About the Board

The Montville Township Board of Education Members

L-R: John Petrozzino, Christine Fano, Karen Cortellino, Michelle Zuckerman, David Modrak, Joseph Daughtry, Caitlin Smith, Michael Palma, Michael Rappaport

The Montville Township Board of Education consists of nine members who are each elected for a three-year term.  The Board serves as the policy-making body which governs the school district.  Board elections are held in connection with the June general election.

The Board's principal responsibility is to establish policy. The Board is also responsible for the selection of the superintendent; the initial appointment or reappointment of personnel; the approval of the curriculum, textbooks, and supporting materials; the process of negotiations with those organizations that represent the professional and non-professional staff; the formulation of the budget; creation of the school calendar; the maintenance of the existing facilities; and research and planning of new facilities.

To learn more about the role of the Board of Education in the community we encourage you to watch the School Governance Primer series presented by Ray Pinney, the New Jersey School Board Association's director of county activities and member engagement. In this series Pinney explores the role of the school board through insightful conversations with some of NJ's top BOE leaders, superintendents, and policy makers. Topics include: the board/superintendent relationship, the board’s role in personnel, the ins and outs of board meetings, and forging relationships with the community.

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Board Members

Montville Township BOE Member and President Dr. David Modrak

Dr. David Modrak, President

Elected | Term ends 2027 | david.modrak@montville.net

Dr. Modrak has served on the Board of Education since 2014. During that time he has served on a variety of committees, and was the chair of the Policy and the Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology committees. Dr. Modrak was elected President of the BOE in 2023. Along with his wife and daughter, Dr. Modrak has lived in Montville Township since 2004. He served as a basketball, cross country, and track coach in the Montville Recreation League for 5 years. Dr. Modrak holds a PhD in biochemistry from Indiana University, Bloomington, and was a Principal Investigator at the Garden State Cancer Center. He has held teaching positions at several colleges and universities, including Rutgers and Montclair State Universities. He continues to be involved in education as a medical writer and produces continuing medical education activities for clinicians caring for people with cancer.

Montville Township BOE Member Joseph Daughtry

Mr. Joseph Daughtry, Vice President

Elected | Term ends 2026 | joseph.daughtry@montville.net

Mr. Daughtry is a 40-year resident of Montville Township. Having arrived in the United States, from La Paz, Bolivia, when he was less than a year old, Mr. Daughtry grew up in a home built by his family in the Montville area of the township. He attended William Mason Elementary School, Robert R. Lazar Middle School, and Montville Township High School. Mr. Daughtry graduated from William Paterson University where he studied History and Psychology. Following graduation he joined the team at A.C. Daughtry Security Systems, located in Montville Township, and is currently the supervisor of the company's fire alarm systems department. Mr. Daughtry was elected to the Montville Township Board of Education in 2018 and received the NJSBA Certified Board Member designation in 2023. Mr. Daughtry also serves on a number of municipal boards including: Montville Township Drug Awareness Council - Municipal Alliance Committee, 2006 to Present; Montville Township Environmental Commission, 2020 - Present; and Montville Township Design Review Committee, 2022 - Present.

Montville Township BOE Member Dr. Karen Cortellino

Karen Cortellino, M.D.

Elected | Term ends 2027 | karen.cortellino@montville.net

Dr. Cortellino is president of the New Jersey School Boards Association. From 2019 – 2023 she served as NJSBA VP for legislation/resolutions, and has earned the designations of Certified Board Member, Master Board Member, and Certified Board Leader through the NJSBA Board Member Academy. Dr. Cortellino has been a member of the Montville Township Board of Education since 2006, serving as its president from 2010 – 2016. She has also served on every standing board committee, as well as various ad hoc committees. Dr. Cortellino is the first recipient of the Irene LeFebvre Excellence in Boardsmanship Award, as presented, in June 2022, by the Morris County School Boards Association. She also served as an NJSBA board of directors member, as president of the MCSBA, and was a member of the MCSBA Legislative Committee. An active member of the community, Dr. Cortellino received the Montville Good Scout Award, Boy Scouts of America in 2017, and is a member of many local organizations including the Greater Montville Relay for Life. Dr. Cortellino is a radiologist. She has lived in Montville Township for 39 years. Both of her children attended Cedar Hill Elementary School. Dr. Cortellino's son graduated from Montville Township High School.

Montville Township BOE Member Christine Fano

Mrs. Christine Fano

Elected | Term ends 2025 | christine.fano@montville.net

Prior to her role on the Board of Education, Mrs. Fano served as a Parent-Staff Organization (PSO) President and Vice-President. She has also been involved in the Early Intervention Board for Morris County and has been a special needs advocate for over two decades. As a BOE member, Mrs. Fano has served on various subcommittees, including Policy and Safety & Security. In addition, she was the BOE liaison with William Mason Elementary's Home and School Association (HSA). Mrs. Fano is a graduate of the The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She also attended Seton Hall University for Secondary Ed in Biology and Theatre Arts. Since 1996 Mrs. Fano and her family have been residents of Montville Township. Her two sons, and numerous nieces and nephews, have attended Montville Township Public Schools.

Montville Township BOE Member Michael J. Palma

Mr. Michael J. Palma

Elected | Term ends 2026 | michael.palma@montville.net

Mr. Palma has served on the Montville Township Board of Education since 2005. In 2022 he was elected to the position of Vice President of the Montville Township BOE. He served as VP for a year. A resident of Montville Township since 1989, Mr. Palma's two children attended Montville Township Public Schools and graduated from Montville Township High School. During his time on the Montville Township BOE, Mr. Palma has also served as the Chairman of the Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Committee, and sat on the Policy and Personnel Committee, Communications Committee, and Liaison to Drug Awareness Council. Additionally, Mr. Palma has received BOE training and certification in Governance, Regional Leadership training; Guide to New Chief School Administration Evaluation Process training; and HIB training, as well as multiple NJSBA workshops, and 3Rs for Board members. Mr. Palma is an attorney-at-law. He holds a B.A. from The Citadel; and a J.D. from Catholic University of America.

Montville Township BOE Member John Petrozzino

Mr. John Petrozzino

Elected | Term ends 2025 | john.petrozzino@montville.net

Mr. Petrozzino was elected to the Board of Education in 2022. He is an active member of the Montville Township community, where he coaches soccer, wrestling, and baseball teams. Mr. Petrozzino has a life-long connection to education. His father was a former member of the Montville Township Board of Education and a former high school principal. His mother, Marianne, worked as a teacher in the Newark school district for over 30 years. Additionally, his wife, Adair, is a history and special education teacher at Madison High School. His children attend William Mason Elementary School. Professionally, Mr. Petrozzino practices law for a firm in Hackensack, New Jersey. He has a background in law, finance, and accounting. He graduated from Boston College and obtained his law degree from Villanova University.

Montville Township BOE Member Michael Rappaport

Mr. Michael Rappaport

Elected | Term ends 2025 | michael.rappaport@montville.net

Mr. Rappaport has served on the Montville Township Board of Education since January, 2018. In 2004 Mr. Rappaport moved to Montville Township. His two daughters were born and raised in Montville Township. In spring 2022, his oldest graduated, which he has stated "has given me a new perspective on preparing our children for the world after high school, and on the college search and selection process." Professionally Mr. Rappaport is a patent attorney specializing in patent prosecution, litigation, and licensing in the information technology, computing system, self driving vehicle, and 5G/6G communication network areas. As a member of the Montville Township BOE he has been the chairperson for the Safety & Security committee and has served on the Curriculum & Instruction committee, and as the liaison to the MTHS PTC. His younger daughter currently attends MTHS. Mr. Rappaport has said, "I am proud to be part of the positive changes that have been made in our schools and I am proud to be part of this District as both a parent and a BOE member, and I am looking forward to continuing the improvement of our schools and doing more to deliver success for our children."

Montville Township BOE Member Caitlin Smith

Ms. Caitlin Smith

Elected | Term ends 2027 | caitlin.smith@montville.net

Elected to the Montville Township Board of Education in 2024, Ms. Smith has a passion for education. An independent Education Consultant, Ms. Smith is a former elementary school and ESL teacher who holds a degree from Penn State University and a Master's in Curriculum & Instruction. Ms. Smith has taught grades K-5 and has worked in Lincoln Park and Hanover Township schools. Having been a Montville Township resident since 2010, Ms. Smith and her husband have three children attending the Montville Township Public Schools. For five years she served as the President of the Valley View PTA and has also served as the organization’s vice-president and secretary. While PTA President, Ms. Smith was also the Co-President of the district’s Presidents’ Council for four years. Additionally, she is a board member of the Gracie’s Army Foundation.

Montville Township BOE Member and Vice President Michelle Zuckerman

Mrs. Michelle Zuckerman

Elected | Term ends 2026 | michelle.zuckerman@montville.net

Mrs. Zuckerman was elected to the Board of Education in 2017. She and her family have been residents of Montville Township since 2001. During her time in the community Mrs. Zuckerman has been a dedicated advocate for education and community involvement. She served as the president of the Cedar Hill Home and School Association for six years. She also held the positions of vice-president of the Lazar Parent Teacher Council (PTC), treasurer of the MTHS PTC, and president of the Montville Township President's Council. Additionally she has served as the president and treasurer of the Pine Brook Jewish Center Sisterhood. Mrs. Zuckerman holds a Bachelor's degree from Lafayette College, where she pursued a dual major in Computer Science and Government & Law. She furthered her education by earning a Masters of Education from Rutgers University. Professionally Mrs. Zuckerman has been a technology consultant at American Management Systems, followed by a position at Merck-Medco. Together with her husband Evan, she has raised two daughters, Lindsay and Hailey, in Montville Township. Both attended Montville Township Public Schools.