Gov. Phil Murphy has announced that he is nominating Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan as New Jersey’s commissioner of education. Dr. Allen-McMillan is a graduate of New Jersey’s great public schools who currently serves as interim county superintendent in Morris County. NJEA’s officers, President Marie Blistan, Vice President Sean M. Spiller and Secretary-Treasurer Steve Beatty issued this statement regarding her nomination to head the New Jersey Department of Education:

“We look forward to working closely with Dr. Allen-McMillan in her new role. Strong leadership is more important than ever right now as New Jersey’s public schools continue to navigate this challenging school year. We are committed to working with the new commissioner to ensure that our students are safe, healthy and learning and we look forward to bringing the voices of working educators to the table to ensure that happens. At a time when every classroom, virtual or in-person, looks very different than before, it is more important than ever to listen to the people who are still helping our students flourish.

“Dr. Allen-McMillan is taking the helm of America’s premier public school system. We can maintain that excellence and build upon it by continuing to invest in public education, respect educators and prioritize student success. We trust that, as an experienced educator herself, the commissioner shares those priorities and will work alongside us to lead New Jersey’s public schools to even greater success and even better outcomes for the students we educate.”