In the Matter of the Tenure Hearing of Yesenia Camilo, School District of the Town of West New York, Hudson County, 4/11/2024, (#160-24)

160-24
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of the Tenure Hearing of
Yesenia Camilo, School District of the Town of
West New York, Hudson County.
Synopsis
Petitioning Board filed tenure charges of unbecoming conduct against respondent, a tenured
teacher, and sought to terminate her employment with the district. 	The charges outline
ongoing attendance issues going back to the 2019-2020 school year; most recently, the
respondent has been absent from her teaching position since the beginning of the 2023-2024
school year. To date, no reply to the tenure charges has been received from or on behalf of the
respondent.
The Commissioner concluded that the allegations – which respondent has chosen not to deny –
may be deemed admitted and are sufficient to warrant termination of the respondent from her
tenured position. Accordingly, the Commissioner granted summary decision to the petitioner,
dismissed the respondent from her tenured teaching position in petitioner’s school district, and
forwarded a copy of this decision to the State Board of Examiners for action against
respondent’s certificate(s) as that body deems appropriate.
This synopsis is not part of the Commissioner’s decision. It has been prepared for the convenience of the reader.
It has been neither reviewed nor approved by the Commissioner.

160-24
Agency Dkt. No. 33-2/24
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of the Tenure Hearing of
Yesenia Camilo, School District of the Town of
West New York, Hudson County.
For the Petitioner, Craig B. Novak, Esq.
No appearance by or on behalf of Respondent, Yesenia Camilo
This matter was opened before the Commissioner of Education on February 15, 2024,
through tenure charges of unbecoming conduct certified by Clara Herrera, Superintendent of
the West New York School District (“District”), together with supporting evidence against
respondent, Yesenia Camilo, a tenured teaching staff member in the District’s employ. The
District provided respondent with written notice of such certification at the respondent’s
current known address, via email and certified mail.
On February 20, 2024, the Commissioner directed the respondent via email and regular
mail to file an answer to the charges. This communication provided notice to respondent that,
pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:3-5.3 and 6A:3-5.4, an individual against whom tenure charges are
certified “shall have 15 days from the day such charges are filed with the Commissioner to file a
written response to the charges with the Commissioner,” and that failure to answer within the
prescribed period would – absent granting of an extension for good cause shown – result in
the charges being deemed admitted. A second notice was sent to the respondent on

2
March 6, 2024. No reply to the tenure charges was received from or on behalf of the
respondent.
The certified tenure charges and statement of supporting evidence filed by the District
in this matter indicate that the respondent was employed by the District as a tenured teacher.
The charges indicate that the respondent has not appeared for work for the 2023-2024 school
year, failing to notify the District regarding her absences on all but two dates or to provide a
physician’s note once she had more than three consecutive absences, as required by District
policy. The respondent had accrued 83 absences at the time the tenure charges were filed, 54
of which exceeded her contractual paid time off.
Deeming the allegations to be admitted and noting that the respondent has failed to
respond to the charges certified against her, the Commissioner finds that the District’s charge
of unbecoming conduct has been proven and warrants the respondent’s dismissal. Accordingly,
summary decision is hereby granted to the District, and the respondent is dismissed from her
tenured position with the West New York School District. This matter will be transmitted to the
State Board of Examiners for action against respondent’s certificate(s) as that body deems
appropriate.
IT IS SO ORDERED.1
ACTING COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Date of Decision: April 11, 2024
Date of Mailing: April 12, 2024
1 This decision may be appealed to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:6-9.1.
Under N.J.Ct.R. 2:4-1(b), a notice of appeal must be filed with the Appellate Division within 45 days from the date
of mailing of this decision.