In the Matter of the Tenure Hearing of Debra Graham, School District of the City of Newark, Essex County, 4/12/2022, (#69-22)

Agency Dkt. No. 29-3/22
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of the Tenure Hearing of Debra
Graham, School District of the City of Newark,
Essex County.
For the Petitioner, Sabrina Styza, Esq.
No appearance by or on behalf of Respondent, Debra Graham
This matter was opened before the Commissioner of Education on March 1, 2022,
through tenure charges of unbecoming conduct certified Roger Leon, Superintendent of the Newark
School District (“District”), together with supporting evidence against respondent, Debra Graham, 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 certified mail. The
District also provided the tenure charges to the attorney for the Newark Teachers Union.
On March 2, 2022, the Commissioner directed the respondent via regular mail to file
an answer to the charges. This communication clearly 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.
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
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Statement of Evidence indicates that the respondent has a history of excessive absenteeism and has
been in AWOL status since March 2020.
Deeming the allegations to be admitted and noting that the respondent has failed to
respond to the charges certified against her at the District level and before the Commissioner, the
Commissioner finds that the District’s charge of unbecoming conduct has been proven and
overwhelmingly 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
Newark 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:
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.
April 12, 2022
April 12, 2022