In the Matter of the Suspension of the Teaching Certificate of Alexandra Braun, Board of Education of the Township of Ridgefield, Bergen County, 2/6/2024, (#103-24)

103-24Njcommned

Full text

103-24
Agency Dkt. No. 331-12/23
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of the Suspension of the
Teaching Certificates of Alexandra Braun,
Board of Education of the Borough of Ridgefield,
Bergen County.
This matter was opened before the Commissioner of Education on December 4, 2023, by
way of an Order to Show Cause served by petitioner (Board of Education of the Borough of
Ridgefield) upon respondent (Alexandra Braun), 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.
By notice dated December 14, 2023, sent to respondent via regular mail, the Office of
Controversies and Disputes (Office) acknowledged proof that the Order to Show Cause had been
served upon respondent and directed respondent to answer within 20 days. No answer having yet
been received, on January 8, 2024, the Office sent respondent a second and final notice via email
directing her to file an answer within ten days if she wished to contest the suspension of her
certificates. To date, the Office has not received a response from respondent.
The petition and supporting exhibits submitted by petitioner in this matter indicate that:
respondent holds an instructional provisional certificate with a teacher of students with disabilities
endorsement, and an instructional provisional certificate with an elementary school teacher
Grades K-6 endorsement; respondent executed an employment contract with petitioner dated
August 1, 2023, for the term September 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024; the contract provides that
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it can be terminated by the employee upon sixty days’ written notice; respondent commenced her
employment with petitioner on September 1, 2023; and, on October 10, 2023, respondent sent an
email to petitioner indicating that she was resigning effective immediately for personal reasons,
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. Respondent’s teaching
certificates, as well as any substitute teaching credential 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: February 6, 2024
Date of Mailing: February 8, 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.

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