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