• Happy Birthday, School Leader!

  What has remained constant for the past half century is School Leader’s relentless focus on helping local board of education members effectively fulfill their responsibility to govern their districts. 

  

• Five Schools Honored with Innovations in Special Education Award

  This year, programs from five schools were honored: Summit High School, Transitions at Burlington County Special Services School District, New Road School of Ocean County, The Calais School and Benway School.

  

• President’s Message: New Beginnings at Workshop

  This year, I am happy to undertake a new Workshop task – introducing and welcoming NJSBA’s new executive director, Dr. Timothy Purnell. As you may know, he was the unanimous choice of the NJSBA Executive Director Search Committee. 

• Executive Word: Every Child Needs a Champion

  In this latest issue of School Leader, you’ll find articles that will help you navigate these challenging times, including an issue I’m particularly passionate about: easing the teacher shortage. 

• ELFNJ Spotlight: NJSBA County Meetings Gear Up for Fall

  This fall, NJSBA’s county school boards association meetings will continue to be hybrid — with board members able to attend in person and virtually.

• Legally Speaking: Prayer at the 50-Yard Line: The Religious Rights of Public School Staff

  Courts have struggled to distinguish religious-themed activities and symbols that cross the line from those with enough secular significance to pass constitutional muster.

• Labor Lookout: Trends in Collective Negotiations

  Comparative data can provide boards with a sense of what other districts are doing. It can also provide board members with a sense of how competitive their district is in various areas.

• Field Perspective: Questions from the Field

  Periodically, the FSRs, who are all former board members themselves, share with School Leader magazine some of the questions they’ve recently fielded. This article includes a sampling of some of the latest queries. 

• Head of the Class: The Show Must Go On

  When Ocean Township High School (Monmouth County) drama teacher Chelsea Gower was planning for the 2020-2021 school year, she was determined that her students would have the opportunity to perform and showcase their talents.

• New Jersey YMCAs Supporting Youth and Families during the Pandemic

  The state’s Ys provided much needed childcare, tutoring programs, food and resources to families.