Latasha Casterlow-Lalla

Dr. Latasha Casterlow-Lalla is a proud product of the Passaic Public Schools. Latasha attended Montclair State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education in 2002 immediately followed by earning a Master of Arts in Counseling, Human Development and Guidance in 2003.

In 2004, Dr. Lalla began teaching in her hometown as an Elementary Music Educator for the next 3 years. Latasha’s journey led her to attain a Master of Arts in Administration & Supervision from Montclair State University in 2007. Latasha served as an Elementary General Teacher for 5 amazing years.

In 2013, Latasha was appointed as the Supervisor of Gifted & Talented for Passaic Public Schools where she implemented the district’s first Saturday Enrichment Academy for 350 students and led the district’s Jump Into Summer Program servicing over 5,000 students. Latasha was selected as the founding Assistant Principal at the Passaic Gifted & Talented Academy, the city’s first magnet school in 2015.

Since February 2017, Dr. Lalla has served as the Supervisor of Visual & Performing Arts. Latasha has worked to revive the Theatre Arts program in three high schools, introduce the Arts Integration, implement Modern Band in 9 schools and launch 5 state-approved Career & Technical Education Arts programs in Graphic Design, Music Technology, Digital Arts, Dance and Theatre Arts. She is a recent graduate of the Center for Arts Integration Certification Program. Dr. Casterlow-Lalla completed the Seton Hall University Executive Doctoral Educational Leadership Executive Program in May 2023. She is the President-Elect and Treasurer of the New Jersey Music Administrators Association.