The first State Board of Education meeting of 2026 kicked off on a celebratory note, with two swearing-ins, observation of School Board Recognition Month, and honoring New Jersey Education Professionals, including our own Principal of the Year, Tony Cattani.
Board Member Mary Bennett was reappointed to another term on the Board. Board member Bennett’s new term will expire on June 30, 2030.
First appointed in 2024, Ms. Bennett is a longtime Essex County educator and leader with more than four decades of experience in urban education, school leadership, and higher education. She has served as an Educational Consultant and Adjunct Faculty member at Seton Hall University’s Academy for Urban Transformation, an Adjunct Instructor and Education Mentor at Montclair State University, and as Executive Director of Project GRAD in Newark. Her career includes leadership roles as Principal and Vice Principal of Malcolm X Shabazz High School, Vice Principal of West Side High School, Program Director for the Newark Board of Education, and Senior Fellow and Lead Facilitator with the National Center for Urban Partnerships and the indLovu Partnership in South Africa. She began her career as an English Language Arts teacher at Barringer High School. Ms. Bennett holds a master’s degree in Curriculum Development from Rutgers University and a bachelor’s degree from Douglass College, Rutgers, and holds credentials as a Teacher, Supervisor, Principal, Assistant Superintendent, and Business Administrator.
New Board Member James C. Williams IV was appointed to his first term on the Board. From Camden County, brings with him a wealth of experience in leadership positions at not for profit organizations relating to fair housing advocacy, apprenticeship programs and social justice. HIs term will also expire June 30, 2030.
Both Ms. Bennett and Mr. Williams took an official oath of office, administered by Superior Court Judge Honorable Robert Lougy.
The State Board unanimously passed a Resolution in Honor of New Jersey School Board Recognition Month
The Board also recognized New Jersey Education Professionals including Superintendent of the Year, School Business Administrator of the Year and Principals of the Year. Dr. Raymond A. González, who has led the district since August 2021, was named New Jersey’s 2026 Superintendent of the Year. Ms. Corey Lowell, the School Business Administrator (SBA) and Board Secretary for the West Long Branch Board of Education, a position she’s held since 2016, overseeing district finances, budgets, insurance, payroll, facilities, and transportation, and was even recognized as the School Business Administrator of the Year. The Visionary Principal of the Year for 2025 (Elementary Level) is Gisela Ciancia, Principal of Roosevelt School in New Brunswick. And the 2025 Visionary Principal of the Year for the Secondary Level is Tony Cattani, Principal at Lenape High School who last year was also named the National Secondary Principal by the National Association of Secondary School Principals last July.
Executive Director of NJPSA, Karen Bingert introduced Ms. Ciancia. “Supporting faculty members, fostering community ties, engaging students and parents – these are the touchstones that characterize Gisela’s leadership style,” said Bingert. “She extends her influence through affiliations with the greater community by fostering two unique and very special programs: Wash and Learn and Rock the Block”.
Intoducing Cattani, Bingert continued, “T0ny Cattani is recognized for his role in supporting a positive and inclusive school culture where students and staff feel valued and supported,” she told the board. “Tony is lauded for his student advocacy initiatives, such as supporting Lenape’s wellness room for students to decompress, launching World Voices Day to encourage students to celebrate their cultures and heritages and encouraging student leadership through the school’s Passion Project Initiative and the Lenape Leadership Academy.”
NJPSA congratulates all of today’s nominees for this well deserved recognition. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to our students and schools.
The State Board also unanimously passed a Resolution appointing a new State Superintendent for the State-operated Camden City School District. Alfonso Q. Llano Jr., effective March 1, 2026. “I’m honored for the opportunity to serve Camden City School District as the state superintendent of schools,” Llano said at the board meeting. “Together we’re going to work through transparency, through tough times. We’re going to achieve great things.” The Board congratulated Mr. Liano and promised him his full support.
The State Board of Education voted favorably at the proposal level to amend the rules for obtaining a military science endorsement on an instructional certificate by eliminating the current 20-year military service requirement. Instead, candidates would need to hold a valid certification or letter of eligibility from their military branch authorizing them to serve as a JROTC instructor. The change was prompted by a petition from the Air Force JROTC noting that federal law was revised in 2022 to reduce the service requirement to eight years and allow each branch to set its own standards. The amendment would expand eligibility to qualified veterans who meet their branch’s requirements but do not have 20 years of service. The New Jersey Department of Education Division of Teaching and Learning Services presented the proposed final amendments.
The next public business meetings of the State Board of Education will take place on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at the New Jersey Department of Education, 100 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, NJ 08625. Public business meetings begin at 9 a.m., adjourn immediately into executive session, and resume at approximately 10 a.m. If you are interested in attending, or would like any additional information about the State Board of Education or any of the items that are presently before the State Board, please do not hesitate to reach out to your NJPSA Government Relations team at any time.