In the Matter of the Suspension of the Teaching Certificate of Francesca Cote, Board of Education of the Township of South Brunswick, Middlesex County, 3/26/2024, (#148-24)

148-24
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of the Suspension of the
Teaching Certificates of Francesca Coté,
Board of Education of the Township of
South Brunswick, Middlesex County.
Synopsis
This matter was opened before the Commissioner of Education on January 18, 2024, by way of an Order
to Show Cause served by the petitioner, Board of Education of the Township of South Brunswick, upon
respondent Francesca Coté, requiring her to show cause why an order should not be entered suspending
her teaching certificate pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:26-10 and N.J.S.A. 18A:28-8 for resigning without giving
the notice required by law. In response to the Order to Show Cause, respondent emailed the Office of
Controversies and Disputes to provide mitigating factors that she wished the Commissioner to consider
in making his decision, namely that it was mandatory for her to resign in the time and manner she did due
to the impact her employment was having on her mental health. However, respondent indicated that she
did not wish to engage in the administrative dispute resolution process.
Upon review, the Commissioner concluded that the allegations, which respondent has chosen not to deny,
may be deemed admitted and justify suspension of respondent’s certificates. 	Accordingly, summary
decision was granted to the Board, and respondent’s certificates were suspended for a period of one year
from the date of the filing of this decision – a copy of which was forwarded to the State Board of Examiners
for the purpose of effectuating this order.
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.

148-24
Agency Dkt. No. 11-1/24
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of the Suspension of the
Teaching Certificates of Francesca Coté,
Board of Education of the Township of
South Brunswick, Middlesex County
This matter was opened before the Commissioner of Education on January 18, 2024, by
way of an Order to Show Cause served by petitioner (South Brunswick Township Board of
Education) upon respondent (Francesca Coté), requiring respondent to show cause why an order
should not be entered suspending her teaching certificates pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:26-10 and
N.J.S.A. 18A:28-8 for resigning without giving the notice required by law.
In response to the Order to Show Cause, respondent emailed the Office of Controversies
and Disputes to provide mitigating factors that she wished the Commissioner to consider in
making his decision, namely that it was mandatory for her to resign in the time and manner she
did due to the impact her employment was having on her mental health. However, respondent
indicated that she did not wish to engage in the administrative dispute resolution process.
The petition and supporting exhibits submitted by petitioner in this matter indicate that:
respondent entered into a contract to work as a teacher for the 2023-2024 school year; the
contract provides that it can be terminated by the employee upon sixty days’ written notice; and
on October 16, 2023, respondent sent correspondence to petitioner indicating that she was
resigning, effective October 20, 2023, thereby providing less than the required sixty days’ notice.
The respondent has not denied these allegations; therefore, the Commissioner deems such

2
allegations to be admitted pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:3-1.5(a) and further deems them sufficient to
justify suspension of respondent’s teaching certificates pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:26-10 and
N.J.S.A. 18A:28-8.
Accordingly, summary decision is hereby granted to petitioner. Respondent’s teaching
certificates, along with any substitute teaching credentials she may hold, are suspended for a
period of one year from the filing date of this decision, a copy of which shall be forwarded to the
State Board of Examiners for implementation of the suspension.
IT IS SO ORDERED.1
ACTING COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Date of Decision: March 26, 2024
Date of Mailing: March 27, 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.