By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
SAYREVILLE – A longtime member of the Sayreville Board of Education (BOE) will serve as president of a national education organization.
Board member Kevin Ciak will serve as president of the National School Boards Association (NSBA) for 2017-18. The NSBA announced his position on March 27.
Ciak has been a member of the Sayreville BOE for 23 years, having joined the board in 1994 at the age of 19. He is also serving as Sayreville’s board president for 2017.
According to a press release from the NSBA, Ciak joined the organization in 2011.
“For over two decades as a school board member, Kevin has championed public education and as NSBA’s president, he will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the next generation of high school graduates receive the best education possible,” Thomas J. Gentzel, NSBA executive director and CEO, said in a statement provided by NSBA.
The Sayreville Borough Council recognized Ciak for his accomplishment during a meeting on April 24.
“[Becoming president is] no small accomplishment,” Mayor Kennedy O’Brien said. “You [Ciak] worked very hard. We’re very proud of you.”
“Kevin, you’re making the cCass of 1993 proud,” Council President Dan Buchanan said. “Ever since we were kids, you were a hard worker and we knew you’d be successful.”
Ciak gave praise to the Sayreville community.
“This is a special place,” Ciak said. “No matter where I travel nationally, this will always be home for me. I love East Brunswick, I love Highland Park, I love North Brunswick, I love South Brunswick, but I am proud to say I am a graduate of Sayreville War Memorial High School. And that name alone says so much about the values of this community, what we think is important and who our heroes really are.”
The board president said he was looking forward to the NSBA’s visit to Sayreville.
“I’m looking forward to showing them what this community is all about, how special it is and how important what we provide to our students here is beyond just an education,” Ciak said. “We truly provide the values for our students that all of us grew up with.”
Contact Matthew Sockol at msockol@newspapermediagroup.
