Julie Mahan has been a Fair Lawn resident along with her husband, Thor, since 2005. They have two sons, Lincoln, Class of 2034, and Lawler, Class of 2032. Mahan has an undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s degree in Social Work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. She is a licensed clinical social worker. Since 2005, she has been a school social worker with experience in public and private education in New Jersey and New York. She also manages her own private practice in town and specializes in psychotherapy with children, adolescents and their families.

Mahan is passionate about mental health and wellness and she believes social emotional learning is a core building block for education and should be a priority for all learners. In her free time, you can find her coaching, volunteering in class or cheering for her boys on and off the fields.

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Joseph Baldofsky, has been serving on the Board of Education since 2022. He is a lifelong resident of Fair Lawn and a proud product of the Fair Lawn Public Schools. An alumnus of Fair Lawn High School’s Class of 2015, Joseph was elected Student Body President his senior year after serving as the Student Board of Education Representative from 2013-2014.

Joseph received a B.A. in History with a minor in Political Science from The College of New Jersey in 2019 and is currently pursuing a J.D. at Rutgers Law School in Newark. Joseph previously worked as the Confidential Aide to the Bergen County Executive and has extensive government experience having interned at all levels of government – from Fair Lawn’s Borough Hall to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Joseph is passionate about improving the services available to our students, especially mental health resources, enhancing the integration of technology in the classroom, and addressing the environmental and fiscal sustainability of our District.

As the first member of Generation Z (demographic cohort born between 1997 and 2012) elected to serve at any level in our community, Joseph is excited to bring his unique perspective to the Board of Education.

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Dr. Edward Bertolini has resided in Fair Lawn since 1993, moving here primarily because of the quality of the school system. When possible, I add my middle name to underscore the power of education. My father, the son of immigrants from northern Italy, left school after tenth grade. There are few places in this world where a parent with a limited education can have a son, benefiting from the educational system, reach the highest levels in secondary education. “Education is the great equalizer” and I am an example of this statement. 

He has over 50 years of experience in the education field and graduated from Paramus Catholic Boys High School, received an undergraduate degree in Political Science and American Studies from Manhattan College, a Masters in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from NOVA Southeastern University. 

His professional career has spanned over four decades as a teacher, supervisor, coach, vice principal, principal, and superintendent of schools in the private and public sector in northern New Jersey schools. In December 2022, he retired as superintendent of schools from the Leonia Board of Education. 

His educational philosophy is based on the fundamental principle that it is the responsibility of the Board of Education to establish policies that provide the best course of study for each individual student. We need to ensure these  opportunities  encourage, excite, and challenge.  My work on the Board of Education will be driven by my educational philosophy to ensure each Fair Lawn student reaches their fullest potential.  Thank you for your support!

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Jeanne Browne has been a proud resident of Fair Lawn for the past ten years, with ties to this great community stemming back to childhood, when her grandparents resided here.  Jeanne has two children in our school system, Charles, a Memorial Middle School student, and Jack, a Westmoreland Elementary School student.  She is a member of Westmoreland's and Memorial Middle School's PTOs where she can be found volunteering at numerous school happenings including, but not limited to, book fairs, dances, and classroom events.  Serving the students of Fair Lawn is her greatest passion.  Browne is an active member in the Fair Lawn community, stepping up to coach in many different rec sports throughout her sons' athletic careers and is an active member of the CRC committee in town. 

Browne received her BA in Elementary Education/Special Education from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, where she competed on the Women's Fencing Team, coached by Dr. Nikki Franke.  She went on to earn her master's degree at Boston College in Educational Leadership and Policy.  She brings 17 years of experience in the field of education as a special education teacher.

Her educational philosophy as a board member is to establish policies that put students and their success first, while working together with her fellow board members to ensure our district continues to be run in a successful, fiscally responsible way.  She is honored to serve her community, especially the students, who are the future of Fair Lawn.

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Anthony Elia has been a proud resident of Fair Lawn for 25 years. He is an experienced educator currently serving as a third-grade teacher in the Glen Ridge School District.

His journey in education began after earning both his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Deaf Education and Master of Arts in Teaching from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). Early in his career, Anthony worked as a Teacher of the Deaf, educating seventh and eighth-grade students and developing a passion for supporting diverse learners. Anthony’s commitment to lifelong learning and leadership has led him to pursue a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership at Saint Elizabeth University. In addition, he is working toward his administrative certification at Felician University, preparing him to take on leadership roles and contribute to meaningful change in education. 

Beyond his work in K-12 classrooms, Anthony is an Assistant Professor of American Sign Language (ASL) at Pace University. His expertise in ASL and Deaf Education has also enabled him to teach at Brookdale Community College and Passaic County Community College, where he has inspired students to engage with ASL and its cultural significance.

Anthony is deeply committed to professional advocacy, student achievement, and social-emotional learning. He has held executive board positions with the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) Preservice program and served as a representative on the National Education Association (NEA) Resolutions Committee. At the state level, he has actively contributed to the NJEA Exceptional Children’s Committee and Membership Committee, working to advance policies and practices that support educators and students.

Anthony is a proud product of Fair Lawn Public Schools. Before mainstreaming to Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Fair Lawn in sixth grade, he was part of Midland Park Schools’ Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program. This early experience shaped his understanding of accessibility, inclusion, and the importance of equitable education for all. Anthony’s dedication to his students, leadership in the educational community, wealth of experience, and strong advocacy are all qualities he hopes to bring to the board.

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Rita Fayvelevich was raised in a family of educators, I am excited to have the privilege of being elected to serve on the Fair Lawn Board of Education. I am a proud graduate of Fair Lawn High School and a Fair Lawn resident for 20 years. Upon graduation, I attended Montclair State University and received a B.S and M.S. in Mathematics. I have made a career of teaching mathematics to high school students for more than ten years. My goal is to make sure our schools are fiscally responsible while providing our students the best possible education.

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Wilkin Santana previously served on the Fair Lawn Board of Education from 2019 to 2021 and is honored to serve the community once again. He brings over 20 years of experience as a teacher and is also a small business owner in Bergen County, providing high-quality educational supplies to support teachers, students, and families.

A graduate of Eastside High School, Wilkin earned his undergraduate degree in Spanish and Political Science, with a minor in Latin American Studies, from Rutgers University. He also holds a Master’s degree in Spanish Literature from Montclair State University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Rutgers University, along with advanced studies in curriculum and supervision from William Paterson University.

Wilkin’s dedication to public service extends beyond education. He founded Trees for Fair Lawn, a grassroots movement promoting shade tree planting, and has volunteered with the Fair Lawn Food Pantry, Clean Communities Program, and Fair Lawn AllSports as a coach. Additionally, he has volunteered to help register voters, further demonstrating his commitment to civic engagement and empowering communities.

Wilkin is a parishioner at St. Anne’s Church and a member of the Free and Accepted Masons. He lives with his wife, Idarmy, their daughter, Valentina, and their French Bulldog, Cash. Guided by values of transparency, inclusion, and collaboration, Wilkin is committed to fostering a thriving and supportive community. 

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Lisa Yourman is a 50-year resident of Fair Lawn and a graduate of Fair Lawn High School.  Both of her children were raised in town, and are also graduates of the Fair Lawn school system. 

An integral part of her life is giving back by volunteering. For the past 30 years, she has been a strong advocate for children with physical and educational disabilities. Over the last 25 years, Ms. Yourman has been a tireless advocate and has shared her knowledge around the country, as well as providing legislative testimony at the State and National level.

Having previously served on the Board of Education from 2008-2011, she is honored to have the opportunity to serve the Fair Lawn Community once again. 

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