O.T. Lovelace is running for Ramapo-Indian Hills Board of Education along with incumbent Tom Bogdansky

Name: Othiamba (“O.T.”) Lovelace

Family information: Wife, Ruth. Son, Isaiah (9 years old). Daughter, Naomi (6 years old).

Career: I am a labor and employment attorney. I am a Partner at Tobia & Lovelace, Esqs. LLC.

Educational background: I graduated from Tenafly High School in 2002. Graduated with honors
and Phi Beta Kappa recognition from Morehouse College in 2006. Graduated from New York
University School of Law in 2009.
Who are your running mates, if any? Incumbent Tom Bogdansky

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Website: https://bogdansky-lovelace.com/
Email: bogdansky.lovelace.for.rihboe@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BOGDANSKYandLOVELACE4RIHBOE

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogdanskyandlovelace4rihboe/

Please tell us what makes you the most qualified candidate.

I am a labor and employment attorney with nearly 20 years of experience advising and
working alongside boards of trustees for major pension funds representing unions across New
Jersey, including the Teamsters and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. That
experience has given me a deep understanding of how boards operate—balancing fiscal
responsibility, compliance, and long-term strategic goals.
I plan to bring that same expertise to the Board of Education, contributing a unique legal and
governance perspective to the Board’s review of contracts, policies, and initiatives. My
background allows me to analyze issues objectively, ask the right questions, and help ensure that
decisions are made transparently and in the best interests of the community.

Beyond my professional experience, I am also a proud Wyckoff resident and parent of young
children in our public schools. I have a strong personal commitment to strengthening our
schools—not only for my own kids, but for all of the students in our community. Serving on the
board would give me the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in this community that I
love by raising the quality of education our children receive in our public schools.

What is the biggest challenge facing Ramapo and Indian Hills high schools, and how
would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing the Ramapo–Indian Hills High School District is the lack of
sustained and consistent leadership at the top. Since 2020, our district has had seven different
superintendents. This turnover has made it difficult to maintain a unified vision and direction for
our teachers, administrators, and students.
As the son of two lifelong educators—my father an art teacher at Tenafly High School for 35
years, and my mother a professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University and Bergen Community
College—I have deep respect for teachers and understand the importance of stable leadership in
education.
If elected, I will focus on building a strong, respectful working relationship between the
Board of Education and our superintendent. I believe part of the turnover in the past stemmed
from conflicting attitudes and personal biases within the board itself. I am not tied down by any
past political or personal agendas in Wyckoff and will bring a clear, objective perspective to help
our school district move forward.
By fostering trust, professionalism, and collaboration at the top, we can provide the
consistent leadership our schools need to reach their full potential—and ensure that Ramapo and
Indian Hills continue to be among the best high schools not only in New Jersey, but in the nation.

What is your overall impression of the job that the RIH public schools are currently
doing?
While it’s undisputed that Ramapo and Indian Hills remain among the best public high
schools in New Jersey, I’m nonetheless concerned about their recent trajectory. According to
U.S. News & World Report, in 2023 Ramapo ranked 46th in New Jersey, while Indian Hills
ranked 85th. In the 2024 rankings, Ramapo fell significantly to 74th, while Indian Hills moved
up only slightly to 82 nd .
Although rankings do not capture the full picture—our schools continue to have excellent
teachers, strong programs, and dedicated students—they do reflect how the state and outside
observers view our district’s direction. Unfortunately, those perceptions suggest we are losing
ground rather than advancing.
I believe that by restoring consistent leadership, prioritizing academic excellence, and
refocusing on the fundamentals—reading, writing, math, science, and the arts—we can reverse
these trends. With a stable vision at the top and continued community support, Ramapo and

Indian Hills can regain momentum and return to being recognized among the very best public
high schools in New Jersey.

What do you believe has changed about public education from when you were little,
if anything, and do you think the changes are positive? If not, how would you
address that?
One of the biggest changes I’ve seen since I was a kid is the decreased emphasis on the arts,
music, and vocational training—programs like woodworking, culinary arts, and home economics
that once gave students valuable hands-on experience and prepared them for a wide range of
careers.
My father was an art teacher for 35 years, and I grew up seeing firsthand how the arts can
shape young minds. Art and music nurture creativity, problem-solving, and confidence in ways
that traditional academic subjects alone cannot. When students have opportunities to express
themselves creatively—whether through painting, performance, or design—they develop skills
that serve them in every part of life.
I believe we need to restore balance by emphasizing both academic fundamentals—reading,
writing, math, and science—and the creative disciplines that help develop the whole student. Too
often, political distractions and outside noise have drawn attention away from what truly matters:
preparing our children to think critically, create boldly, and adapt successfully to an ever-
changing world. My goal is to help refocus our schools on those priorities and ensure every child
in our district receives a well-rounded education that builds both knowledge and imagination.

For whom did you vote in the 2024 presidential election?

I support President Donald J. Trump and I believe that government spending has grown
unsustainably, and I agree with the need to review and reduce the size of many federal agencies,
including the Department of Education. This kind of accountability and fiscal responsibility is
essential to ensure that taxpayer resources are used wisely and effectively for our children’s
future.
That said, I also believe it’s critical that local education remain focused on students—not
politics. National political shifts will undoubtedly influence school funding and policy in the
years ahead, but at the local level, our duty is to provide stability and focus on what truly
matters: keeping our kids safe, well-educated, and prepared for the future.
If elected, I will keep politics out of the decision-making process and prioritize the needs of
our students and families. Education should never be driven by shifting political trends or
ideological agendas. It should be grounded in common sense, community values, and a shared commitment to academic excellence. Our responsibility as board members is to keep the focus where it belongs—on the children, not the politics.

Do you believe all public school students should have the option to get free lunch in
the local area? If so, how should it be funded?
I believe that no student in our public schools should ever go hungry. However, I also
believe that school-provided lunches should be reserved for families who truly need them.
Schools should not be expected to provide free meals for every student, but rather to ensure
that no child’s education is disrupted or diminished because their family cannot afford lunch.
Families who are able to provide meals for their children should continue to do so. For
those who cannot, our community should step in to help. We can do that through targeted
funding, charitable partnerships, or local programs designed to assist families in need.
It’s also important to make sure our school budgets reflect real priorities. If we identify
waste or inefficiencies in other areas, we can redirect those funds toward essential
needs—like ensuring that every student who requires assistance has access to healthy meals.
Occasional special lunch events that bring joy to students, such as pizza days, are great
community builders, but the core responsibility is to feed those who would otherwise go
without.
Our goal should be to balance compassion with accountability—helping those in need
while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

Do you think students today require more mental health counseling than in the
past? Do you believe current mental health programs in the schools are adequate, or
would you increase or cut the programs?

I believe that kids have always needed mental health support—what’s changed is that more
students today are finally getting the help they’ve always deserved. When I was growing up,
mental health was not discussed openly, and many students would have benefited from
counseling that simply wasn’t available or encouraged at the time.
While I can’t yet speak specifically to whether the current mental health programs at Ramapo
and Indian Hills are fully adequate, I can say with certainty that I would never support cutting
them. If anything, I would want to make sure these programs are properly funded, staffed, and
accessible to every student who needs them.
Today’s students face challenges that previous generations never encountered. With the rise
of social media, constant digital communication, and online bullying, our children are exposed to
pressures that can follow them around the clock—even into the middle of the night. Properly
trained mental health professionals in our schools can help students navigate these unique
challenges, build resilience, and learn healthy coping strategies.

As a parent, I know that even with the best intentions, we can’t always provide that level of
professional support at home. That’s why it’s so important for our schools to make mental health
care a priority, ensuring that every child has the tools to thrive both academically and
emotionally.

Just for an offbeat question, do you believe the first snow day of the year should be
done via remote learning, or a traditional day off?
Without a doubt, I believe the first snow day of the year should be a traditional day
off—and I know my kids will love that answer too.
I have fond memories of growing up in Teaneck, New Jersey, just down the road from
Wyckoff, and school snow days (especially during the “Blizzard of 1996”) are some of the best
memories from my childhood. There’s something special about waking up to a blanket of snow,
bundling up in layers of winter gear, and heading out to sled with friends in the neighborhood.
The laughter, the shared excitement, and the hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows afterward are
memories that stay with you for life.
Learning is essential, of course, but so is joy. Those small moments of
connection—friends playing together in the snow, families spending time together at
home—help create the kind of community bonds and childhood experiences that no virtual
lesson can replace. A snow day gives students a well-earned break, a chance to be kids, and a
reminder that not everything has to happen on a screen.