Educational and Athletic Development Initiative (READI), a student-run organization created to provide academic, professional, and athletic support to student-athletes in STEM. READI’s success inspired Younass to work with McNair alumni to start Alumnor Mentoring, an alumni-run mentoring organization designed to provide juniors and seniors guidance through the college application process to improve college readiness and help identify internship and volunteering opportunities to enhance professional development. Younass participated in the Alan Grossman Interdisciplinary Research Team Fellowship and received funding to investigate educational equity and factors contributing to educational inequity in Jersey City public high schools. His research provided him quantitative insight on the district and motivated him to run for a seat on the Jersey City Board of Education.