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The following bio is courtesy of Jersey City Families for Better Schools.
Azam A. Riaz
Azam Riaz has lived majority of his life in Jersey City. Since the age of five, he has lived in Jersey City. He attended Our Lady of Czestochowa grammar school, Saint Peter's Preparatory High School. He completed his undergraduate studies at Saint Peter's College, whereby he earned dual Bachelors of Science degrees cum honorum and cum laude in Biology and Business Management with a minor in Chemistry. While attending Saint Peter's College, he served as a Resident Assistant for incoming resident freshmen in the dormitories. He assisted them in adjusting to life on campus. Azam also volunteered a few hours per week volunteering at the York Street Project by assisting the young boys and girls with their school studies.
Azam attended Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey for an MBA in Global Management with a semester spent at Wroxton College in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. Since 2000, Azam has served as an accountant/auditor at a reputable establishment in New York City. Since 2007, he also serves as a Steward for the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU). Currently, Azam is a Candidate for Level II of the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) program and the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) program.
Alongside his employment, Azam has volunteered a considerable amount of time volunteering for a nonprofit organization, whereby he assisted in conducting a fully-sponsored Health Fair, ESL classes, basic Computer literacy classes, summer youth programs, etc.
- Identify two strengths and two weaknesses of the Jersey City Public Schools. How should these weaknesses be remedied and these strengths reinforced? Education presents unique challenges and there are many issues that need to be addressed. We have big budget to work with, so we should conduct efficiency audits at all levels to ensure proper usage of funds. It is absolutely imperative that we get rid of all wastage of funds. Another strength is an array of extracurricular activities that are available in the public school system but there is low student enrollment in the programs. We need to find unique ways of motivating the students to be more involved in the school system. We need to improve the experience of the students and ensure that the maximum amount of dollars reach the students and classrooms. The teachers are an asset as well and we should provide them with full support.
- The new school funding formula presents the Jersey City Public Schools with serious financial challenges. How do you propose to overcome the projected cut in state funding? The new school funding formula presents serious challenges. We can overcome the proposed cut in state funding by conducting efficiency audits at all levels and erase all wastage of funds. Once areas of need have been identified, then we can allocate greater resources to the affected areas. We need to be creative and have leaders with great vision. We will be able to pull through and provide all the necessary remedies.
- Do you support any form of school choice? What is your position on charter schools, magnet schools, vouchers, or district-run independent schools? As America is a free country, we should have as many choices as practical for the students and their parents. Residents of Jersey City should have the ability to pick and choose from different types of environments and programs because one size does not fit all. Each student is unique and has different interests. Therefore, choices should be made available to the residents of Jersey City.