John Ellis, the commissioner of education in New Jersey since 1990, has resigned effective the end of this year.
In a statement last month, the 63-year-old Mr. Ellis indicated he was leaving the job primarily to make a change in his life style.
“I am ready for a change ... from the highly intense unending work weeks to spending more time with my family, teaching, writing, and going into partnership with my son,’' Mr. Ellis said.
During his tenure, education in the state has been buffeted by shifting political winds that brought Republicans to power in the state legislature, jeopardized Gov. James J. Florio’s bill to equalize school spending, and reduced education department staffing .
William K. Schipper, the longtime executive director of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, has resigned.
Mr. Schipper had been with the association since 1973, serving as its executive director and principal spokesman for much of that time.
A successor has not yet been named.