About Jerry Jacobs

 Jerry Duane Jacobs is a lifelong resident of Elizabeth whose life and career have been defined by service, leadership, and a deep commitment to the community that raised him. Jerry’s personal and professional journey reflects a steadfast belief in giving back and strengthening opportunities for future generations.
 

For nearly a decade, Jerry has served as a member of the Elizabeth Board of Education since 2018. Throughout his tenure, he has been a consistent advocate for responsible governance, educational equity, and modernizing the district’s facilities. As Finance Chair for the past eight years, Jerry has played a central role in fiscal governance by ensuring an annual budget of over $800 million successfully passes with 0% school tax increases for the past 11 years. While ensuring that taxpayer resources are invested strategically to benefit students and families. 

 In 2021, Jerry was elected President of the Elizabeth Board of Education during one of the most challenging periods in the district’s history. Under his leadership, the district successfully navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and safely reopened schools. Working closely with district administration, he helped implement a transformative $75 million Energy Savings Improvement Plan (ESIP) along with an additional $25 million in grants to modernize Elizabeth’s school facilities. These efforts resulted in the installation of new boilers, air conditioning in every school building, and air sanitization systems in every classroom—significantly improving learning environments for thousands of students.
 

Committed to advancing fairness and opportunity, Jerry also authored the district’s Equity Policy, the first policy of its kind adopted in over twelve years, reaffirming the district’s commitment to inclusion, representation, and educational access for all students.
 

Beyond his work in education, Jerry has long been dedicated to youth development and community engagement. He served as President of the Elizabeth Port Little League from 2005 to 2015, where he transformed a struggling program serving just 75 participants into a thriving organization with more than 400 young athletes in only three years. Under his leadership, the league was revitalized into a championship-level program. After Superstorm Sandy, Jerry successfully secured $25,000 in grants to rebuild and upgrade the league’s baseball field to professional-grade standards, ensuring local youth had a safe and inspiring place to play. 

In addition to his public service, Jerry brings more than 25 years of experience in corporate finance and accounting, having worked with global Fortune 500 companies including Nestlé, Evonik, and Montblanc. His professional expertise has guided his disciplined approach to budgeting, fiscal oversight, and strategic planning in public service.
 

At the center of Jerry’s life is his family. He and his late wife are the proud parents of four children—three sons and one daughter—all of whom attended Elizabeth Public Schools. His experience as a parent in the district has further deepened his understanding of the needs of Elizabeth families.
 

Grounded in his roots and guided by decades of leadership experience, Jerry Duane Jacobs continues to serve Elizabeth with integrity, dedication, and a vision for a stronger, more vibrant future for all who call the city home.