In October 2025, during NJSBA’s annual Workshop, a select group of school staff members were honored during the third annual “Unsung Superheroes in Education Awards” ceremony. The award recognizes individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes, often without recognition, to ensure that New Jersey’s schools run smoothly and provide a safe and nurturing environment for students.
In a new spotlight feature, School Board Notes will recognize each 2025 Unsung Superhero recipient. This week, we are highlighting Tyler Kazar, the 2025 Unsung Superhero in the technology professional category.
Tyler Kazar is an A/V Support Specialist at Somerville Public Schools. In this role, he ensures that all audio-visual systems are fully functional, accessible and efficient for every school event, classroom lesson and district-wide communication. A Somerville High School alum, Kazar’s journey is a full-circle moment. During his time as a student, he would assist with A/V (audio/visual) tasks in the auditorium, working with the school choir, band and musical performances. He was also a member of the robotics team, staying on as an advisor post-graduation, a role he still holds.
One summer, he joined an internship within the IT department. He performed well during the internship and, upon graduation, was offered a position within the department, where he worked part-time while earning his bachelor’s degree in information technology. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he transitioned into the role on a full-time basis. Through a variety of positions, he has been a part of the Somerville Public Schools community for a decade.
His past fueled Kazar’s passion for education. He had a great experience as a student and wanted a chance to contribute to a new generation of students having a positive experience. “On the robotics team, we talk a lot about life trajectory and how different moments throughout a student’s life that they experience can have a huge impact that trickles throughout the rest of their experiences and throughout their life, and as they enter different chapters,” he said. I think that all the areas I have an opportunity to work with every day have a chance to have those impacts.”
Kazar holds his students to high expectations, pushing them to be the best version of themselves, to prepare them for life beyond school. He enjoys witnessing a student’s growth when they have their “a-ha” moment and realize they are capable of great things. “When they outperform what they thought they were capable of, that’s exciting to see, because I know that will help them and set them up for success later,” he said. “I think that’s probably the best part, being able to push them past their comfort zone and push them to do things they didn’t think they were capable of, helping them see that they actually are.”
As a technology professional, Kazar witnesses the rapid growth of technology and its ever-evolving impact on education. Through his experience, he has observed the effects of technology on students. While he acknowledges the benefits of technology and the need for schools to embrace it in the classroom, he is also aware of the dangers of over-reliance on it, believing that students need to be taught when to pull back from its usage when the time calls for it. “My philosophy is that technology should be transparent. It should make classroom instruction smoother and simpler and should be an enhancement, not a replacement.”
Excited about the potential of AI in the classroom, Kazar is aware of what comes with its increased usage. He wants to encourage students to continue forming their own ideas rather than outsourcing them to AI and computers. When asked what he thinks the biggest challenge facing students is, Kazar recognizes the struggles that increased use of technology can have on human development. “I think we need to find the balance between utilizing tech to enhance your role in learning, but making sure not to replace human interaction and the ability to communicate with one another, the ability to recognize real-life interactions and prioritize those.”
A long-time advisor for the robotics team, Kazar views his work with the team as his greatest achievement. During his time as an advisor, the team, known as the Gearheads, has won the Chairman’s award and the Engineering Inspiration award, two of the most prestigious awards in the FIRST Mid-Atlantic youth robotics community. While winning awards is great, what Kazar values most about working with the robotics team is seeing the team’s evolution and growth, and witnessing alumni return and share stories about the impact and role being a member had on their lives. “Some of our best students come in shy and timid,” he said. “We push them beyond their comfort zones, making sure they are fulfilling the roles that they put themselves in, seeing how they change and grow out of their shell, advocate for themselves, and leave as different people in positive ways. Anytime I see that, it’s reassuring that we’re doing good work.”
When asked what he wants his lasting legacy to be in terms of his impact on students, Kazar hopes he has taught them to value creating new experiences. He wants students to explore multiple creative wells, as collecting those experiences helps them become more well-rounded people. “On the robotics team, we call out the full version of the phrase, jack of all trades, master of none. The full phrase is ‘jack of all trades, master of none, is often times better than a master of one.’ I encourage everyone to experience as much as you can.”
The NJSBA congratulates Tyler Kazar on his achievement.
