Hoboken Schools Superintendent Didn't Receive Doctorate Until 2022: Report

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Christine Johnson spent more than a decade identifying herself as "Dr. Johnson," however, a review of records by the Hudson County View showed she just received her doctorate last year.

Johnson, who was hired by the Hoboken Board of Education in 2015, received a Doctor of Letters in historical studies from Drew University after submitting her dissertation in August 2022, the outlet reported.

Reviews of school budgets, documentation, yearbooks, and board meetings dating back to 2009, however, list her as Dr. Christine Johnson, according to the investigative article. A 2015 Tweet by former Hoboken mayor Dawn Zimmer also addressed Johnson with the title.

The discrepancy — and lack of correction — has drawn ire from some. Meanwhile, the Board of Education is defending Johnson.

“The board believes that the superintendent’s resume and track record speak for itself and will not entertain these personal attacks, which take important resources away from the students of the public school district, including the attention of our talented administration,” the nine-member volunteer board said in a joint statement provided to Hudson County View. The statement did not dispute the facts in Mile Square View's investigative reporting.

In an email sent to Patch, former school board member Maureen Sullivan called the discrepancy "outrageous."

"When Peter Carter was superintendent during my time on the board, he made it a point to correct meeting participants who called him 'doctor,'" Sullivan said.

"How does this affect the students?" Sullivan continued. "If I were a parent of a student who's been disciplined for lying, plagiarism, or a similar 'crime,' I would be outraged about the two systems of justice in the district."

The news story cites endnotes in the dissertation from the last five years, suggesting it was completed recently. Read the full story at HudsonCountyView.com.

Johnson responded to the article with an email to the school community, sent Tuesday night. The letter was sent as follows:

Dear Hoboken Public School Community,

As you may have read, there was an article that calls my credentials into question. I want to take a moment to address our school community in the most direct manner. The position of Superintendent requires a New Jersey Certification for School Administrator which I have held since 2004, along with a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration. In addition to these requirements, I also hold a Master’s Degree in European Intellectual History and a Doctor of Letters in Historical Studies.

Drew University conferred my Doctor of Letters in 2022, after many years of matriculation due to personal and health circumstances. While my requirements were complete and simply needed to be updated in order to obtain my diploma and make that title official, I should have made it a priority to tie up loose ends. I did not do so until last year and I take full responsibility for that. This matter has been rectified. However, trying to address each comment that is being made by those that chose to generate this story will only perpetuate further inaccuracies.

I do truly apologize for any negative aspersions that this situation has brought to the district. Over the past eight years there have been so many obstacles placed in front of the work that is being done in the district. Despite these, we have come so far and I could not be more proud of our accomplishments.

Sincerely,
Christine A. Johnson, D.Litt.
Superintendent of Schools

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