State of New Jersey
Executive Order #13

Governor James E. McGreevey

Governor's Teacher Advisory Committee

WHEREAS, research clearly demonstrates that teacher quality is the single greatest factor affecting student achievement; and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey has a compelling interest to develop and support a high quality teaching force ; and

WHEREAS, like the rest of the country, the State of New Jersey is experiencing a severe teacher shortage, particularly in certain subject matter areas such as mathematics, science, special education and world languages, which is expected to worsen during this decade; and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey has a compelling interest to attract capable people to the teaching profession particularly in areas of critical shortage; and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey has a compelling interest to identify best practices and innovative programs utilized by teachers in classrooms throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, best practices and innovative programs that improve learning in the classroom should be recognized and celebrated; and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey has a compelling interest to end intellectual isolation among teachers by building communities of learners.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES E. MC GREEVEY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

  1. There is hereby established the Governor's Teacher Advisory Committee.

  2. The members of the Committee shall be as follows:

    1. The current New Jersey Teacher-of-the-Year

    2. The two immediate past New Jersey Teachers-of-the-Year

    3. A representative from each of the following organizations, chosen by their respective organization:

      1. New Jersey Education Association

      2. American Federal of Teachers

      3. New Jersey Association for Gifted Children

      4. Technology Educators of New Jersey

    4. Twelve teachers to be selected by the Governor to include geographic, grade level, and subject matter diversity.

  3. The mission of the Committee shall be as follows:

    1. To advise the Governor on the experiences of teachers in the classroom

    2. To examine factors that attract bright students to the profession

    3. To identify teachers that employ best practices and improve student achievement, and to propose ways to recognize and celebrate those accomplishments

    4. To recommend ways to end intellectual isolation among teachers by building and supporting communities of learners

  4. Teachers shall serve for a one-year term, beginning July 1 of each year, except that the first set of appointees shall serve from the date of this Order until June 30, 2003.

  5. The Governor and Commissioner of Education shall serve as ex-officio members. The Committee shall be staffed by the Governor's Special Counsel for Education.

  6. The Committee shall meet quarterly, beginning in March, 2002.

  7. This Order shall take effect immediately.

 

 

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 5th day of March in the Year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Two, and the Independence of the United States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-Sixth.

/s/ JAMES E. MC GREEVEY

Governor

 

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ PAUL A. LEVINSOHN

Chief Counsel to the Governor