Graduating from Kean University with a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature and Master’s Degrees in Bilingual Education and Educational Leadership, Monica Charris Tabares joins the council as a lifelong educator. She is currently the Director of the North Hudson Community Action Corporation Head Start Program, where she monitors program quality and serves as a resource to all members of the Head Start department. She has been recognized as the North Hudson County Educator of the Year and the Orange School District Teacher of the Year, and is currently pursuing her doctorate while holding teaching licenses in P-3, K-5, Bilingual, Education Supervision, and Principal CE. Council Member Charris Tabares was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, and immigrated to the United States with her parents and sister when she was two years old. She currently resides in Bloomfield with her husband and two children.