Passaic County commissioners honor Keisha T. Drakeford during Black History Month

The Passaic County Board of County Commissioners presented a proclamation to Keisha T. Drakeford, executive county superintendent of schools for Passaic County, publicly recognizing her contributions to education and workforce development at a regular meeting.

The commissioners said the 2025 Black History Month theme, “African Americans in the workforce,” guided the selection. The proclamation recited Drakeford’s early life in Paterson, New Jersey; her education; prior roles including EOF counselor and assistant director of the College Bound program at Passaic County Community College and multicultural affairs director at SUNY Alfred; and noted that she was appointed in 2020 as the county’s executive county superintendent of schools.

Drakeford accepted the honor and thanked the commissioners, county staff and her family. “This has been a rough year, so thank you to each and every one of you,” she said, adding thanks to her staff and sorority sisters for their support. Commissioners and others in the room also presented citations from local and state elected officials and representatives, and invited family and friends to join for photographs.

The recognition was presented without formal vote recorded as part of the meeting’s ceremonial items. Commissioners attending and named during the presentation included Rodney Devore (who introduced the proclamation), John Bartlett and others who were acknowledged by Drakeford during her remarks. The county also noted participation by invited guests including Alexandra Tasek and Diana Poe of Passaic County Community College.

The ceremony concluded with the board inviting photos and presenting flowers and framed citations to Drakeford.