In the Matter of the Suspension of the Teaching Certificates of Padraic Finnegan, Board of Education of the Borough of Essex Fells, Essex County, 7/29/2024, (#286-24)

286-24
Agency Dkt. No. 121-4/24
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of the Suspension of the Teaching
Certificates 	of 	Padraic 	Finnegan, 	Board 	of
Education 	of 	the 	Borough 	of 	Essex 	Fells,
Essex County.
This matter was opened before the Commissioner of Education on April 30, 2024, by way
of an Order to Show Cause served by petitioner (Essex Fells Board of Education) upon respondent
(Padraic Finnegan), requiring respondent to show cause why an order should not be entered
suspending his 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.
On July 3, 2024, respondent emailed the Office of Controversies and Disputes and stated
that he agreed to the suspension of his teaching certificate for not more than one year.
The petition and supporting exhibits submitted by petitioner in this matter indicate that:
respondent entered into a contract to work as a teacher for the 2023-2024 school year; the
contract provides that it can be terminated by the employee upon sixty days’ written notice; and
on March 28, 2024, respondent delivered correspondence to the district’s Superintendent
indicating that he was resigning, effective April 19, 2024, thereby providing less than the required
sixty days’ notice. The respondent has not denied these allegations; therefore, the Commissioner
deems such allegations to be admitted pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:3-1.5(a) and further deems them

2
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 he 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: 	July 29, 2024
Date of Mailing: 	August 1, 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.