Dear East Orange School Community,
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver. Our hearts go out to her family, friends, and all those affected by this loss.
Lt. Governor Oliver began her political career in the New Jersey General Assembly, representing the 34th Legislative District, in 2004. In 2010, she became the first African American woman to serve as the Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, a position she held until 2014. In 2017, she was selected as the running mate of Phil Murphy, the Democratic candidate for Governor of New Jersey, and they won the general election. On January 16, 2018, Sheila Oliver was sworn in as the 2nd Lt. Governor of New Jersey, making her the first woman of color to hold this position in the state's history. It should be noted that prior to becoming an assemblywoman, Lt. Governor Oliver proudly served as a member of the East Orange Board of Education.
