WSF Board Elections 2025

Please read more about our board nominees below. Nominees are elected to the board and then slotted into the open roles upon getting elected.
Voting will be happening on June 3, 2025.

Anastasiia Burenok

Position: Member-At-Large

I worked as a pediatrician in Ukraine and am currently in the process of validating my medical diploma here. I am a very responsible and dedicated mother who values education and the school environment. I would love the opportunity to volunteer with the Waterfront School Foundation and contribute in any way I can. I bring a strong sense of responsibility, enjoy working as part of a team, and approach tasks with creativity and a positive attitude. I believe these qualities, along with my medical background and genuine care for children, can make a meaningful contribution to the school community.

Sharon Duplessis

Position: Member-At-Large

I have been a part of the Waterfront Montessori community since 2023. Being a board member gives me a feeling of accomplishment. I am able to participate and give suggestions on kids and community activities. I'm also have a voice in after-school activities and community building activities. Also applying for Assistant Treasurer.

Jessica Goddard

Position: Vice President

Hi! I’m Jess Goddard and have been part of the WFM community since my daughter joined the Toddler program seven years ago. Since then, I’ve either served as a class parent or as a board member of the Foundation. I remember how scary it was to drop off my then 2-year old for the very first time so I’m committed to helping parents feel comfortable, be in the know and connected with one another. My background is in Communications, Marketing and transformational leadership. It would be an honor to continue to serve you! 💙

Deepa Jain

Position: Member-At-Large

I'm very excited and thankful for the nomination opportunity to join the Waterfront School Foundation Board. To provide some background, my daughter joined the WFM Middle school (6th Grade) in school year 2024-25 and we are very happy with her progress as well as the curriculum followed by the school. We've also had a chance to experience the different extra-curricular activities and events organized by the school throughout the year which has been very inspiring, as we strongly feel that the children should be encouraged to participate in many such non-academic opportunities for them to acquire diverse skills and develop a well-rounded personality.
I would like to join the Board to further build upon the valuable work already being done and contribute in organizing activities/ events, as well as fostering communication between parents and the school. I'd also like to help create awareness in our Jersey City community about Waterfront Montessori school through fundraisers and other promotional events.
I have more than 25 years of corporate leadership work experience in many firms and would like to contribute to the Waterfront Foundation Board to the best of my abilities given my background and knowledge. Additionally, having led many projects, I can effectively handle organizing events and collaborating with teachers and administrators. Looking forward to serving on the Board!

Hui Liu

Position: Member-At-Large

My son, Alex, has thrived at Waterfront Montessori over the past year, and our family is grateful to be part of such a warm and welcoming community—one that the Foundation has helped create. From great events like the Halloween party and Shrek Musical to the daily support facilitated by the parent chat group, we’ve seen firsthand how the Foundation’s efforts strengthen connections among the families. Inspired by their dedication, I’d like to join the board to help sustain and grow these initiatives. I hope to contribute to efforts that bring families together, support our kids, and ensure this special community continues to thrive. Thank you for your consideration!

Lara Taibi

Position: Treasurer

I have been on the board for a few years now and want to continue to serve the school community that provides so much for my daughter. I seek to drive school community engagement and enrichment activities for the students and WFM families.

Manu Tandon

Position: Member-At-Large

Manu Tandon is a proud Montessori dad of two—one in fourth grade and one in middle school—seasoned strategist, and purveyor of truly world-class dad jokes (you’ve been warned). By day, he’s works at Alvarez & Marsal, where he helps organizations solve complex problems and drive meaningful results. By night (and early morning), he’s making breakfast with ninja-like precision.
Manu is excited to bring his professional experience, collaborative spirit, and perhaps a few groan-worthy puns to the Foundation Board. He is passionate about supporting WFM, the Montessori approach, strengthening our parent community, and making sure the Foundation’s work is both impactful and inclusive.
Vote for Manu: results-driven, community-focused, and guaranteed to sneak a dad joke into every meeting.

Rajashree Todmal

Position: Vice-President

I am a passionate Montessori-mom of Durga (fourth grade) and Shloka (Kindergarten). We have been with WFM since 2017, when Durga started in the toddler classroom.
I’ve served on the WSF board since 2022. This year, I complete my 2-year term as the Treasurer. I would love to be considered for the position of VP. During my term as Treasurer, I brought financial discipline, streamlined fundraising and budget approval process with rigorous use of data and brought the books in black from a significant deficit following the pandemic years. I am proud to say that the WSF is very strongly financially positioned for the next school year. Prior to joining the WSF board, I have volunteered as a Class Parent multiple years since joining the WFM community. I bring my passion for Montessori and love for WFM to every Admissions open house where I am invited to speak to prospective parents. I am an active WFM advocate and have helped the school expand through numerous efforts.
I am currently a stay-at-home mom. During my 13 plus years career, I’ve worked in Technology Consulting and Management Consulting industries. I specialized in Business Operations and have extensive experience working with C-level leadership. In my most recent role, I worked as Chief-of-Staff to CEO of a $13.5 billion technology consulting company.