Julissa Jumper

Julissa Jumper - Cumberland County Board of Education

I was born in the Dominican Republic and at the young age of seven, my mother put me on a plane to NYC, sacrificing her life with me to afford better life opportunities for me in America. I spoke no English and had to learn quickly as I began my studies in the American school system.

• In the 1990s, I became a naturalized American citizen. As a single mother, I earned multiple degrees. I worked as a student advisor at Fairleigh Dickinson University and as a staff member of the Albert G. Oliver Foundation, identifying academically gifted minority students, placing them in top independent schools throughout the Northeast.
• In 1996, I enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as an interrogator for seven years, mostly conducting counterdrug activities in the Caribbean and South America.
• After leaving the Army, I married my husband, a fellow Soldier, and we we raised our children in Cumberland County, using the local public school system for my son and then homeschooling our young daughters to teach them our family values and expand their educational opportunities beyond the traditional curriculum.
• As a professional real estate broker and investor for the last 19 years I remain involved in the local community. My desire to serve on the Board of Education is fueled by the importance I place on giving every child a solid education.

I have lived the American Dream, and my dream is to pass this opportunity on to all our children. I believe that re-emphasizing mastery of the core subjects in our schools is how we can accomplish that.