In the Matter of Kecia Teller, The John P. Holland Charter School, Passaic County, 1/3/2020, (#1-20SEC)

SEC Dkt. No. T10-19
Agency Dkt. No. 307-11/19
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of Kecia Teller,
The John P. Holland Charter School,
Passaic County.
The Commissioner has reviewed the record of this matter and the decision of the
School Ethics Commission (SEC), finding that respondent violated the School Ethics Act for
failure to timely complete charter school trustee training in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:12-33,
N.J.A.C. 6A:28-4.1, and N.J.A.C. 6A:11-3.1. 	The SEC’s decision was forwarded to the
Commissioner for final determination on the recommended penalty pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:12-
29(c). 	The SEC advises that respondent ultimately completed the training after the issuance of
its October 25, 2019 Order to Show Cause, but prior to the SEC’s November 19, 2019 meeting;
however, the SEC notes that respondent was previously reprimanded in 2017 for failing to timely
comply with the statutory requirement to complete ethics training. Due to the repeated failure to
comply with her statutory obligation, the SEC recommends that respondent be suspended for 30
days. 	Respondent has neither filed exceptions to the recommended penalty nor instituted an
appeal of the SEC’s underlying finding of violation, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:4-1 et seq.
Upon review, the Commissioner concurs with the penalty recommended by the
SEC for respondent’s failure to timely honor an obligation placed upon charter school trustees by
law. 	Additionally, respondent is admonished for causing the unnecessary expenditure of
administrative and adjudicative resources at both State and local levels.
1-20SEC

2
Accordingly, respondent is hereby suspended from her position, as of the date of
this decision, for violating the School Ethics Act.
IT IS SO ORDERED.1
COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Date of Decision: June 3, 2020
Date of Mailing: June 3, 2020
1 This decision may be appealed to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court pursuant to P.L. 2008, c. 36
(N.J.S.A 18A:6-9.1).