Rising Star Awardee
Eric Jones
President
Plainfield Education Association
Eric E. Jones, a veteran elementary teacher, is currently the President of the Plainfield Education
Association. He began serving a three-year term on August 1, 2016.
As President, Eric is responsible for the working conditions of the 1,050 employees of the District.
In addition, his advocacy includes ensuring that each of the 8,000 students are provided
with the services needed to ensure their academic success. Eric has made school health and
safety a priority.
His journey as an education advocate began at an unexpected time and place in his young career.
After relocating to Atlanta in 2000, he was hired as an elementary teacher for the 2000-2001
School Year. In February of 2001, the District decided to illegally terminate all of its first-year
teachers due to an administrative error and rehire all two hundred employees as substitutes –
merely giving them two weeks notice. Having started his career in Westfield in 1998 and having
knowledge of employees rights, Eric fought back on this decision by contacting various district
offices – including the late Dr. Beverly Hall, former Superintendent of School. When all else failed,
he contacted Fox 5 News. When District Personnel learned that this story would be featured on
the evening news, Eric received a personal call from Dr. Hall stating that the decision had been
reversed, much to the surprise and excitement of his peers.
Shortly thereafter, he relocated back to Plainfield where he has served as a teacher since 2002.
Eric has served as the Plainfield Public Schools’ Coordinator of Community Engagement, Public
Engagement, and Marketing. Eric is a graduate of The College of New Jersey, where he earned a
degree in Elementary Education.
A native of Chicago, Eric currently resides in New York City, New York.