In the Matter of the Suspension of the Teaching Certificate of Tori N. Joseph, Bd of Educ. of the City of New Brunswick, Middlesex County, 11/13/2024, (422-24)

422-24
Agency Dkt. No. 259-8/24
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of the Suspension of the Teaching
Certificates 	of 	Tori 	N. 	Joseph, 	Board 	of
Education 	of 	the 	City 	of 	New 	Brunswick,
Middlesex County
This matter was opened before the Commissioner of Education on August 9, 2024, by way
of an Order to Show Cause served by petitioner (Board of Education of the City of
New Brunswick) upon respondent (Tori N. Joseph), requiring respondent to show cause why an
order should not be entered suspending her teaching certificates pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:26-
10 and N.J.S.A. 18A:28-8 for resigning without giving the notice required by law.
By notice dated August 15, 2024, the Office of Controversies and Disputes (Office)
acknowledged proof that the Order to Show Cause had been served upon respondent and
directed her to answer within 20 days. No answer having been received, on September 9, 2024,
the Office sent respondent a second and final notice – via certified and regular mail – directing
her to file an answer within ten days. The notice advised that, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:3-1.5(e),
failure to answer would cause each allegation in petitioner’s papers to be deemed admitted and
might result in summary decision by the Commissioner. To date, respondent has not answered
the Order to Show Cause.
The petition and supporting exhibits submitted in this matter indicate that: respondent
entered into an employment contract to work as a special education teacher in New Brunswick

2
for the 2023-2024 school year, beginning November 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024; the
contract provides that it can be terminated by either party upon sixty days’ written notice; and,
on April 8, 2024, respondent sent correspondence to the Board indicating that she was resigning
effective April 22, 2024, thereby providing less than the required 60 days’ notice. She has not
denied these allegations; therefore, the Commissioner deems such allegations to be admitted
pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:3-1.5(e) and further deems them sufficient to justify suspension of
respondent’s teaching certificates pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:26-10 and N.J.S.A. 18A:28-8.
Accordingly, summary decision is hereby granted to petitioner, and respondent’s teaching
certificates, as well as any substitute teaching credential she may hold, are suspended for a
period of one year from the filing date of this decision, a copy of which shall be forwarded to the
State Board of Examiners for implementation of the suspension.
IT IS SO ORDERED.1
ACTING COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Date of Decision: 	November 13, 2024
Date of Mailing: 	November 13, 2024
1 This decision may be appealed to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:6-
9.1. Under N.J.Ct.R. 2:4-1(b), a notice of appeal must be filed with the Appellate Division within 45 days
from the date of mailing of this decision.