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Meet Our Dedicated Team
Dedicated to Building Brighter Futures for our Children.
School Board Candidate
Maikemieh Noel
Hello neighbors, I’m Maikemieh Noel, a Hillside mom, grandmother, and passionate advocate for youth development and community engagement. I believe the two goes hand in hand because it truly takes a village to raise a child.
My life has been shaped by love, challenges, and purpose. I’m the proud mother of three amazing sons. A future engineer, a Navy veteran and graduate of Hillside High Schol and a brave young man with Autism and Down Syndrome whose strength inspires me daily. Each of my children has taught me something vital about resilience, education, and the power of being heard. I’ve learned that equity in education isn’t optional...it’s essential.
That’s why I founded a support group for parents and caregivers call “Parent to Parent”, lead youth programs at Guiding Star Church, became a Parent Advocate for the New Jersey Board of Charter School and serve on the board of an organization call “Touch Foundation” dedicated to empowering youth and elders.
I’m running for Hillside School Board because I believe in the promise of every child. I believe our schools should be places of excellence, safety, compassion, and opportunities and an environment where all scholars can thrive. We can achieve this by ensuring academic excellence, supporting our dedicated educators, promoting transparency, encouraging meaningful family engagement and creating opportunities that prepare students not just for graduation, but for lifelong success.
I bring lived experiences, a commitment to building a school district we can be proud of, courage to lead and a heart to serve.
Together, we can break barriers, ignite potential and build brighter futures for our scholars.
School Board Candidate
Naica Joseph
Naica Joseph is a dedicated mother, passionate advocate for education, and proud New Jersey native. 22 year resident of Hillside, raised by Haitian immigrant parents, Naica brings a deep sense of community, integrity, and perseverance to everything she does. As a PTA mom, she’s a familiar face at school events—volunteering at fundraisers, chaperoning field trips, and always finding innovative ways to bring ideas to life for the betterment of all students.
Naica holds a degree in Accounting with a minor in Business Law from Saint Peter’s University and professional certifications in Lean Six Sigma White Belt and Agile Foundations. Naica has a proven track record of managing complex projects, and driving engagement, and is ready to bring her passion, experience, and creative leadership to the school board.
At home, Naica’s world revolves around her two children, RaMello (4) and Grace (2) who inspire her every day to create a brighter future. Whether she’s dancing in the kitchen, planning a family trip to an amusement park, or brainstorming new ways to support her community, Naica leads with heart, purpose, and vision.
Naica is running for school board because she has young children in the district and knows firsthand the importance of shaping a strong educational foundation. She believes our schools need more than traditional learning—they need real-world, life-skill-based programs that prepare kids to thrive beyond the classroom. From financial literacy and entrepreneurship to mental wellness and digital citizenship, Naica is committed to bringing lasting change and building a future-ready school system. It’s time to invest in the kind of education that empowers our children—not just for today, but for life.
School Board Candidate
Richard Carter
Richard Carter is a proud 20-year Hillside resident, dedicated father of two, and a passionate advocate for youth and education. With over 25 years of experience as an IT professional supporting Fortune 500 companies, Richard brings both technical expertise and strategic insight to every challenge he takes on.
Deeply rooted in community service, Richard is a former PTA member and has served on the boards of several after-school and community programs aimed at enriching the lives of Hillside’s youth. His leadership and commitment to uplifting others earned him the Trailblazer Award from Lawrence Township.
In 2025, Richard was honored as a winner of the Bruce Springsteen "Move On Up" Gospel Choir Competition, performing alongside Lawrence High School’s gospel choir. As a gifted musician, accomplished pianist, and Assistant Music Director, Richard remains actively involved in the jazz, gospel, and yacht rock music scenes.
Above all, Richard is committed to building stronger schools and brighter futures for Hillside’s children by expanding access to creative, educational, and community programs. His belief is simple: when we invest in our youth, we invest in Hillside’s future.
✅ Attract and Support Local Businesses
We will work to streamline the process for opening and expanding businesses in Hillside. By creating a business-friendly environment and offering local incentives, we can attract high-quality restaurants, retail shops, and service providers that make Hillside a destination, not a drive-through.
✅ Revitalize Vacant Properties and Storefronts
Our team is committed to turning underutilized and vacant spaces into thriving hubs of activity. By encouraging mixed-use development and partnering with responsible developers, we’ll increase property values, generate new tax revenue (rateables), and restore pride in our business districts.
✅ Build a Sustainable, Tax-Stable Future
By increasing our commercial tax base and reducing over-reliance on residential taxes, we can ensure a more stable financial future for Hillside. Smart growth means more services, lower tax burdens, and a better quality of life for all residents.
✅ Expand Economic Development Initiatives
We plan to establish stronger partnerships with state and county economic agencies to bring in new investment. From small business grants to redevelopment zones, we’ll leverage every tool available to boost our local economy and create more opportunities for Hillside families.
✅ Invest in Infrastructure That Supports Growth
A thriving business community needs strong infrastructure. We will prioritize upgrades to roads, lighting, parking, and public spaces to support new development and attract foot traffic to our business districts. Clean, safe, and accessible areas will make Hillside more inviting for both residents and visitors.
HILLSIDE, NJ
CONTINUING OUR
MISSION TO
BUILD A BETTER HILLSIDE
REQUEST A LAWN SIGN
Show your support for the Building a Better Hillside Team and help spread the word across Hillside! Together, we can keep Hillside moving forward.
SCHEDULE A MEET N GREET
Want to get to know the BBH Team and talk about the issues that matter to you? Whether it’s your living room, block, or backyard, we’d love to meet with you and your neighbors.
REGISTER TO VOTE
Make your voice count in this year’s election! If you haven’t registered to vote, or you’ve recently moved, it only takes a few minutes to get set up. Ensure you're ready to cast your vote for Hillside’s future.
About Us – Building a Better Hillside
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything."
– George Bernard Shaw
The Building a Better Hillside Team is a coalition of dedicated public servants and community advocates committed to moving Hillside forward. Our mission is simple: to continue the work of restoring trust in local government, revitalizing our neighborhoods, and creating real opportunities for our residents.
We’ve fought for smarter development, improved services, and greater transparency—and we’re not done yet. Together, we’re working to build a stronger, safer, and more vibrant Hillside that we can all be proud to call home.
Let’s keep building—together.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Our campaign needs your support. Your monthly contribution will play a major role in our success.
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GET INVOLVED AND MAKE AN IMPACT
VOTE TO BUILD BRIGHTER FUTURES NOV 4, 2025
