In the Matter of the Suspension of the Teaching Certificates of Lauren Newman, Board of Education of the Northern Burlington County Regional School District, Burlington County, 1/4/2024, (#6-24)

6-24
Agency Dkt. No. 313-11/23
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of the Suspension of the
Teaching Certificates of Lauren Newman,
Board of Education of the Northern Burlington
Regional School District, Burlington County.
This matter was opened before the Commissioner of Education on November 22, 2023, by
way of an Order to Show Cause served by petitioner (Northern Burlington County Regional School
District Board of Education) upon respondent (Lauren Newman), 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 her decision, including that she gave notice in the summer to avoid affecting students or
colleagues during the school year; her efforts in leaving resources for her successor and the
district; and the fact that the district still has not hired a replacement 126 days after her
resignation, such that providing an extra 24 days’ notice likely would not have made a difference.
However, petitioner 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

2
on July 31, 2023, respondent sent correspondence to petitioner indicating that she was resigning,
effective August 4, 2023, thereby providing less than the required sixty days’ notice. The
respondent has not denied these allegations; therefore, the Commissioner deems such 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, and 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.
January 4, 2024
January 5, 2024