Governor Names Westwood Resident to Task Force

Westwood resident and Seton Hall University Department of Education Leadership, Management and Policy Chair Michael J. Osnato has been named to the Education Transformation Task Force by Governor Christie.

The task force, which was created in April, is meant to look at regulations and see where some can be eliminated to give educators freedom to use what they believe works best.

"I've asked seasoned educators and community leaders from across the state to find ways to reduce energy-sapping government red tape that wastes time and resources," Christie said in a statement. "While we must hold educators accountable and measure how effectively they are teaching our children, we must also give the leaders in our schools the flexibility they need to drive innovation in the classroom and deliver the best results."

The task force, which will gather comments from education officials, will present an initial report by Aug. 15. The members will then give recommendations by Sept. 1.

Osnato, who lives in Westwood, teaches School Law and School Finance at Seton Hall University and serves as the director of the University Leadership Institute, which helps superintendents. According to his Seton Hall University biography, Osnato was a superintendent for more than 25 years and has worked with about 60 school boards as a consultant. He has conducted more than 35 superintendent searches in New Jersey through his firm Leadership Advantage since stepping down as superintendent in Montclair.

Osnato graduated from Columbia University Teachers College in 1990 with an Ed.D. in Administration and Supervision. He has received post graduate degrees from Oxford and Harvard universities. He was named Superintendent of the Year in 2003.

Other members of the Education Transformation Task Force:

• New Jersey Commissioner of Education David C. Hespe (Belle Mead, Somerset County); Chairman
• Community Education Resource Network co-founder and Director Angel Cordero (Camden, Camden County)
• Teaneck High School Principal Angela R. Davis (New Milford, Bergen County)
• Kearny School Superintendent Frank Digesere (Toms River, Ocean County)
• Pittsgrove Township Middle School teacher Linda DuBois (Pittsgrove, Salem County)
  
• Elizabeth Board of Education Assistant Secretary Donald Edwards Goncalves (Elizabeth, Union County)
• Special education expert and ECLC of New Jersey Executive Director Bruce Litinger (Short Hills, Essex County)