Fractured

Annual NJPTA trainings do not provide every single piece of information that local PTAs need in order to run their chapter successfully. There is always the possibility that PTAs can make mistakes or miss a step when running their organizations. This is common. Navigating these types of situations is the responsibility of each individual PTA. Local PTAs can reach out to the state level PTA for assistance, however, each PTA is a separate business entity with no authority or regulation over any other.

Majority Vote
In April of 2023, as Essex County PTA President, Lisa Clarke, was selected for the NJPTA President-Elect role at the NJPTA annual convention. The event’s attendees included the NJPTA board and committee members, as well as PTA members from across the state of New Jersey. As Clarke won the majority vote, she was next in line to hold the NJPTA President title from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027.

A Clear Violation
In 2024, with assistance from Sarita Dodd, NJPTA Vice-President of Leadership, NJPTA president Sharon Roseboro allegedly increased the income of the NJPTA by violating the bylaws, and supporting a hate-filled agenda against the Glenfield PTA in Montclair, NJ. A white woman named ‘Karen’ in the Glenfield school community created a false rumor about the then Black PTA President’s term. This lie was allegedly started in order to remove the Black PTA President, as well as any other Black individuals from the Glenfield PTA executive board. The alleged goal was for ‘Karen’ to be able to have a spot for herself on the Glenfield PTA, but to have no Black people on that PTA’s executive board. Sources alleged that ‘Karen’ claimed, should she solidify a position for herself on the Glenfield PTA executive board, ‘Karen’ would not allow any Black person to have a role as President, Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer as long as she was on the Glenfield PTA board.

While Roseboro appeared to be of African descent, allegedly the plot of a racially motivated attack didn't trump the money that the NJPTA would earn from Glenfield's increased memberships.
According to inside sources, president-elect Clarke was very vocal and heavily against any action that violated the bylaws of the NJPTA; if an agenda didn't support the students and families, Clarke was against it. Pleading with Roseboro and the executive board, Clarke allegedly provided the board members with several points stating the rules and regulations of the organization, as well as documentation in opposition to Roseboro and Dodd's bylaw-violating acts against the Glenfield PTA.

R.A.R.E. (Roseboro’s Alleged Revenge Escalates)
According to a confidential source, NJPTA president Roseboro was furious with then president-elect Clarke for not supporting the bylaw-violating acts of the NJPTA executive board in 2024. Roseboro allegedly planned to again violate the organization’s bylaws and remove Clarke from the president-elect position.

A Questionable Pattern
The New Jersey PTA website now shows a blank space for president-elect, where the name of Essex County’s PTA president, Lisa Clarke, once stood. According to a confidential source, in May 2025, NJPTA President, Sharon Roseboro allegedly pressured the organization’s executive board to again violate their bylaws. Board members were allegedly instructed to hold an unwarranted vote to remove Clarke from the NJPTA president-elect role. According to the source, Roseboro was adamat about removing Clarke due to the 2024 disagreement that was seen as a violation of the organization’s bylaws.

While appearing to thirst for power and control during her 2023-2025 NJPTA presidency term, Roseboro pushed for an extension to hold the NJPTA Presidency seat through November, 2025; cutting into Clarke’s July 1, 2025 start date. Sources confirmed that Clarke, dedicated and flexible, supported Roseboro's request to extend her presidency term to November.

In addition to the May 2025 NJPTA bylaw-violating vote that removed the 30+ year PTA veteran, Lisa Clarke, the NJPTA board also terminated its full-time secretary at the Quakerbridge Plaza, NJ location. In addition to her general duties, the secretary was also allegedly a direct support for then president-elect Clarke. While all of the facts of the secretary’s termination are unknown at this time, a confidential source claimed that anyone who refused to conceal the continued violation of the NJPTA bylaws, were to be dismissed from their roles. This allegation of concealment has not been confirmed.

Money, Power, and No Resepect
In 2024, a New Jersey state official document was presented to Roseboro and confirmed the previous Glenfield PTA Executive board roles and timeline. While Roseboro completely ignored the document, the infomation did not support the lies that Roseboro and others made publicly to the Montclair Local in September, 2024. It does not appear that the Montclair Local publication fact-checked Roseboro's statements or anyone else's before publishing their article seeking to discredit the Black PTA president. Some felt that as long as there was at least one Black person in opposition of another, the agenda wouldn't look racist.

Due to Roseboro and her team's interference, the controversy in the Glenfield community grew and the PTA memberships increased - earning an alleged record dollar amount for the NJPTA. Had the NJPTA followed their bylaws, not involved themselves, and acknowledged the state document previously presented, the NJPTA may not have earned as much money from the Glenfield PTA memberships. Instead, Roseboro allegedly instructed her NJPTA board to conduct a never-done-before run-from-the-floor PTA election at Glenfield school. On October 30, 2024, the NJPTA-led election was held without the permission of the Glenfield PTA executive board. Supporting the allegations of a racially motivated plan, this unauthorized election removed all Black people from the school’s PTA and elected a majority-white executive board.

A Montclair community member and Glenfield caregiver seemed to echo the feedback heard over the last several months. “The community gained absolutely nothing from this personal mess. We all should be ashamed of ourselves for allowing this. This was disgusting and I really regret not doing more to stop it. I feel totally complicit. All we have to show for it now is one woman that wanted to run everything and just ran it all into the ground. PTA was so nice the past couple of years. This stupid October PTA election was unnecessary, a huge disappointment and a real loss for the kids.” – Glenfield community parent

Questionable Values
The NJPTA Website says that its values are collaboration, commitment, diversity, respect and accountability. However, it doesn’t appear that any of these values were displayed when Sharon Roseboro made false statements publicly, helped to increase the revenue of the NJPTA using (what appeared to be) deceptive practices, and instructed an unlawful vote to be held that ultimately left no Black people on a PTA’s executive board. Not only does this not benefit students and families, but I believe this sets an extremely dangerous precedent in today’s climate. Disgraceful.

"The only reason people wanted that Glenfield PTA President out was because she was successful and Black. Everyone knows that. No one ever questioned the White man PTA president before her and he didn't do half of the things that she did to make Glenfield feel connected when we were there. The NJPTA president should resign for supporting that." - Montclair High School parent

A National Perspective
While the National PTA president, Yvonne Johnson, is aware of the situation regarding the removal of NJ president-elect Clarke, she appeared to put forth a neutral front for the national branch of the organization. “We are unable to comment on state association business,” says Johnson. The national association did not confirm any support for the alleged bylaw violations of Roseboro and the NJPTA executive board.

“Children and families deserve better. Anyone that would support an agenda that even appeared to create a bias - that’s not support. That’s division. And no Blacks left on a PTA executive board? That’s not a coincidence. And then earning more money from some lie and getting rid of people to hide that? The NJPTA should be ashamed of themselves.” – Montclair, NJ community member
While there is an unconfirmed gathering of supporters ready to push for the re-instatement of the president-elect position for Lisa Clarke, she is currently still considered the Essex County, NJ County President. Clarke could not be reached for comment.

What’s Next?
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs oversees non-profit organizations. Some have suggested that a complaint should be filed against Roseboro and the NJPTA in connection with the alleged bylaw violations and actions outlined in this article. Anyone is able to review the complaint process by using the information provided on the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Website. There is an email address listed on the website as well.

While the National PTA doesn't govern the state PTA, they may be influential in cases such as these.
Put the students and families first, keep our schools fair and our volunteer leadership intact; your voice is needed!

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