NJPSA is saddened by the tragic news that Mark Biedron, former president of the New Jersey State Board of Education from 2014 to 2017, died on Friday, November 6. On behalf of our 8,000 members, we mourn his passing and celebrate his legacy as a tireless leader who continuously advocated for all New Jersey students.
“Mark was a passionate advocate for children and dedicated his entire tenure as president of the State Board to ensuring that students were given every opportunity to succeed and grow,” said Patricia Wright, executive director of NJPSA. “He understood and believed in the importance of social-emotional learning and building a positive climate and culture in our schools, and was devoted to a collaborative approach to finding solutions to the challenges of the day.
“We lost a true champion for our profession, as Mark was a brilliant communicator and an active listener who would spend countless hours talking to all stakeholders on any issue,” Wright continued. “He was a leader, he was a partner, and he was a friend. I will miss him dearly.”
Donations in Mark Biedron’s memory may be made to Junior Achievement of New Jersey at https://janj.ja.org/donate/index; Stein Hospice at 354 Demott Ln, Somerset NJ 08873; and the ALS Association Greater NY Chapter at 42 Broadway, Suite 1724 New York, NY 10004.