State Senate Confirms Schundler
as N.J. Education Commissioner

The state Senate last week confirmed Gov. Chris Christie’s nomination of Bret Schundler to serve as New Jersey’s Commissioner of Education. Schundler has been serving as acting commissioner since Jan. 20.

“The New Jersey School Boards Association looks forward to working with Commissioner Schundler as we advance education for our state’s schoolchildren,” Marie S. Bilik, NJSBA’s executive director, said after the March 11 confirmation.

Schundler’s nomination was released by the Senate Judiciary Committee following hearings last week. In a Feb. 18 letter to the committee’s chairman, Paul Sarlo, Bilik expressed support for Schundler.

“Mr. Schundler is an education leader not afraid of innovation or of changing long-standing practices to achieve school improvement,” she wrote. “At the same time, he approaches issues in a thoughtful and collaborative manner.

“I cannot guarantee that the New Jersey School Boards Association will agree with Mr. Schundler on every single education policy matter,” Bilik continued. “However, I am confident in his desire to work with all elements of the education community and his sincere interest in the education of our state’s children.”

Schundler, who previously worked as chief operating officer at The King’s College in New York City, was formerly a mayor of Jersey City, gubernatorial candidate, and served as the first president of Golden Door Charter School, one of the first charter schools in Jersey City.

Copyright © 2010 New Jersey School Boards Association. All rights reserved.