Join the Board of Trustees
Steward a bold public school. Help shape a more equitable future.
Find Your Spark. Forge Our Future.
Kindle Education Public Charter School exists to reimagine what school can be for young people in Jersey City.
Our Vision
To spark liberation, self-actualization, and the renewal of our common world.
Our Mission
To cultivate an equitable community of purposeful individuals who are prepared to navigate our current world and build our future.
Kindle is a competency-based school committed to holistic student development, rigorous project-based learning, and classrooms built for inquiry, exploration, and student agency. We define student success broadly and seriously through academic growth, critical thinking, social-emotional development, and preparation to navigate and shape the world beyond school, not through test scores alone.
🎯 Purpose
We understand our 'why' and possess the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue it.
✨ Individuality
We develop unique identities, learn from difference, and exercise personal agency to shape our lives.
🤝 Equitable Community
We collaborate and care for one another in order to fortify our communities and catalyze change.
Why Board Service Matters
This is not a ceremonial role.
Joining the Kindle Board of Trustees is an opportunity to help steward a distinctive public institution at an important stage of its growth. Trustees play a vital role in ensuring that Kindle remains mission-aligned, financially strong, strategically focused, and positioned to deliver lasting impact for students, families, and the broader Jersey City community.
At Kindle, board service is meaningful, hands-on stewardship in service of a school with a clear point of view, deep community roots, and an ambitious future.
📍 Jersey City, NJ
6th–12th Grade
Opened Fall 2023
🏫 Public Charter Model
Tuition-Free
No Admissions Exam
Intentionally Diverse
🔭 Growing Campus
35 Journal Square Plaza
Expanding to 89 York St
(Fall 2026)
The Role of the Board
The Board of Trustees is Kindle's governing body. Its role is to ensure the long-term success, integrity, and sustainability of the school.
👁️ Foresight
Helping the school navigate what lies ahead.
🔍 Oversight
Ensuring strong performance, sound governance, compliance, and responsible stewardship.
💡 Insight
Contributing expertise, perspective, and strategic thinking in service of Kindle's mission and future.
What the Board Is Accountable For
👔 Leadership Accountability
The Board's most important responsibility is to hire, support, evaluate, and, when necessary, replace the Co-CEOs. The Board holds the Co-CEOs accountable for strong, mission-aligned organizational performance and governs through them—not through direct management of staff.
🛡️ Stewardship of the Mission & Model
The Board ensures that Kindle remains faithful to its mission, values, educational model, and charter. Trustees protect the long-term integrity of the school and help ensure that decisions reflect the best interests of students and the organization over time.
💰 Financial Sustainability & Integrity
The Board serves as steward of public and philanthropic resources. It approves and monitors the annual budget, ensures strong financial controls and compliance, and helps position Kindle for long-term sustainability. Trustees are also expected to support fundraising through personal giving, advocacy, and relationship-building.
📊 Strategy & Future Direction
The Board partners with the Co-CEOs on long-term direction, strategic priorities, risks, opportunities, and responsible growth.
How Trustees Add Value
Great trustees do more than attend meetings.
- Bring relevant expertise and sound judgment to important decisions
- Ask thoughtful questions and engage in rigorous, mission-aligned discussion
- Open doors to partnerships, resources, and opportunities
- Serve as ambassadors for Kindle in the broader community
- Support school leadership while maintaining clear accountability for results
Trustee Commitments & Expectations
Serving on the Kindle Board of Trustees requires active engagement and meaningful contribution.
- Attend at least 75% of monthly board meetings
- Serve on at least one committee
- Prepare for meetings and engage thoughtfully
- Make an annual financial contribution
- Support fundraising through advocacy and introductions
- Maintain confidentiality and manage conflicts of interest
- Engage with candor, professionalism, and respect
- Support Board decisions once made
Governance Boundaries
The Board governs. The Co-CEOs lead and manage the school.
✅ Board Responsibilities
Mission, strategy, financial oversight, compliance, and leadership accountability.
❌ Not Board Responsibilities
Day-to-day operations, directing staff, or intervening in routine matters.
The Board exercises its authority as a body, not through individual members.
Committees & Officers
Committees support the Board by doing deeper review and bringing recommendations to the full Board. Committee service is an important part of a trustee's role. Unless explicitly delegated by the Board, committees do not exercise independent decision-making authority.
👑 Chair
Leads Board work, presides over meetings, shapes agendas in partnership with school leadership, and ensures governance responsibilities are fulfilled.
⭐ Vice Chair
Supports the Chair and assumes the Chair's responsibilities as needed.
💼 Treasurer
Supports financial oversight including budget review, financial reporting, and internal controls. Typically chairs the Finance Committee.
Legal & Regulatory Responsibilities
All trustees must comply with applicable legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements:
- Completion of a background check and fingerprinting
- Filing annual financial disclosure statements
- Completion of required board training
- Adherence to the New Jersey School Ethics Act and all other applicable laws and regulations
Collective Responsibility
No individual trustee speaks for the Board or binds the Board unless authorized to do so.
Ready to Help Kindle's Students Find Their Spark?
We are seeking trustees who believe in Kindle's mission and are eager to contribute their judgment, expertise, networks, and commitment in service of a transformative public school.
If you are excited by the opportunity to help steward a bold, future-facing, intentionally diverse school community in Jersey City, we would welcome a conversation.
Find Your Spark. Forge Our Future.
Interested in Board Service?
dj@kindleeducation.org