At their monthly meeting, the State Board of Education heard updates and took action on the following items:
- Later School Start Times—Kailynn DuRose, the State Board of Education’s student representative, spoke to the board about the importance of later school start times in secondary schools to help promote better sleep for teenagers. DuRose pointed out that later school start times are associated with better mental health and academic performance for teenagers. DuRose urged students, parents and school boards to work together to adjust school start times for the benefit of their communities.
- National Principal of the Year— State Board President Kathy Goldenberg recognized Tony Cattani for his achievement as the National Principal of the Year for 2025-26. Given by the National Association of Secondary School Principals annually, the organization recognized him for his role in developing a positive and inclusive school culture, where students and staff feel valued and supported. Cattani is the principal of Lenape Regional High School in Medford, NJ.
- Appointment—The State Board appointed Rasheda Garcia as the new superintendent of the Marie Katzenbach School for the Deaf. Superintendent Garcia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in American Sign Language Interpreting and a Master of Science in Deaf Education from Bloomsburg University. Most recently, she was the principal of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Continuum at Bergen County Special Services, where she successfully established a collaborative Special Education and Deaf Education classroom for grades 7-12.
- State Special Education Advisory Council—The State Board of Education appointed four individuals to the State Special Education Advisory Council. They are: Mr. Joshuah McAllister-Carlani, Ms. Kerri Walsifer, Dr. Lori López-López and Ms. Christina Battiato. The SSEAC is charged with providing policy guidance with respect to special education and related services for children with disabilities in the State.
