{ "id": "ep9pc35z2s", "slug": "dawn-fantasia", "title": "Dawn Fantasia", "updated": "2026-10-15", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials", "label": "US governors and state officials", "api_url": 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"https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.northeastern-state-legislators" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.northeastern-state-legislators.alpha-f-to-j", "label": "Surnames F to J", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.northeastern-state-legislators.alpha-f-to-j" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Dawn Fantasia is an American Republican politician and educator serving in the New Jersey General Assembly from the 24th district since 2024, after serving on the Sussex County Board of Commissioners.", "snippet": "Dawn Fantasia is an American Republican politician and educator serving in the New Jersey General Assembly from the 24th district since 2024, after serving on the Sussex County Board of Commissioners.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.northeastern-state-legislators.alpha-f-to-j", "markdown": "# Dawn Fantasia\n\nDawn Fantasia is an American politician and a Republican member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 24th district, having served in the Assembly since 2024.[1](https://www.njassemblygop.com/222/Dawn-Fantasia) A lifelong educator, she previously served on the Sussex County Board of Commissioners from 2018 to 2023 and on the Franklin Borough Council.[1](https://www.njassemblygop.com/222/Dawn-Fantasia)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | Republican[1](https://www.njassemblygop.com/222/Dawn-Fantasia) |\n| Current office | Member, New Jersey General Assembly, District 24 (since 2024)[1](https://www.njassemblygop.com/222/Dawn-Fantasia) |\n| Previous offices | Sussex County Board of Commissioners (2018–2023); Franklin Borough Council[1](https://www.njassemblygop.com/222/Dawn-Fantasia) |\n| Education | B.A., Davis & Elkins College (1995); M.S., educational leadership, Capella University (2014)[1](https://www.njassemblygop.com/222/Dawn-Fantasia) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nFantasia is a Republican.[1](https://www.njassemblygop.com/222/Dawn-Fantasia)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nFantasia graduated from Wallkill Valley Regional High School in Hamburg and earned her bachelor's degree in 1995 from Davis & Elkins College. In 2014, she earned a master's degree in educational leadership from [Capella University](https://www.edgepedia.org/capella-university) through a working mother scholarship. She lives in Franklin Borough and raised three children as a single parent. In her spare time, she enjoys target shooting, hunting, fishing, clamming, and farming.[1](https://www.njassemblygop.com/222/Dawn-Fantasia)\n\n## Career\n\nFantasia has worked in public and charter schools since 2007 as a teacher, principal, and district administrator. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2010 at Bergen Arts and Science Charter School in Garfield, where she now directs English and math enrichment programs.[1](https://www.njassemblygop.com/222/Dawn-Fantasia) BallotReady lists her work history as including a year as a long-term substitute fourth grade teacher at Hardyston Township Elementary School (2007–2008), English language arts teacher and department chairperson at Bergen Arts & Science Charter School (2008–2012), director of assessment and humanities at North Jersey Arts and Science Charter Schools (2013–2015), chief growth officer and director of visual and performing arts at iLearn Schools (2015–2017), middle school principal at Bergen Arts and Science Charter Middle School (2017–2023), and director of academic enrichment programs at Bergen Arts and Science Charter School (2023–present).[2](https://www.ballotready.org/people/dawn-fantasia)\n\nBefore joining the [Legislature](https://www.edgepedia.org/legislature), Fantasia served on the Sussex County Board of Commissioners from 2018 to 2023, after serving three years on the Franklin Borough Council, including as council president in 2018.[1](https://www.njassemblygop.com/222/Dawn-Fantasia) She has served in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 24th district, which covers all of Sussex and parts of Morris and Warren counties, since 2024.[1](https://www.njassemblygop.com/222/Dawn-Fantasia)\n\n## Positions and legislative record\n\n### Childcare and tax policy\n\nIn September 2026, Fantasia introduced legislation to provide tax relief to New Jersey parents for childcare costs. Her bill, A5514, would allow New Jersey taxpayers to claim a gross income tax deduction for employment-related childcare expenses. The measure was formally introduced on September 17, 2026, and referred to the Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee, where it awaited consideration before it could advance to the full Assembly. Fantasia is the bill's primary sponsor.[3](https://savejersey.com/2026/09/tax-relief-new-jersey-parents-fantasia-bill-would-make-childcare-expenses-deductible/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Dawn Fantasia | New Jersey Legislative Assembly Republicans](https://www.njassemblygop.com/222/Dawn-Fantasia)\n2. [Dawn Fantasia - BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/dawn-fantasia)\n3. [Tax relief for N.J. parents? Fantasia bill would make childcare expenses deductible - Save Jersey](https://savejersey.com/2026/09/tax-relief-new-jersey-parents-fantasia-bill-would-make-childcare-expenses-deductible/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US governors and state officials › State legislators › Northeastern state legislators › Surnames F to J*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/dawn-fantasia", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/dawn-fantasia.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Dawn Fantasia\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/dawn-fantasia. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Dawn Fantasia](https://www.edgepedia.org/dawn-fantasia)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/dawn-fantasia](https://www.edgepedia.org/dawn-fantasia). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Dawn Fantasia\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/dawn-fantasia. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Dawn Fantasia is an American Republican politician and educator serving in the New Jersey General Assembly from the 24th district since 2024, after serving on the Sussex County Board of Commissioners." }