NJ governor to nominate new education commissioner – NJ Spotlight

Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to name Angelica Allen-McMillan, a former principal and administrator in several Essex County school districts, as his next state education commissioner. The announcement is to come Tuesday morning at Allen-McMillan’s old school in South Orange, according to the governor’s office. Politico NJ first reported the appointment.

Allen-McMillan has a diverse background in New Jersey public schools, serving both as a principal of a small elementary school in South Orange/Maplewood and executive director of one of Newark’s most prominent charters, the Marion P. Thomas Charter School. She also was assistant superintendent in Irvington and Newark Public Schools, a Montclair school board member and now serves as the acting county superintendent in Morris County.

Allen-McMillan would replace Lamont Repollet as New Jersey’s top education official, taking over the department at a time of great tumult and uncertainty with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Repollet left in July to become president of Kean University. Assistant commissioner Kevin Dehmer has served as interim commissioner since then.

A full report will be in NJ Spotlight News Tuesday.