School Leader Award Winners
Founded in 1985, the School Leader Award recognizes New Jersey school districts that improve student learning through unique educational efforts.  The awards program is named after the New Jersey School Boards Association’s bi-monthly magazine, which provides information and research on educational trends and issues to the state’s local school leaders.

2006 School Leader Award Winners

Brielle (Monmouth County)Three-Strand Curriculum for South African Study – The program includes a study of the novel Many Stones, a research component, and a social action project with fundraising for organizations benefiting people of South Africa. Contact: Christin Collins or Trish Emerson at (732) 528-6400 or christin_collins@alum.shu.edu

Galloway Township (Atlantic County)Super Bowl Fever – Kindergarteners use football and the Super Bowl as a springboard to learn subjects such as geography, art and math, as they take part in games and pep rallies. Contact: Mary Abbamondi at (609) 748-1250, ext. 4400, or abbamondim@gtps.k12.nj.us

Passaic Valley Regional (Passaic County)The Around the World Project – The initiative promotes a global understanding of other nations as students research cultures and videoconference via the Internet with students from other countries. Contact: Matthew Conforth at (973) 890-2500, ext. 2541, or pvmconforth@yahoo.com

Perth Amboy (Middlesex County)NJASKed … And We Answered – Designed to improve lagging test scores in math, the program utilizes staff training, incorporates math across curriculums, allocates an hour-long block each day for math, focuses before and after school programs on academics, and involves parents to promote math studies. Contact: Gerald M. Chismar at (732) 376-6020 or gerachismar@paps.net

River Vale (Bergen County)Eggster Adoption: An Eggstraordinary Cross Curricula Eggsperience – Elementary school students acquire critical thinking skills and they learn to understand parenting responsibilities as they “adopt” and care for eggs at school and home. Contact: Meryl J. Wolf at (201) 358-4028 or mwolf@rivervaleschools.com

Rockaway Borough (Morris County)Real Life Language – English as a Second Language students visit places of interest each month in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, and they incorporate their experiences into classroom activities. Contact: Jerelyn Hurley at (973) 625-8602 or jh@rockboro.org

Roselle (Union County)Positive Behavior Support in Schools – The program teaches children to be safe, respectful and responsible by using computer evaluation of discipline, as well as tools such as student rewards and parent newsletters. Contact: J. Nancy Romano at (908) 298-2072 or nromano@roselleschools.org

Woodbridge Township (Middlesex County)Math Madness – The elementary school program uses community involvement as parents and citizens read math-based stories to students. It also incorporates peer tutoring in upper and lower grades; effective teaching techniques; cross-curricular instruction; and technology such as Web-based programs. Contact: Dr. John A. Crowe at (732) 602-6558 or john.crowe@woodbridge.k12.nj.us

Wykcoff (Bergen County) Dancing Across the Community Bridge – The program connects the entire school as students learn about traditional folk dances, and provide dance assemblies for parents and the community. Contact: Maddie Meyer at (201) 848-5707 or mmeyer@wycoffschools.org

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