Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Career Readiness Specialists
A Career Readiness Specialist plays a critical role in advancing secondary and post-secondary student success by aligning education, policy, and workforce development through high-quality Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs of study and pathways. Grounded in key frameworks such as the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V), the New Jersey Perkins V State Plan, and New Jersey Administrative Code Chapter 19, this role ensures that school districts implement programs that meet rigorous standards for quality, inclusiveness, and workforce alignment.
Serving as a liaison between the state and local school districts, the Career Readiness Specialist provides ongoing guidance and technical assistance through regular communication, including virtual meetings, phone calls, and on-site visits.
To assist with your CTE programs of study, please refer to the charts below to identify your assigned Career Readiness Specialist. Specialists are organized by county.
| Program Officer | Counties |
|---|---|
| Brandon Bennett 609-376-3874 brandon.bennett@doe.nj.gov |
|
|
Brittany Bryan |
|
| Genevieve Cross 609-376-9146 genevieve.cross@doe.nj.gov |
|
| David Gehrke 609-376-3899 david.gehrke@doe.nj.gov |
|
| Lisa McClintock 609-376-3591 lisa.mcclintock@doe.nj.gov |
|
| David McNair 609-376-3906 david.mcnair@doe.nj.gov |
|
|
Kathleen Paquette |
|
| Russell Pocaro 609-376-3501 russell.pocaro@doe.nj.gov |
|
| Simone Wong 609-376-9150 simone.wong@doe.nj.gov |
|
Maria Casale, Postsecondary Lead
| Program Officer | Colleges | Adult PostSecondary |
|---|---|---|
| Maria Casale 609-376-3895 maria.casale@doe.nj.gov |
|
|
| Tory Bunn 609-376-3603 tory.bunn@doe.nj.gov |
Essex |
Essex County Vocational School District |
| David McNair 609-376-3906 david.mcnair@doe.nj.gov |
|
|
| Kristen Reid 609-376-3792 kristen.reid@doe.nj.gov |
|
|
|
Anise Pritchett |
|
|