Rachel Secemski for Teaneck BOE

Rachel Secemski for Teaneck BOE

I Grew up in Elizabeth, NJ, went to Touro College in NYC. I knew I wanted to be a Physical Therapist in high school and enrolled in the PT program in undergraduate where I received a Bachelors degree in Health Sciences and a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy in 2006.

I moved to Teaneck in 2004 when I married my husband Gabe, we have been living in Teaneck since.

I Began working as a pediatric PT in 2012. I worked in Bergen County public schools for 4 years, then worked in the Newark public schools for 6 years.

Once pandemic began I worked frontlines at the NJ Field Medical Stations in Secaucus, Edison & East Orange. Worked alongside the National Guard and members of the NJ Department of Health.

I currently work in a special needs private school in Essex County. I also continue to work in post acute care rehabilitation as well.

I have 4 children ages 13, 8 and 5 year old twins.

My 13 year old and 5 year old twins are in private school. 

My 8 year old has had developmental delays since birth. He started in Teaneck Public Schools at age 4 in a Preschool Disabled class. At age 5 he was given an SLD (Specific Learning Disability) classification and placed in a LLD (Language and Learning Disabled) self contained class where he remained until 2nd grade at Lowell school.

I am running solely to help the children of Teaneck succeed. I want to ensure they are given any available resource after being kept home for 1 ½ years. The actions of certain board members in proposing a last minute vote to keep the students of Teaneck home caused such a significant decline in my son that he is no longer a student in TPS. All children, especially special needs students, need to have in person learning and therapies in order to make academic, functional and social/ emotional progress. The decisions being made for the students of Teaneck were poorly thought out throughout this Pandemic. Parents who wanted their children in person were an afterthought to feelings. As a healthcare provider who continues to work to frontlines, I will push for what is best for our students at all times. I have no interest in bringing politics or agendas into the board of education in our town. I will work hard to be a voice for students and families as a member of the BOE.

As a member of the BOE, I hope to use the large budget for the public  school system from 60% of tax revenue to provide more programming to help our students succeed. I am plan to make all decisions with the students best interest first and foremost.