In the Matter of the Suspension of the Teaching Certificate of Jessica Macaluso, School District of the Borough of Pompton lakes, Passaic County, 7/9/2021, (#143-21)

143-21
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of the Suspension of the
Teaching Certificates of Jessica Macaluso,
Board of Education of the Borough of
Pompton Lakes, Passaic County.
Synopsis
This matter was opened before the Commissioner of Education on May 20, 2020, by way of an
Order to Show Cause served by the petitioner, the Board of Education of the Borough of Pompton
Lakes (Board) upon the respondent, Jessica Macaluso, requiring respondent to show cause why an
order should not be entered suspending her teaching certificates for unprofessional conduct
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:26-10 after she resigned her position without giving the sixty-day (60)
notice required by her contract with the petitioner. Respondent was duly advised that – pursuant
to N.J.A.C. 6A:3-1.5(e) – failure to respond would cause each allegation raised by the Board to be
deemed admitted and might result in summary decision by the Commissioner. The respondent
failed to answer the order, despite ample opportunity to do so.
There being no response to the order to show cause, 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, 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.

Agency Dkt. No. 80-5/21
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of the Suspension of the
Teaching Certificates of Jessica Macaluso,
Board of Education of the Borough of
Pompton Lakes, Passaic County.
The record of this matter has been reviewed. The Pompton Lakes Board of Education
filed a petition seeking the suspension of respondent Jessica Macaluso’s teaching certificates pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 18A:28-8 because she resigned without providing the Board with the requisite statutory notice.
The Commissioner issued an Order to Show Cause on May 20, 2021, which the Board served on
respondent on the same date. Respondent did not formally respond to the Order to Show Cause, despite
being given multiple opportunities to do so. Accordingly, the Commissioner finds that the respondent’s
certificates should be suspended pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:28-8, and further finds that a one-year
suspension of the respondent’s certificates is the appropriate penalty.
Accordingly, the respondent’s teaching certificates 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:
Date of Mailing:
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.
143-21
July 9, 2021
July 9, 2021