McGreevey Creates Education Cabinet

BBusiness and education leaders are charged with improving communication and coordination at all levels Signaling the top priority education will hold in his administration, Governor James E. McGreevey today signed an Executive Order that creates an Education Cabinet which will be responsible for ensuring that students receive the education they need to succeed in a 21st Century workplace.

"Education is the engine which will continue to drive our state economy," said McGreevey. "Our telecom, pharmaceutical, computer science and biotech industries have specific workforce needs and we must do more to ensure that they can find workers with the right skills here in our state. In accomplishing this goal, collaboration between our business community and all levels of our education system-from pre-K to our colleges and universities-will be essential."

The Governor has charged his Education Cabinet with making the State's education system a seamless web from preschool to college and beyond so that students are prepared to meet the needs of New Jersey's businesses and have the skills necessary to help them compete in the changing economy. His Education Cabinet will improve coordination between all levels of the state education system and the business community to ensure artificial jurisdictional boundaries are crossed, leadership in the education community is held accountable and children receive the education they deserve.

"The Executive Order I am signing today effectively creates a new structure in which all education stakeholders-from policymakers to educators to business leaders-will be committed to excellence," said McGreevey. "As I stated in my Inaugural Address, the responsibility of educating our children lies not just with teachers and parents, but with all of us. This Cabinet will forge a new paradigm in which businesses, the education community and the state work together to teach the skills that will prepare our children for the new economy."

Specifically, the Cabinet will ensure communication among and between the business community and all levels of state education policy-makers and leaders; provide for coordinated efforts to address the State's economic priorities as they relate to education and advise the Governor on all matters related to the education of a 21st century workforce.

The Cabinet, which will meet quarterly beginning in April, includes:

Governor James E. McGreevey William Librera, Department of Education Commissioner Reverend Dr. William Watley, Commerce Secretary Honorable Thomas Kean, Former Governor and Drew University President Susan Cole, President, Montclair State University Carlos Hernandez, President, New Jersey City University George Pruitt, President, Thomas Edison State College Larry Nespoli, President, New Jersey Council of County Colleges Dr. Zachary Yamba, President, Essex County Community College Phyllis Della Vecchia, President, Camden County Community College James Carnes, President & CEO, Sarnoff Corporation Alfred Gamper, Chair, Rutgers Board of Governors Lawrence Feinsod, Superintendent of Cranford Public Schools Lucille Davy, Special Counsel to the Governor for Education Adam Pechter, President of Prosperity NJ McGreevey has made it clear that education will be the cornerstone of his administration and has committed to literacy reforms that will ensure all 3rd graders are able to read at or above grade level. Additionally, McGreevey showed his commitment to improving the education of children in our poorest school districts by ending twenty years of litigation regarding the Abbott v. Burke court decisions with the newly created Abbott Implementation and Compliance Coordinating Council.

"Educational excellence will be our administration's priority," said McGreevey. "To that end, we must focus on improving literacy standards, teacher quality, enhancing accountability, and working with business leadership to develop a highly skilled workforce."

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Author: Paul Aronsohn