Board Member Tisdale
As a member of the board of education, Dr. Tisdale upholds his unwavering commitment to accountability, equity, fairness, and transparency in all his endeavors.
Dr. Christopher J. Tisdale, is an accomplished educator and leader. Born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, Dr. Tisdale attended the Jersey City public schools, graduating from P.S. 15 and Lincoln High School, where he was part of the English/Humanities magnet program. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Secondary Education from Saint Peter's University in 2001 and later obtained a Master of Education from Saint Peter’s in 2011. He finished his Doctor of Education degree, also at Saint Peters in 2024.
Dr. Tisdale began his teaching career in 2000 as a fifth-grade teacher at Saint John's and Ann Interparochial School (now Golden Door Charter School) while completing his undergraduate studies. In 2001, he joined Schomburg Charter School, where he served until its closure in 2012. During his tenure, he took on numerous leadership roles, including acting vice principal, interim board member, leader of staff development, curriculum coordinator, professional development coordinator, grants writer, testing coordinator, chair of student activities, and student recruitment coordinator, among others.
In 2010, Dr. Tisdale received initial approval to establish a charter high school for the creative and performing arts, one of only six approved that year. Although facility challenges prevented the school's opening, he redirected his focus to his current roles as a middle school English teacher at Janis E. Dismus Middle School in Englewood, NJ and as an adjunct professor of composition at Kean University. Dr. Tisdale also serves as the coordinator for Englewood, NJ’s My Brother’s Keeper Program (MBK), where he is dedicated to empowering young men of color and promoting equity and opportunity. Dr. Tisdale holds certifications as a schoolteacher, supervisor, principal, and school administrator.
His research interests include addressing the school-to-prison pipeline, advancing culturally responsive teaching practices, and exploring alternatives to standardized testing. Dr. Tisdale is guided by a philosophy of servant leadership, emphasizing the importance of meeting people's needs. "Leadership is about making people better," he asserts. "People should be given what they require and need, not what we think they should have. Without keeping the people in mind, effective leadership is impossible."
He asserts, “My life’s mission is to inspire. Amazing… Yes!”