Helena Vinhas, a lifelong resident of Newark, was recently appointed to the Newark Board of Education. She is a mother of two daughters who attend Newark Public Schools.

Vinhas is active in the local community through the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Woman, Science Park High School PTSO, Ironbound Business Improvement District and as a Trustee of the Michael J. Silva Civic Association. She serves as the President of the Sport Club Portugues and in the past has served as a district leader in the East Ward.

Vinhas is committed to local control, to high levels of community engagement, and to ensuring that our school system provides an excellent, and equitable education for all.

“Our community continues to evolve, our city continues to grow, and educational approaches and expectations continue to be more innovative. I want to ensure that I am an active board member who seeks to understand what our critical needs are, while we help to communicate what the hopes of our community are for the future,” Vinhas said.

Vinhas is not only a family woman, but an accomplished businesswoman as well. Along with her brother, she runs a business with a large number of employees, who are all part of a family business which has existed for generations.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Kean University.

Vinhas believes in the enduring promise of an excellent education to help fulfill a child’s dreams, recognizing that our ability to provide world-class education is key to personal, social, and economic success.

“Newark’s schools can help fulfill dreams by being focused on the fundamentals, supporting a high impact instructional team, providing effective school governance, ensuring our adherence to sound financial and administrative practices, and maintaining our compassion for the children of our school community,” Vinhas said. “I want to help build upon that legacy and help give back to our great city, as it has given so much to my own family in the form of opportunity and growth.”

Vinhas said her goals as a member of the Newark Board of Education are to “be open about my concerns, passionate about our students, and continue to pursue greatness for all students.”

“Ultimately, I recognize that our role is to help set policy, and to bring in the right people to help manage the school district,” she said. “I am fully committed to work with this team to help achieve excellence here at Newark Public Schools.”

• Lifelong resident of Newark
• Mother of two children in Newark public schools
• Newark BOE member since 2024
• Member of the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Woman
• Member of the Science Park High School PTSO
• President of the Sport Club Portugues
• Newark Small Business owner over 40 years
• Member of the Ironbound Business Improvement District
• Trustee of the Michael J. Silva Civic Association.
• Served as a district leader in the East Ward
• Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Kean University.
• Distinguished award recipient Who’s Who Among American Universities