NEWARK, N.J. – The Newark Board of Education voted to extend Superintendent León’s employment contract for two additional years beyond its 2028 term. With this extension, the Superintendent’s contract will be in effect through June 2030. All other provisions of the contract are unchanged. The Board’s action was taken after public notice and a public hearing as required by law.
“I am honored and humbled by the Board’s vote,” said Superintendent León. “I appreciate the overwhelming support from all who made their voices heard in support of this important decision, and I look forward to continuing to make our city proud.
Superintendent León is Newark born and bred, and rose from humble beginnings to his position as chief school administrator of New Jersey’s largest school system. Born in the South Ward and raised by a single mom in the East Ward, he is a proud product of the Newark Public Schools, a graduate of Hawkins Street School and Science High School. He began his career as a substitute teacher while still in college, and then served as a teacher and debate coach, Principal of Dr. William H. Horton School for four years, Principal of University High School of the Humanities for six years, and Assistant Superintendent for 11 years before his appointment as Superintendent of Schools in 2018.
“We are proud of Superintendent León’s leadership, commitment, and dedication to the children of the Newark Public Schools,” said Board President Hasani K. Council. “We agree with the Board’s decision in 2018 that his experience mattered, and we strongly believe today that his consistent leadership in Newark matters just as much now.”
Superintendent León is the first locally appointed Superintendent of the Newark Public Schools after 25 years of state operation, Newark's 21st superintendent of schools, and the first Latino superintendent in the city's history. In 2020, under León’s leadership, Newark successfully completed the state’s two-year transition plan to local control and was declared a high-performing school district. In July 2025 the New Jersey Department of Education again certified the Newark Public Schools as a high performing district.
About Newark Public Schools
The Newark Public Schools is the largest school district in New Jersey and dates back to 1676. The District currently enrolls over 40,000 students in 65 schools. After more than two decades of state operation and upon return to local control in 2018, the District has opened ten new schools under Superintendent León’s leadership with an additional portfolio of new options to be announced in the coming months and years. The Newark Board of Education serves as a beacon of educational excellence, dedicated to nurturing the potential of every student. With a commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and fostering a love for learning, the District continues to shape future generations and make a positive impact within the community.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Paul Brubaker, Communications Director
Email: pbrubaker@nullnps.k12.nj.us
Phone: 973-803-6983