| Dawn Fantasia was first elected to the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders (County Commissioners) in 2018 and is currently serving in her second term. She acts as liaison to the Division of Health, Sussex County Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Partnership, Department of Central and Shared Services, Capital Budget Committee, Sussex County Community College, and the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council. Dawn served on the Franklin Borough Council for three years and was appointed Council President in 2018. Prior to this, she served on the Zoning Board and was first appointed to the Economic Development Committee in 2014.
Dawn is a single parent of three- Maria, Aidan, and Lila. She graduated from Wallkill Valley Regional High School, and completed her undergraduate degree at Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia. She continued her studies with Rutgers Center for Effective School Practices, and earned an MS in Educational Leadership from Capella University as a recipient of the National Project Working Mom scholarship program.
Dawn has extensive experience in strategic planning, budgeting, and implementing large-scale programs and services, working in education for the past fifteen years as both an educator and administrator in public charter school districts. Dawn has taught English, speech, and theatre, and was named Teacher of the Year in 2010. She has served as both Chief Growth Officer and Chief Communications Officer, has directed communications and media outreach, and has led the growth and development of visual and performing arts across each school campus. She is currently the middle school principal of Bergen Arts and Science Charter School in Garfield, NJ. She has been active in educational advocacy efforts and has provided testimony before the State Legislature to demand fair school funding.
As a young adult, her work and volunteer experience led her to embrace Meals on Wheels and senior citizen congregate nutrition programs. The needs of our seniors is an issue close to her heart; as a County Commissioner and community leader, she continues to seek ways to improve services for our aging population. |