FIRST PERSON
Fresh Face
at the Fund
Masiel Rodriquez-Vars, executive director of
the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence
I
t has been nearly a year since the Montclair Fund
for Educational Excellence named former teacher,
attorney and nonprofit consultant Masiel RodriquezVars to succeed its longtime executive director,
Lois Whipple. Advocating for students and families
has been central to Rodriquez-Vars’ professional
pursuits since her earlier time at Teach for America. Her
current role allows her to carry on the tradition of her
mother, Olga, who worked to desegregate schools in
Uvalde, Texas during the ’70s. Here, she shares her
thoughts on overseeing two large groups – MFEE,
and her family of six – simultaneously.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Our core goal is to support district-wide initiatives and
bottom-up innovation from our teachers through our grants
program and our community partners – business leaders,
nonprofits, and faith-based communities – who support our
students and families. MFEE really enjoys broad-based support
in this town. On May 22, our fundraising event, the MFEE
Amazing Fundracer, inspired by the TV Series The Amazing Race,
brought in $85,000 from donations and sponsorships, along
with thousands of dollars from local businesses.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE, PART TWO
The challenging part about the job is to find the end of the
workday, because you kind of live the job. Luckily, I don’t require
a lot of sleep. My kids help with cooking and chores, and they’re
responsible with their homework. And my husband, Ray, is
incredible. I also have amazing friends who are willing to
take my kids at a moment’s notice.
FOCUS ON FILM
I love finding and telling stories through filmmaking.
I’ve served as co-mentor to a few Montclair High School seniors
READY FOR SCHOOL Sebastian, Jack, Benjamin and Mia Rodriquez-Vars
with parents Masiel and Ray, 10 years ago.
who made independent films for their Senior Internship
Program. As a member of the Montclair Film Festival Education
Committee, I stay connected to the high school’s film club, and
explore opportunities for MFF to help students.
TEXAS TRANSPLANT
I was born and raised in Texas. The plan was to move back after
I finished law school, but my husband found a job that he loved in
New York. I never pictured myself as a Jersey girl. Montclair is not
perfect. We’re not immune to insensitivity; there’s still a lot of
work we have to do to make the community feel like a community for everybody. But I cannot imagine living anywhere else. This is
the only place where I would ever want to raise my kids... ■
– AS TOLD TO DANIELLE BENNETT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNE-MARIE CARUSO
MAKEUP COURTESY DEBRA HELIAS OF BANGZ SALON & WELLNESS SPA
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MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE BACK TO SCHOOL 2016