What Actions Would the NJ Department of Education Have Been Justified in Pursuing in 2023 Concerning the Hoboken Superintendent's Doctorate Fiasco

As many people in Hoboken are aware, on May 15, 2023 it was revealed by Hudson County View that for at least 14 years, the current Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Christine Johnson went by Dr. Johnson. However, she did not receive her doctorate until August 2022, according to public records. Documents and publications such as annual financial reports, minutes of school board meetings, and yearbooks routinely referred to her as Dr. Johnson – the same way she would sign letters to parents and what her nameplate at Board meetings stated.  

This actual event was posed as a question and what follows is a detailed response as to some of the steps that should have taken place once this situation was brought to the public's attention.  

It is important to understand that none of the following suggestions were actually done by the NJ Department of Education and, in fact, the President and Vice President of the Hoboken Board of Education.

QUESTION: If a superintendent was hired under the assumption of holding a doctorate, lied about having a doctorate for over 14 years, and some Board of Education members contributed to the deception by making public statements that were untrue, the expected actions taken by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) would likely involve several of the following steps:

1. Investigation: The NJDOE could conduct a thorough investigation into the matter to gather evidence and assess the extent of the deception. This investigation would likely involve reviewing documentation related to the superintendent's hiring, employment records, communications, and any public statements made by the Board of Education members.
2. Compliance Review: The NJDOE could review the school district's compliance with state regulations and ethical standards regarding the hiring and qualifications of educational leaders. This review would assess whether proper procedures were followed during the superintendent's hiring process and whether any violations occurred.
3. Enforcement Actions: If violations of state regulations or ethical standards are found, the NJDOE could take enforcement actions against the school district, superintendent, and/or Board of Education members involved. This could include sanctions, fines, or other penalties as deemed appropriate under state law.
4. Corrective Measures: The NJDOE may require the school district to take corrective measures to address the deception and prevent similar incidents in the future. This could involve implementing new policies, procedures, or training programs to ensure transparency and integrity in hiring practices and governance.
5. Public Accountability: The NJDOE could issue public statements or reports to inform the public about the findings of its investigation and the actions taken in response to the deception. This would serve to hold accountable those responsible for the wrongdoing and reassure the public of the NJDOE's commitment to upholding standards of integrity in education.

Overall, the NJDOE would likely take decisive action to address the deception and ensure accountability within the school district and its governing bodies. The goal would be to uphold the integrity of the educational system and maintain public trust in the administration of schools.

What did the New Jersey Department of Education actually do...absolutely nothing. 

What Actions Would the Hoboken Board of Education Have Been Justified in Pursuing in 2023 Superintendent's Doctorate Fiasco

As many people in Hoboken are aware, on May 15, 2023 it was revealed by Hudson County View that for at least 14 years, the current Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Christine Johnson went by Dr. Johnson. However, she did not receive her doctorate until August 2022, according to public records. Documents and publications such as annual financial reports, minutes of school board meetings, and yearbooks routinely referred to her as Dr. Johnson – the same way she would sign letters to parents and what her nameplate at Board meetings stated.  

This actual event was posed as a question and what follows is a detailed response as to some of the steps that should have taken place once this situation was brought to the public's attention.  

It is important to understand that few of the following suggestions were actually done by the Hoboken Board of Education and, in fact, the President and Vice President of the Hoboken Board of Education seemed to double down on the misrepresentation. 


QUESTION: If a superintendent in New Jersey was hired under the assumption of holding a doctorate and it was later discovered that they lied about having a doctorate for over 14 years, what would be some potential actions the Board of Education would have been justified in pursuing?

ANSWER: If a superintendent in New Jersey was hired under the assumption of holding a doctorate and it was later discovered that they lied about having a doctorate for over 14 years, the expected reaction by the NJ board of education toward that particular superintendent would likely be even more severe than if the deception had been discovered while they were already in the position.

Here are some potential actions the board of education might take:

Immediate Suspension or Termination: The superintendent could face immediate suspension or termination of employment. Lying about qualifications undermines the trust and integrity essential for educational leadership roles, and such behavior is often considered grounds for dismissal. 

Contractual Implications: The board may review the superintendent's employment contract to determine if there are any clauses related to misrepresentation of qualifications. Depending on the contract terms, the board may have legal grounds for termination or other disciplinary actions. 

Public Announcement: The board would likely issue a public statement to inform the community about the situation. This statement would address the discovery of the superintendent's deception, the actions taken by the board, and reassurances about maintaining integrity in leadership roles within the school district. 

Reevaluation of Hiring Procedures: The incident may prompt the board to review and strengthen its hiring procedures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This could involve implementing stricter background checks, verifying qualifications more thoroughly, and ensuring transparency in the hiring process. 

Damage Control: The board may engage in damage control efforts to mitigate the impact of the superintendent's deception on the school district's reputation. This could include communicating openly with stakeholders, addressing concerns, and reaffirming the board's commitment to honesty and integrity in educational leadership.

SUMMARY: Overall, the discovery that a superintendent lied about having a doctorate for over 14 years would likely lead to significant consequences and prompt a thorough reevaluation of hiring practices and organizational integrity within the school district.

It is important to remember that in answering an Open Public Records Act request for information on Johnson’s background, Board President Sharyn Angley and Vice President Malani Cademartori asserted that Johnson had also finished all the work for the degree, including her dissertation before 2015, but didn’t receive her degree until she paid off her tuition. This was false as Johnson's dissertation was not approved until 2022 and contained MANY references from 2019 onward. 

Later this week, we will explore what steps the New Jersey Department of Education would have been justified in pursuing. 

HoLa Hoboken Dual Language Charter School- Graduation 2024

Congratulations to the HoLa Hoboken Dual Language Charter School 8th grade graduates! As many of you know, I was involved in the founding of Hola while Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Hoboken and served on Hola's Board for a decade. Wishing you all the best on your next step into high school!

Hudson County’s top rated schools. See latest full list.

NJ Advance Media assigned each New Jersey high school a ranking number between 1 and 357 based on the “summative ratings” calculated by the state Department of Education.

The ratings — released last month as part of the state School Performance Reports — measure how each school compares to other schools with the same grade levels when test scores and other factors are considered.

The ratings are calculated using standardized test scores, student academic growth, graduation rates and other factors, including chronic absenteeism. Each school is given a score from 0 to 100, called a “summative score.”

Schools with the same grade configurations are compared to each other and given a percentile rating from 0 to 100, called a “summative rating.” The three comparison groups are: high schools; elementary and middle schools; and mixed grade configuration schools.

See chart: https://www.datawrapper.de/_/XEA2H/

LINK: https://www.nj.com/hudson/2024/05/hudson-countys-top-rated-schools-see-lastest-full-list.html

                                                                            Summative Rating          Summative Score

Jersey City Public Schools	Infinity Institute	100.00	90.50
Union City School District	Sara M. Gilmore Academy	98.92	94.24
Jersey City Public Schools	Cornelia F. Bradford School	98.86	94.04
Jersey City Public Schools	Dr Ronald McNair High School	96.67	93.67
Soaring Heights Charter School	Soaring Heights Charter School	96.22	89.33
Union City School District	Jose Marti STEM Academy	94.17	91.44
Hudson County Schools of Technology School District	High Tech High School	91.67	87.23
Jersey City Public Schools	Liberty High School	89.17	81.45
Union City School District	Jefferson Elementary School	87.46	78.15
Hudson County Schools of Technology School District	County Prep High School	85.83	78.29
Jersey City Public Schools	Jotham W. Wakeman School	83.02	75.13
Hoboken Charter School District	Hoboken Charter School	82.69	69.82
Hoboken Public School District	Joseph F Brandt Elementary School	79.90	72.14
Hudson County Schools of Technology School District	Explore Middle School	79.72	71.99
Secaucus School District	Secaucus Middle School	78.34	71.21
Hoboken Dual Language Charter School	Hoboken Dual Language Charter School	78.28	71.19
Jersey City Public Schools	Dr. Michael Conti School	78.10	71.09
Elysian Charter School	Elysian Charter School of Hoboken	77.20	70.11
Jersey City Golden Door Charter School	Jersey City Golden Door Charter School	73.07	67.29
Jersey City Public Schools	Academy I	73.01	67.28
Union City School District	Colin Powell Elementary School	68.15	63.36
Jersey City Global Charter School	Jersey City Global Charter School	66.77	62.33
BelovED Community Charter	BelovED Community Charter School	66.59	62.15
Hudson County Schools of Technology School District	Academy of Technology Design	66.11	60.46
Jersey City Public Schools	Innovation High School	65.56	60.21
The Learning Community Charter School	Learning Community Charter School	64.61	61.08
Hoboken Public School District	Thomas G. Connors Elementary School	64.31	60.92
Harrison Public Schools	Hamilton Intermediate School	64.25	60.91
University Academy Charter High School	University Academy Charter High School	63.06	58.58
Weehawken Public School District	Weehawken High School	61.54	51.10
Bayonne School District	John M. Bailey Community School	61.37	58.87
Jersey City Public Schools	Frank R Conwell School	61.01	58.47
Jersey City Public Schools	Nicolaus Copernicus School	60.77	58.39
Union City School District	Veterans' Memorial Elementary School	59.03	57.16
West New York School District	Public School Number Two	58.49	56.87
Union City School District	George Washington Elementary School	57.89	56.47
North Bergen School District	Lincoln Elementary School	57.77	56.46
Harrison Public Schools	Washington Middle School	57.11	56.03
Union City School District	Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School	56.57	55.59
North Bergen School District	Robert Fulton Elementary School	55.25	54.48
Jersey City Public Schools	Alfred Zampella School	55.01	54.43
Hoboken Public School District	Hoboken Middle School	54.77	54.35
Hoboken Public School District	Wallace Elementary School	54.41	54.05
Union City School District	Thomas A Edison Elementary School	53.81	53.59
Bayonne School District	Horace Mann Community School	53.63	53.56
Bayonne School District	Philip G. Vroom Community School	52.49	52.72
Weehawken Public School District	Theodore Roosevelt School	52.37	52.59
Hoboken Public School District	Hoboken High School	51.67	50.67
Secaucus School District	Huber Street School	50.93	51.79
Bayonne School District	Bayonne High School	50.56	49.75
Union City School District	Union Hill Middle School	50.33	51.43
North Bergen School District	Horace Mann Elementary School	50.21	51.33
Kearny	Washington Elementary School	49.97	51.16
North Bergen School District	Franklin Elementary School	49.91	51.15
Kearny	Kearny High School	49.44	49.55
Bayonne School District	Nicholas Oresko Community School	49.37	50.79
Empowerment Academy Charter School	Empowerment Academy Charter School	48.89	50.61
Secaucus School District	Clarendon School	47.93	50.00
Jersey City Public Schools	Rafael Cordero y Molina	46.37	49.01
Bayonne School District	Lincoln Community School #5	46.13	48.83
West New York School District	Albio Sires Elementary School	44.57	47.71
Jersey City Public Schools	Christa McAuliffe School	43.85	47.05
Secaucus School District	Secaucus High School	43.61	46.92
Bayonne School District	Woodrow Wilson Community School	42.53	46.38
Union City School District	Robert Waters Elementary School	42.05	45.97
West New York School District	Public School Number Five	41.57	45.62
Bayonne School District	Washington Community School #9	41.09	45.34
Jersey City Public Schools	Charles E. Trefurt School	40.91	45.27
Harrison Public Schools	Harrison High School	40.56	43.50
West New York School District	Robert Menendez Elementary School	39.53	44.37
Jersey City Public Schools	Rev. Dr. Ercel F. Webb School	38.75	44.02
Kearny	Schuyler Elementary School	38.51	43.80
Union City School District	Emerson Middle School	38.21	43.68
Bayonne School District	William Shemin Midtown Community School #8	36.35	42.26
Kearny	Franklin Elementary School	36.11	41.99

Jersey City Public Schools	Patricia M. Noonan School, PS #26	35.33	41.62
Jersey City Public Schools	Julia A. Barnes School	34.91	41.22
Guttenberg School District	Anna L. Klein	34.85	41.22
Union City School District	Union City High School	34.72	40.24
North Bergen School District	McKinley Elementary School	33.83	40.64
North Bergen School District	John F Kennedy Elementary School	31.07	38.39
West New York School District	Harry L Bain	31.01	38.35
Bayonne School District	Mary J Donohoe Community School	29.87	37.32
West New York School District	Public School Number One	29.03	36.71
Jersey City Public Schools	James J Ferris High School	28.61	35.89
Bayonne School District	Walter F. Robinson Community School	28.07	36.22
Jersey City Public Schools	Martin Luther King, Jr. School	27.29	35.65
Jersey City Public Schools	James F. Murray School	26.87	35.18
Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School	Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School	26.81	35.11
Jersey City Public Schools	Joseph H. Brensinger School	26.39	34.74
North Bergen School District	Polk Street School	25.13	34.05
Kearny	Garfield Elementary School	24.84	33.66
Jersey City Public Schools	Dr. Paul Rafalides School	24.24	32.84
Jersey City Community Charter School	Jersey City Community Charter School	24.12	32.80
West New York School District	West New York Middle School	24.06	32.78
Jersey City Public Schools	Middle School # 4	22.80	32.08
Hudson Arts and Science Charter School	Hudson Arts and Science Charter School	22.62	31.99
Bayonne School District	Henry E. Harris Community School	22.02	31.76
Kearny	Roosevelt Elementary School	20.34	30.68
North Bergen School District	North Bergen High School	20.00	30.34
Jersey City Public Schools	Dr. Maya Angelou Elementary School	19.50	29.94
Jersey City Public Schools	Gladys Nunery School	18.54	29.21
The Ethical Community Charter School School District	The Ethical Community Charter School	16.02	27.05
Jersey City Public Schools	Franklin L. Williams School	12.72	22.95
West New York School District	Memorial High School	12.50	21.28
Jersey City Public Schools	Mahatma K. Gandhi School	12.36	22.64
Kearny	Lincoln Middle School	12.06	22.46
East Newark School District	East Newark Elementary School	11.46	21.97
Jersey City Public Schools	Dr. Charles P. DeFuccio School	8.34	19.06
Jersey City Public Schools	William L Dickinson High School	7.22	15.10
Jersey City Public Schools	President Barack Obama Elementary School	6.84	16.93
Jersey City Public Schools	Ollie Culbreth, Jr. School	5.34	14.92
Jersey City Public Schools	Alexander D. Sullivan School	4.14	12.89
Jersey City Public Schools	Lincoln High School	2.78	7.81
Jersey City Public Schools	Chaplain Charles Watters School	2.70	9.89
Jersey City Public Schools	Martin Center for the Arts	2.46	9.66
Jersey City Public Schools	Ezra L. Nolan School	1.56	7.21
Jersey City Public Schools	Henry Snyder High School	1.39	5.42
Jersey City Public Schools	Whitney M. Young, Jr. School	0.90	5.93
Bayonne School District	Bayonne Alternative High School	0.00	0.15
Harrison Public Schools	Lincoln Elementary School	n/a	45.71
Harrison Public Schools	Kennedy Elementary School	n/a	n/a
Hudson County Schools of Technology School District	Academy of Career and Technical Education	n/a	61.05
Union City School District	Hudson Elementary School	n/a	58.55
Union City School District	Eugenio Maria de Hostos Center for Early Childhood Education	n/a	n/a
Weehawken Public School District	Daniel Webster School	n/a	n/a