Dr. Lily Laux, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), delivered a keynote address and moderated a superintendent panel at NJSBA’s Workshop 2026 on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
In her keynote remarks, Commissioner Laux shared Administration highlights and presented the priorities and strategic enablers that ground the Department’s new strategic plan. As outlined by Commissioner Laux, the keys to this plan are that every day, students are learning in schools where they are safe, welcomed, and able to focus on learning; connecting to caring adults who know them, believe in them, and are well prepared to respond to their needs; building knowledge, thinking critically, and solving complex problems; engaging in rigorous, grade-level learning with timely, individualized support; and making meaningful progress toward graduation, postsecondary goals, and lifelong success.
The four main priorities of the strategic plan – early excellence, student supports, inspired instruction, and future pathways – must be enabled by a strong teacher workforce, modernized school funding, and integrated data and analytics.
Following her remarks, Commissioner Laux introduced a panel of superintendents to highlight some of the bright spots in each of their districts that correspond with NJDOE’s four main strategic priorities. The panel included:
- Dr. Al Lewis, Glassboro Public School District
- Silvia Abbato, Union City Public Schools
- Dr. Jared Rumage, Red Bank Borough Public Schools
- Gwen Herman, Quinton Township School District
- Dr. Gerald Fitzhugh II, Orange Public Schools
Commissioner Laux closed the session by expressing appreciation for the hard work superintendents and boards of education perform every day in support of New Jersey’s students.
