Overview

Lily Laux is the Commissioner of Education for the State of New Jersey, overseeing the state's public education system serving approximately 1.4 million students across more than 600 school districts. She was confirmed by the New Jersey State Board of Education on February 24, 2026, following her nomination by Governor Mikie Sherrill. Laux previously served as Acting Commissioner from February 4 to February 24, 2026.

An educator and public policy specialist with nearly two decades of experience, Laux began her career as a middle school teacher in Memphis, Tennessee. She subsequently held leadership roles with Teach For America and served as Executive Director of Economic Mobility Systems, a nonprofit focused on improving outcomes for underserved students. From 2018 to 2024, she served as Deputy Commissioner of School Programs at the Texas Education Agency, where she led statewide literacy initiatives, school finance reform implementation, and the agency's COVID-19 response. Immediately prior to her New Jersey appointment, she was a Principal at ILO Group, an education strategy and policy consulting firm. Raised by a single mother, Laux credits her public school education with providing foundational opportunities that shaped her career in education policy and administration.

Political Career

Commissioner of Education, New Jersey Department of Education (2026–present)

Acting Commissioner of Education, New Jersey Department of Education (February 4–24, 2026)

Principal, ILO Group (prior to 2026)

Deputy Commissioner of School Programs, Texas Education Agency (2018–2024)

Executive Director, Economic Mobility Systems (nonprofit)

Director, Teach For America (Atlanta, GA and Mississippi Delta regions)

Middle school teacher, Memphis, Tennessee (early career)

Key Policy Areas

Literacy improvement and science-based reading instruction

Early childhood education and pre-K expansion

School funding formula modernization and fiscal stability

Teacher workforce development and shortage mitigation

Student mental health supports and online safety

High-impact tutoring and academic intervention

College and career pathway development

Notable Actions / Initiatives

Led the training of over 150,000 K–3 educators in the science of reading during her tenure at the Texas Education Agency

Oversaw the overhaul of Texas college and career pathways, resulting in a fourfold increase in students graduating with both a high school diploma and an associate degree

Developed open-source instructional materials adopted by over 600 school districts in Texas

Implemented historic school finance reform at the Texas Education Agency

Manages New Jersey's 1.4 million-student public education system, including oversight of more than 600 school districts and the state's charter school sector

Education

Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin

M.S., Curriculum and Instructional Leadership, University of Memphis

B.A., Columbia University

Personal

Birth date: Not publicly available

Residence: Not publicly available