25 members appointed to task force on public school staff shortages

Governor Phil Murphy announced the appointment of 25 members to the Task Force on Public School Staff Shortages in New Jersey. The task force, established by Executive Order No. 309, will provide recommendations to address the challenges facing New Jersey’s educational workforce and develop short and long-term recommendations to increase the quantity of K-12 school staff including teachers and support staff in the state.

“Educators play an invaluable role in shaping the lives of their students and ultimately molding our country’s future,” said Governor Murphy. “As we emerge from the pandemic, we must recognize the impact that teacher shortages in our state and across the nation will have on our economy, the arts, and our civil society. My administration remains steadfast in our commitment to identifying solutions to address this shortage and I am confident that this task force will offer the unique perspectives and experience that this moment requires.”

In addition to providing the aforementioned recommendations, the task force will also explore best practices and innovative ways to recruit and retain school staff. The task force will also identify best practices and resources to increase the pipeline of teachers and educational support candidates.

The task force, established within the Office of the Governor, consists of 25 members and will be chaired by Chief Policy Advisor to the Governor Dennis Zeveloff. In addition to Christopher Huber, the designee for the New Jersey Department of Education, the 23 members appoint- ed today represent school administrators – including superintendents that rep- resent separate and dis- tinct sectors of the diverse student population across New Jersey – school board representatives, an assistant principal, a paraprofessional, and teachers, as well as representatives from various education related associations and members appointed upon the recommendation of legislative leaders.

The Governor appointed the following members to the Task Force:

•Dr. David Aderhold •Gisela Adorno •Karen Bingert •Madeline Boehning •Jackie Burke•Dr. Janet Fike
•Dr. Adam Fried •Henry Goodhue •Trina Jenkins•Debra Jennings •Margaret Kinsell •Dr. Amy Kline •Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt •Harry Lee •Dr. Stacey Leftwich •Sandra Montaez-Diodonet •Ikechukwu Onyema •Patricia Paradiso •Silvia Pereira •Dr. Timothy Purnell •Sean Spiller •Dr. Richard Tomko •Michael Vrancik
The Task Force on Public School Staff Shortages in New Jersey will have until January 31, 2023 to provide their initial recommendations to the Governor.

Silvia Pereira is an ESL Teacher in the Newark Public Schools.