The first female commissioner to be elected to a full-term in West New York, Commissioner Michelle Fernandez-Lopez represents the growing community of West New York today. A wife and mother of three, Fernandez-Lopez is raising her family in West New York, while balancing her career as a teacher and as a public servant.
Fernandez-Lopez serves as the Commissioner of Parks and Public Property, and since taking office has worked to maintain the various parks and recreation spaces throughout West New York. She has also overseen many of the renovations that have been taking place throughout the parks, and has increased safety by having a security guard present at each of the parks.
Born in the Dominican Republic, Fernandez-Lopez immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of 9. She was one of 11 brothers and sisters, who attended West New York schools since the family settled in the township in 1989.
Fernandez-Lopez graduated from Memorial High School and went on to attend Kean University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in elementary bilingual bicultural education and Spanish. She is currently working on her master’s degree, and this past summer studied abroad in Spain.
This is Fernandez-Lopez’s seventh year as a teacher at Harry L. Bain School. She is currently a third grade basic skills teacher and has served as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher. As a commissioner, Fernandez-Lopez along with Mayor Vega has also been an advocate for senior citizens, and helps with the monthly activities and field trips for seniors coordinated by the mayor’s office.
Fernandez-Lopez is a founder and president of the West New York Women’s Club, which just celebrated their first year in operation in June 2008. Through the organization, of which Mayor Vega has been a big supporter, many community service projects and events have been taken on, including last year’s Christmas Party for the third grade students of West New York. Thanks to the money raised by the West New York Women’s Club each student went home with a Christmas present.
“I am very happy to be a commissioner here in West New York and I am doing the best I can along with the Mayor and my fellow commissioners,” said Fernandez-Lopez. “It is an honor to serve my community.”