The New Jersey School Boards Association says its president, Tammeisha Smith, was removed from office on Friday evening for violating the organization’s code of conduct.
In a statement, the group said Smith breached an oath she signed that stated, “I refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interests or use my position or title of office for personal or financial gain, or for the personal or financial gain of others.”
But the school boards association did not release details about Smith’s particular offense, and she declined to comment when reached by the New Jersey Globe on her cell phone.
According to her LinkedIn page, Smith is the president and CEO of The Dunbar Center, a Newark health care facility.
Smith was removed by a vote of 19-4.
Her removal from the state post is unlikely to affect Smith’s re-election prospects in Knowlton, where she is seeking re-election to a sixth three-year term. Only two candidates filed for three seats, and nobody filed for the Knowlton seat on the North Warren Regional Board of Education.
The school boards association said her removal had nothing to do with her local office.
“It does not affect her qualifications for or ability to serve as a member of her local board of education,” the statement said.
The New Jersey Globe first reported her removal late Friday evening.
