James Pedersen, Ed.D., is pictured second from left with colleagues from the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools (NJCCVTS): Jackie Burke, executive director of the NJCCVTS, is far left; Gwen Ryan, secretary of the NJCCVTS and superintendent of Union County Vocational-Technical Schools, is center; Karen Homiek, treasurer of the NJCCVTS and superintendent of Ocean County Vocational Technical School, is second from right; and Gus Modla, president-elect of the NJCCVTS and superintendent of Sussex County Technical School, is far right.
As superintendent of Essex County Schools of Technology (ECST) for the past nine years, James Pedersen, Ed.D., has not only worked within Essex County, but throughout the state to build partnerships that strengthen ECST’s three schools. His district provides an option for all county students to pursue a career-focused education and get a head start on their college and career journeys.
Pedersen’s success in delivering Career and Technical Education (CTE) in an accessible and highly effective model earned him recognition as the 2024 Essex County Superintendent of the Year.
“Dr. Pedersen has prepared for future growth through strategic planning and responsible spending practices,” said Fr. Edwin Leahy, ECST Board of Education President. “This has enabled the district to embrace innovation, support students and staff both in and out of the classroom, and evolve to match the needs of students as well as the employers who look to the district to fill their employee pipeline.”
Collectively, ECST’s three schools – Donald M. Payne Sr. Tech, Newark Tech and West Caldwell Tech welcome more than 2,200 Essex County students. Pedersen worked collaboratively with Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. on the construction of Donald M. Payne, Sr. School of Technology and the renovations of both Newark Tech and West Caldwell School of Technology to equip each with facilities specifically designed for Career and Technical Education.
“Over a six-year period, we modernized and expanded our school buildings to ensure our students can learn and grow in state-of-the-art environments. I am proud to work with Dr. Pedersen because he has built on the success of our district by continuing to prepare our students with innovative curriculum and learning opportunities. He also has transformed our buildings into community resources where middle school students can gain STEM enrichment and adults can continue their education for workforce development,” DiVincenzo said. “Congratulations to Dr. Pedersen on this well-deserved achievement,” he added.
James Pedersen, Ed.D.
Pedersen’s partnership with DiVincenzo, the County Commissioners and District School Board has helped him successfully complete these capital projects and create an environment where students with varying college and career interests thrive.
ECST’s graduation rate has been consistently high at over 96 percent, surpassing the state average by 5 percent. For the past four years, more than 25 percent of graduating students have indicated that they will be the first in their families to attend college.
The district gained national recognition last school year when U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Ed.D., visited Payne Tech to celebrate its receipt of the highly competitive Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant. This grant will fund initiatives to increase dual enrollment opportunities, expand paid work-based learning experiences, enhance career guidance and promote the attainment of industry-recognized credentials.
The grant adds to a strong foundation built under Pedersen’s direction, which includes an expanded College Dual Credit Program in which nearly 1,300 students take various college-level courses, both during the regular school day and after school. Pedersen further grew educational opportunities offered to ECST students through the Associate’s Degree/Early Initiative Program. Since its inception, numerous students have earned associate degrees from Essex County College before graduating high school.
Pedersen also has committed to fostering an inclusive educational environment and ensuring that students who need additional academic support thrive. Furthermore, he has overseen the growth of ESL programs across all three school campuses, ensuring equitable access to education for diverse student populations.
Although the majority of students served by ECST are traditional high school students, Pedersen has led the expansion of adult programs to introduce initiatives such as the Security Officers Registration Act (SORA) Licensing, Cosmetology, and Plumbing Apprenticeships, which serve over 250 adult students and families annually. He also has overseen the extension of programming to a younger cohort of students via the pioneering Middle School STEAM Career Academy program and the Essex IQ Robotics Summer Academy, which foster early interest and proficiency in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
In addition to serving as superintendent of ECST, Pedersen is the current president of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools (NJCCVTS), which unites all 21 New Jersey county vocational-technical schools as the leading voice for CTE in New Jersey before state and federal policymakers, the business community and other educational leaders. In this role, Pedersen takes the lead on promoting CTE and expanding opportunities for all students in the state who seek a career-focused education.
“I am honored to be selected as the Essex County Superintendent of the Year to both raise awareness of ECST as well as the overall value of Career and Technical Education,” said Pedersen. “Our county-run schools continue to evolve to provide students with highly engaging and effective educational experiences. Our students graduate prepared to succeed in the next stages of their academic and professional journeys.”
