On Oct. 20, Gov. Phil Murphy announced his nomination of Angelica Allen-McMillan, Ed.D., to serve as the next commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education.
The NJSBA welcomed the choice.
“Dr. Allen-McMillan’s wealth of experience at all levels of public education can benefit New Jersey’s public schools and students,” said Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, NJSBA executive director. “She understands the challenges facing local boards of education, educators and students.”
Dr. Allen-McMillan has been a teacher and school administrator in Essex County and a member of the Montclair Board of Education. Since 2018, she has served as the interim executive county superintendent for Morris County. Murphy announced the appointment at the Marshall Elementary School in the South Orange-Maplewood school district, where she served as principal.
“The acting commissioner has been a frequent participant in NJSBA county-level programming in Morris and Essex counties, providing her expertise from the perspective of an executive county superintendent,” said Feinsod. “We look forward to working with Dr. Allen-McMillan in her new role as the state’s chief education officer.
“I also want to commend Kevin Dehmer, the interim commissioner of education, for his work in guiding the state’s education community during past few months, a very challenging period for our state’s public schools,” Feinsod added.
Allen-McMillan will serve as acting commissioner until she is confirmed by the state Senate.
“I am a proud product of New Jersey’s magnificent public education system and I have dedicated my career to ensuring that the children of this state continue to get the type of education I received,” Allen-McMillan said in a press release issued by the governor’s office. “I am extremely proud the Governor has put his faith in me to continue New Jersey’s tradition of educational excellence.”
For over 25 years, Allen-McMillan has worked as a teacher and administrator in various school communities throughout New Jersey. From 2017 to 2018, she was the assistant superintendent for secondary education for the Newark Public Schools. Prior to holding that position, she served as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the Irvington School District.
She also served as a middle school life and physical science teacher in the East Orange School District; the executive director of the Marion P. Thomas Charter School in Newark; assistant principal of Clinton Elementary School in Maplewood; and principal of the Marshall School in South Orange, according to the release from the governor’s office.
Dr. Allen-McMillan will replace Interim DOE Commissioner Dehmer, who held the position since the appointment of former DOE Commissioner Dr. Lamont Repollet was named as president of Kean University in July 2020.
Allen-McMillan is a graduate of Cornell University, where she received a baccalaureate degree in Industrial and Labor Relations. She received a master’s and a doctorate degree in Education, Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University.
She resides in Montclair with her husband, Randy, and their three children, Faizah, Jada, and Jason.
