The Linden Board of Education honored a historic chapter in district leadership on May 29 with the 𝐮𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧 — the first Black woman to serve as chief school administrator in Linden Public Schools history.
Dr. Hazelton 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬, 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟯𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮, a tenure defined by resilience and innovation during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬.
𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐢𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐢𝐛𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭, 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟗𝟑𝟎𝐬.
𝗔 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Dr. Hazelton told the Board of Education, district administrators, and community members gathered at the meeting that it was “a truly humbling honor” to be recognized with the unveiling of her portrait.
“Though my time in Linden spanned just two years, it was a deeply meaningful chapter in both my personal and professional journey,” she said. “I had the privilege of leading this district during a critical time — guiding our students and staff through the transition from the isolating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and helping our school community navigate the lasting social and emotional impact that followed.”
𝐀 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
Current Superintendent Dr. Atiya Perkins reflected on the deeper meaning behind the portrait:
“When we see a picture in a museum or an album, it gives a glimpse into a person’s life,” said Dr. Perkins. “But there is always more than what’s between the frame and the photo. This image of Dr. Hazelton is worth more than a thousand words — it tells a story of service, resilience, and impact.”
She added poignantly, “When you come by, always remember that you were the first Black woman, Dr. Hazelton, and we are thankful for you.”
𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫, a vocal advocate for educational equity, spoke to the symbolism of the evening:
“To recognize Dr. Hazelton in this way, as one woman of color to another, speaks volumes about how far our district has come — and how much farther we aim to go.”
In her closing remarks, Dr. Hazelton emphasized the importance of representation in leadership:
“Access to high-quality education is not just a goal — it is a civil right. Our students deserve to see leaders who look like them, who understand them, and who believe in their limitless potential.”
“As the first woman of color to lead this district, I am especially moved to receive this recognition tonight from another female superintendent of color. The significance of this moment is profound.”