Jonathan Castañeda

A first-generation American of Colombian and Cuban descent and a proud product of West New York public schools (Memorial High School ‘07), Jonathan has built his career on the core belief that effective public service begins with empathy, innovation, and measurable results.

 

Jonathan has served on the Board of Education since 2015, and is currently serving his second term as President of the West New York Board of Education. Over the course of his tenure as a board member, he has been a stalwart of fiscal responsibility and has been committed to ensuring that every student has access to a safe, high-quality, and inspiring education that prepares them for lifelong success.He has been recognized by the New Jersey School Boards Association as a Certified Board Member, Master Board Member, and Certified Board Leader, and has served on its Board of Directors for two (2) years.

 

As President of the Board of Education, he has made it his goal to ensure the fiscal stability and sustainability of the School District, to enhance the Board’s infrastructure with state of the art technologies, to provide under appreciated and often overlooked basic accommodations such as air conditioning and new flooring in all schools, and enhancing the security apparatus of all schools within the district.

 

At the professional level, Jonathan brings over a decade of experience across the local, county, state, and federal levels of government. He has served members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, and has served with executive agencies, including the United States Department of Commerce. At the State level, he served as a Legislative Fellow at the New Jersey State Senate, and further with the County of Hudson as the Chief of Staff of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. His career also spans the nonprofit and private sectors through roles with the North Hudson Community Action Corporation and the Louis Berger Group, giving him a comprehensive understanding of how policy, planning, and people intersect. He further serves as an Adjunct Professor of Public Finance for the Public Administration Department of St. Peter’s University.

 

Throughout his career, he has honed his portfolio to help build stronger and more equitable communities. He currently serves as the Deputy Municipal Administrator for the Town of West New York, where he leads efforts to modernize local government operations, strengthen fiscal responsibility, and enhance public infrastructure to meet the community’s needs. Jonathan is also a Certified Public Manager recognized by the State of New Jersey Civil Service Commission & Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration.

 

A lifelong learner and advocate for civic engagement, Jonathan earned a Bachelor of Science in Diplomacy and International Relations and a Master of Public Administration from Seton Hall University, followed by a Master of City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. 

 

Jonathan was a Public Policy Fellow with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, a Legislative Fellow with the Eagleton Institute of Politics, a Congressional Security Scholar with the Truman National Security Project, a Planning Fellow with the Louis Berger Group and is currently pursuing his Certificate as a Certified Municipal Finance Officer from the State of New Jersey.

 

Beyond his professional duties, Jonathan has served as Chairman of the West New York Democratic Committee, and currently serves as the Chairman of the West New York Housing Corporation, a Member of the West New York Planning Board, and a Local Member of the United States Selective Service System for the State of New Jersey.

 

Rooted in the community that raised him, Jonathan remains focused on innovation, equity, and empowerment — advancing initiatives that make government more responsive, education more accessible, and opportunities more inclusive for all residents of the Town of West New York.