By Vin Gopal

New Jersey has one of the best public education systems in the country.

Like so many other states, however, we face a teacher shortage that threatens to undermine our children’s access to experienced educators.

As chair of the Senate Education Committee, it’s gratifying to report that the governor last week signed our bill to make it easier for experienced teachers who have left the education workforce to return. As legislators, my legislative District 11 partners, Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul, and I spend as much time as we can listening to teachers, school administrators, school board members, and parents. One of the suggestions we frequently hear is that it would help if experienced teachers who have retired or left the profession for various reasons, could be reinstated into the pension system if they choose to return to work.

Teachers who opted to stop working to raise their families, for example, have told us they wanted to return to the classroom but had to look at other occupations in order to have a pension. That’s because under New Jersey’s law, an educator's participation in the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund ceases if an individual discontinues service for more than two years. By extending the period to 10 years, our legislation will allow experienced teachers to come back to work without losing their hard-earned retirement benefits. This bill extends the period of discontinuance to 15 years as long as the teacher has not withdrawn their accumulated contributions from the retirement system. 

This new law allows teachers who retired to bring their wealth of experience back to the school system and students will benefit greatly from that. That’s especially true in areas such as STEM that feel the teacher shortage the most. 

We want to remind residents that we are honoring police, firefighters, members of volunteer Emergency Medical Services organizations, lifeguards, and all the hometown heroes that are the first to answer the call in a crisis. They come without hesitation when residents call for help. 

That’s why Assemblywomen Donlon and Peterpaul, and I are hosting a celebration of our LD11 Hometown Heroes from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., on Oct. 9, 2025 at the Brick House Tavern + Tap Room, on Route 66 in Tinton Falls.

This year’s honorees are: Officer Dewitt Bacon, Asbury Park P.D.; Officer Lisa Griffin, Allenhurst P.D.; Chief Theresa Healy, Eatontown P.D.; EMS Chief Jeremy Hoffman, Freehold Township; Sgt. Ashon Lovick, Red Bank P.D.; Capt. Melanie Manning, Neptune Township EMS; Head Lifeguard Kevin Novobilsky, Loch Arbour; Chief Kevin Pearse, Neptune City F.D.; Sgt. Patrick Vaccaro, Long Branch P.D., and Officer John Walsh, Ocean Township P.D.

From water rescues to running into burning buildings, these hometown heroes represent the very best of public services to their communities. We hope you can come to hear their stories of valor and bravery. 

To R.S.V.P that you will join us to celebrate our hometown heroes, please visit DonlonPeterpaul.com/events.

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