At its Feb. 4, 2026 meeting, the State Board of Education approved the appointments of several individuals to leadership positions in the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE). These appointments coincide with the start of Gov. Sherrill’s administration.
- Dr. Lily Laux – At its meeting, the State Board approved the appointment of Dr. Lily Laux to the position of Assistant Commissioner for the Division of Educational Services. This served as a precursor to Dr. Laux’s elevation to Acting Commissioner of Education later in the day. (Gov. Sherrill previously announced that Dr. Laux would be her nominee for commissioner; in order for that nomination process to move forward, the State Board must first appoint a nominee to an assistant commissioner position within the department before they are able to assume the role of acting commissioner.) Dr. Laux will remain acting commissioner until her nomination is approved by the state Senate; her nomination for commissioner has been received by the Senate Judiciary Committee, with whom she will interview in the coming weeks.
- Dr. Joseph Howe – The State Board approved the appointment of Dr. Joseph Howe to the position of Assistant Commissioner for the Division of Finance and Business Services.
- Chris Williams – The State Board approved the appointment of Chris Williams to the position of Chief of Staff of the department.
The State Board also issued a resolution in recognition of Career and Technical Education Month in New Jersey. February 2026 has been designated nationally as Career and Technical Education Month by the Association for Career and Technical Education. The resolution recognized the programs and initiatives that support over 137,000 secondary and postsecondary students in New Jersey to pursue a range of career pathways.
The State Board did not consider any new or pending regulatory proposals. Through Executive Order No. 7, issued on Jan. 23, Gov. Sherrill placed a 90-day pause on the proposal or adoption of any rules.
