Co-Founders

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Former trustee Janet Kolano returned to the CEF and currently serves as President. A lifelong Clifton resident, Janet attended School 5 and Woodrow Wilson Junior High School before graduating from Pope Pius XII High School. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education K-8 from Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, NY as well as a Master’s Degree in Counseling and her 6th year level in Supervision and Administration from Montclair State University.

Janet served as a teacher, counselor and elementary principal in Clifton for 25 years before her retirement, serving on a multitude of parent advisory groups, and curricular and extra-curricular committees as both a parent and educator including the School 15 HSA, CASA (Clifton Against Substance Abuse), Master Plan Committee, TIDE (Teachers Interested in Drug Education), Passaic County Administrators’ Association, and Child Placement Review Board (Passaic County Judicial Program), just to name a few. She brings a breadth of knowledge and experience that is an invaluable asset to the CEF.

A recipient of the Excellence in Education Award in 1990, Janet was also recognized as the Clifton Teachers’ Association Educator of the Year in 1999. She is an  active member of Saint Philip the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Clifton, where she serves as a Eucharistic Minister. Janet and her husband of 53 years, Dennis, raised five CHS graduates; Colleen, John, Janette, Kathleen and Danny. They enjoy traveling, spending time with family and supporting their eight grandchildren and their sports activities.

Carol joined the Clifton Education Foundation in 2023, becoming Vice President in 2024.. She attended St. Andrew School and is a 1968 graduate of Pope Pius Xll High School. She received her BS in Elementary Education from the University of Dayton in 1972.

Carol began her career in education in Clifton in 1982, teaching in Schools 1, 3 and 4.

She received her M.Ed./Reading from William Paterson University, in addition to

certifications as a Reading Specialist and NJ Supervisor. She was the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in the Field of Education from WPU. 

In 1999 Carol was appointed the K-8 Language Arts Supervisor in Clifton, where she worked with teachers and administrators to enhance the delivery of language arts

instruction in classrooms throughout the District. She was the recipient of the Governor’s

Teacher Award and Grant in 1991.

Carol completed the NJ EXCEL Foundation for Educational Administration requirements for Principal and NJ School Administrator certifications in 2004. Subsequently, she

became the Director of Elementary Education for the Wayne Public Schools, where she remained until her retirement in 2010.

Throughout her career in education, Carol served as Chair of numerous committees, including

Strategic Planning, Everyday Math, and Language Arts Curriculum, as well as a

standing member of the Board Education Committee, School Climate and Culture, and

numerous curriculum committees.

Carol also served as the GAINS Language Arts trainer for Northern NJ, both

President and Vice President of the Clifton Supervisors Association, and Elementary

Vice President for the Clifton Teachers’ Association for 10 years.

Carol and her husband Bob raised their three children, Kelly, Bob and Timothy in Clifton where they attended School 14, Woodrow Wilson Middle School and Clifton High School. They now reside in Bayville and enjoy traveling, spending time at the beach house with family and friends, gardening and cooking. Their greatest moments are the times that they get to spend with their five grandchildren, Kayla, Matthew, Ashlan, Braedyn and Adler.

Loretta has been the Treasurer of the Clifton Education Foundation since its inception in 1997.  In addition to her role as Treasurer, she is a passionate fundraiser for the foundation. Loretta received an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University.  She was employed at Hoffmann-La Roche for 20 years in an administrative capacity, ending her career as a Supervisor of Medical Documentation. In 1987, she left Hoffmann-La Roche to focus on family and raise her four children, Said, Dena, Dean and Adam, and became an enthusiastic volunteer in the Clifton Public School District. She has served in various parent organization roles at School 2, Woodrow Wilson Middle School, and Clifton High School, as well as being involved in a variety of community activities.  Loretta resides in Clifton with her husband, Odeh, and they enjoy spending time with their family, especially their five grandchildren and one great-grandson.  In her spare time, Loretta enjoys scrapbooking, researching family history, and playing word games and chess

Patty, has lived in Clifton since 1991, becoming a trustee on the Clifton Education Foundation in 2022 and assuming the role of secretary in 2023.  In 2025, she became the CEF’s Outreach Director. She attended the Tobe-Coburn School for Fashion Careers and The New York Institute of Technology. She worked for NBC for 40 years with positions at NBC Radio News, NBC News, WNBC TV and NBC News Overnight where the staff was awarded the prestigious Peabody Award. Ending her career as an Associate Director, she is a member of the Directors Guild of America. The mother of Andrew, a CHS graduate, Patty has been active in Clifton Public Schools for over 20 years having served as School Fourteen’s HSA President for 4 years and Woodrow Wilson Middle School’s HSA President for 3 years. She was a member of the CHS Mustang Band Parent Association, Inc. for 4 years. Additionally, she also worked as a substitute secretary in Clifton schools. Patty and her husband Eric were awarded Seton Hall’s Mother Seton Award for their active work in the University. In her leisure time, Patty enjoys hiking with her family, quilting, bike riding, photography and reading.

Kim joined the Clifton Education Foundation Board in 2021, becoming the Communications Director in 2022. A graduate of Clifton Schools, she received a Bachelor of Science (Education of the Deaf, K-12) from The College of New Jersey and a Master of Education (Learning Disabilities), as well as her 6th year level (Administration/Supervision), from William Paterson University. She studied American Sign Language at the Interpreters Education Program at UCC. Kim taught in Clifton for 35 years, 25 years as a Teacher of the Deaf, and 10 years working with children with autism and learning disabilities. She  taught ASL for the Clifton Adult School, establishing a Senior Citizen Outreach Program for School 14. She received the First Annual Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award in 1986 and was chosen to participate in the Governor’s Convocation on Excellence in Education that same year. In 1990, she was the ASL interpreter for the Jefferson Awards ceremonies at the Supreme Court and the White House in Washington, DC. She received the Clifton Teachers’ Association Educator of the Year Award in 2014. Kim resides in Clifton with her husband, retired Clifton Elementary Principal Luca Puzzo. She enjoys photography and spending time with family, especially her daughter Ariana, a journalist. 

Cheryl joined the Clifton Education Foundation in 2025, quickly assuming the role of secretary. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Rider College, Nursery School Certification from Montclair State and a Master of Science in Educational Technology from Ramapo College. Additionally, she is certified in Middle School Language Arts.  Before her 25-year tenure teaching third grade at School Eight, Cheryl taught preschool at Grove Hill Nursery School, where she created, wrote and implemented a preschool/kindergarten curriculum designed around computers. During her School Eight years, she provided instruction for in-district professional days as well as piloting Smart Boards and other technology projects in her classroom. She wrote and received numerous grants, including many from the Clifton Education Foundation. Committed to a sustainable future, Cheryl applied for and received a $5,000 grant from Lowe’s that was used to build an innovative outdoor nature classroom, appropriately named The Schoolyard 8trium. Fostering a sense of global responsibility in her students, she facilitated their involvement with the organization H2O for Life, which creates partnerships between American schools and schools in towns and villages without access to clean water in other countries. Her students raised funds for the purchase and installation of toilets and hand washing stations in elementary schools in Nicaragua. 

Cheryl received the District Excellence in Education Award in 2003 and 2008 as well as the 2020-2021 Governor’s Educator of the Year for School Eight. She has resided in Clifton with her husband, noted author and journalist Rick Pienciak, since 1981. Their two sons, Ryan and Adam, both attended School 5, WWMS and CHS. She was a member of the Home and School executive boards for both School 5 and WWMS. Cheryl enjoys spending as much time as she can with her five grandchildren, Addy, Jax, Lila, Willow and Hudson. Her interests include knitting, sewing and baking. 

Kelly, a lifelong resident of Clifton, has been a trustee with the Clifton Education Foundation

since 2023. She attended School #14, Woodrow Wilson Middle School and is a graduate of

the CHS Class of 1991. Kelly received her Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting at New Jersey City University and has over 25 years of Finance experience in a variety of capacities. 

Throughout her career Kelly has held various positions across a number of corporate entities including Ernst & Young, Ralph Lauren, Sony Music, Nestle Nutrition and Christie’s Auction House in NYC where she held a Global AVP of Finance role, traveling between NYC and London leading the financial management of multimillion-dollar auctions. In 2016, she transitioned from the corporate world to higher education, now working at Montclair State University. Throughout her time at MSU, Kelly has held various positions with promotions through the finance division as Associate Vice President of Budget and Planning, Director of Treasury Operations and currently serves as the Assistant Treasurer for the University. She has an extensive background in finance, budget and planning, treasury, cash management and banking. She is also responsible for the insurance and risk management for the University. 

Kelly has also worked closely with the MSU Foundation to ensure funds are allocated properly and used according to plan. She played a critical and central role in responding to various CARES Act requests from the state in response to the Covid-19 pandemic leading the efforts to bring together key data from across the University, working closely with the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education submitting a budget request which resulted in $26.4M in CARES ACT funding awarded to the University. Kelly continues to be the key contact for the audit of these funds, ensuring proper record keeping and compliance. 

During her time at MSU, she also led the successful banking implementation to

JP Morgan Chase for the University and was heavily involved on the Finance and Treasury side

during the monumental merger of Montclair State University with Bloomfield College. She

played a key role in the acquisition of Floyd Hall Arena which is now Montclair State Ice Arena

and has managed the finances for various strategic partnerships on campus such as the Red

Bulls II and Jackals. Kelly also leads the annual surveillance meetings with both Moody’s and

Fitch Rating Agencies for the University.

Kelly resides in Clifton with her husband Fernando who has taught

Physical  Education and Health at CCMS since 1999. They have two children, Kayla and Matthew

who both attended School #14 and Woodrow Wilson Middle School. She and her family are

parishioners of St. Philip the Apostle RC Church in Clifton. Her family enjoys summers at the Jersey shore and spending time with friends and family.

Karin, a lifelong resident of Clifton, joined the Clifton Education Foundation in 2022. A graduate of the CHS Class of 1969, she is also a graduate of William Paterson University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. Deeply rooted in the community, Karin worked for the Clifton Recreation Department upon graduating from high school, supervising playgrounds, judging contests and administering arts and crafts. She has been a religious educator since 1973 and was a volunteer at Clifton Safety Town for 20 years, receiving the Friend of Youth Award from the Clifton Optimist Club for her service. Before teaching elementary school students at School Three in Clifton, Karin taught nursery school at Allwood Play and Learn and Grove Hill Nursery School. A parishioner of Saint Philips RC Church, where her family received the Family of the Year Award from the Knights of Columbus, Karin is a member of the Columbiettes and the Rosary Altar Society. Karin resides in Clifton with her husband, John. She has three children, Michael, Brian and Karen Elizabeth. In her leisure time, Karin enjoys knitting, plastic craft and playing the piano.

Robert (Bob) Foster joined the Clifton Education Foundation in 2024. A native of Kingston, NY, Bob majored in Physical Education and minored in YMCA work at Springfield College in MA. Further studies led to a master’s degree in human resources from Clemson University. Bob moved to Clifton in 1980 when he was recruited to be a Social Recreation Director for the Boy’s Club of Clifton. He met his wife, Mary Jo Anzaldi-Foster, the Club’s Early Childhood Director in 1986 when the Boys Club and Girls Club merged. Rising through the ranks, he became the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Clifton in September of 2006, and is instrumental in having transformed the club into the model community resource it is today before his retirement in 2024. Bob’s passionate commitment to Clifton is well documented through his work as a member of the Rotary Club, Clifton’s Interagency Council, the Clifton Optimist Club and the Clifton Board of Recreation.  His breadth of knowledge and experience in helping young people in our community, including managing teens and leadership programs for the Key Stone Club and coaching basketball, is unparalleled.  

Ernie has been a trustee on the Clifton Education Foundation Board since 1999. He received a Bachelor of Science from St. Peter’s College in addition to being a graduate of the Realtor Institute. A true renaissance man, Ernie has served our community, county and state in a variety of capacities. Before retiring from teaching, he taught chemistry in Clifton Public Schools for 33 years, where he received the Clifton Teachers’ Association Educator of the Year award and served as President of the CHS Faculty Organization. He continues to be the well-respected Real Estate and Insurance Broker/Proprietor of The Ernest T. Scheidemann Agency located in Clifton, established in 1916 by his grandfather. Ernie has held a variety of civic and business positions throughout his professional career, including President of the Wayne Democratic Organization and member of the Passaic County Democratic County Committee, a member and chairman of the Wayne Township Board of Adjustment and Planning Board, Trustee of the Clifton Mental Health organization and Downtown Clifton Economic Development Group, and Alternate Director of the Passaic County Board of Realtors. He is a member of the Passaic County Board of Taxation and has served as their president, as well as a certified Tax Assessor and Notary Public for the State of NJ. Ernie is the father of seven children and a grandfather of 15. A poet and a world traveler, Ernie enjoys conversing with people, all types of fishing, and participating in life.

Maryann, a lifelong resident of Clifton, has been a trustee on the Clifton Education Foundation since 2004. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in French from Montclair State University. A recipient of the prestigious Margaret B. Holz Scholarship, Maryann studied for a year in Grenoble, France.  She taught French for 34 years at West Essex High School in North Caldwell before her retirement.  Maryann is an active member of  St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Passaic, serving as a cantor since 1990, and later assuming the additional role as the choir directress.  She served as a Board Member of the Clifton Arts Center.  A talented pianist, Maryann enjoys singing and speaking French with the group Alliance Francaise de Montclair. 

Trustee Emerita: Lila has been a trustee on the Clifton Education Foundation Board since 2009. She is the sister of CEF co-founder Marie Hakim. A graduate of Clifton Public Schools, Lila grew up working at Alexander’s Department Store in Clifton alongside her four siblings and parents, Alexander and Ramza Hakim, the proprietors. Lila graduated from the Essex College of Business. Before her retirement in 2006, she was an executive assistant for a variety of companies, including J. P. Stevens and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. An avid traveler, Lila and her husband, John, enjoy traveling in the U.S. and internationally. The parents of John and Suzanne, they love spending time with family, especially their four grandchildren, attending their school, athletic and social functions. Lila and John now reside in Ocean Township, NJ where she enjoys jigsaw puzzles, making crafts and playing cards in her free time.