On January 12, Dr. Lamont O. Repollet was nominated by Gov. Phil Murphy to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Education.

On Monday, March 26, he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The confirmation now moves to the full Senate for a vote.

“I attended the confirmation hearing, along with many other educators,” said Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, NJSBA executive director. “We look forward to the commissioner’s leadership of the Department of Education. It is clear his vast educational experience has given him a laser focus on the needs of our state’s children.”

He continued, “NJSBA will continue to work in partnership with the Department of Education on initiatives to advance public education, including Future Ready Schools-NJ, STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) and the acquisition of educational technology.”

Dr. Repollet, who most recently served as Asbury Park School Superintendent, is a New Jersey native. He worked his way up the ladder in education – first teaching in East Orange, then serving as assistant principal in Irvington, rising to vice principal and principal in Carteret, then leading the district as superintendent in Asbury Park.

His leadership and direction in Asbury increased district enrollment, reduced drop-out rates and radically improved graduation rates – all while decreasing per-pupil expenditures. His enthusiastic management style and his revolutionary vision for New Jersey students will serve the state well.

The confirmation hearing was largely focused on topical issues related to the state’s current educational environment: school funding and the recalibration of the School Funding Reform Act, charter schools and school choice, and the direction of the Murphy administration in regard to continuing New Jersey’s standing as one of the best public education systems in the country.

When the final vote was taken to confirm Dr. Repollet as commissioner,  his many supporters in the audience cheered as he thanked the Senate Judiciary Committee members.

Next up for Dr. Repollet will be a discussion of the N.J.  Department of Education’s 2018-2019 budget before both the Senate and Assembly budget committees on April 17 and 23, respectively.