In October 2025, during NJSBA’s annual Workshop, a select group of school staff members was 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 Leon Bunion, the 2025 Unsung Superhero in the coach/club advisor category.
Leon is a JAG Specialist and head coach of the cross country and track and field program at Rahway High School. As a specialist for the JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) program, he leads implementation and management, designing a curriculum centered on career development, workplace readiness, and personal growth. Before that, Bunion was a Business Education teacher at the school, a role he held for 19 years. In total, he has been a part of Rahway High School for 21 years.
A Rahway High School alum, Bunion’s journey back to the school comes from an alternate path. Initially determined to have a different career, Bunion earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Hampton University and began his career as an accountant. Working in the corporate world, Bunion didn’t feel fulfilled, believing that his life’s purpose was elsewhere. “It was a tough internal battle because I felt like I was good at my job and could rise quickly, but felt like I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I chose money over making a difference”, he said. Bunion quit his job and went home to figure out what the next journey would be. His younger brother, who was a student at Rahway High School at the time, suggested that he work at the school to supplement his income while he continues his job search. Bunion took his brother’s advice. Track is his first love, so his initial job at the school was working with the track and field team. He then worked as a substitute accounting teacher. He enjoyed both roles so much that when he was offered a full-time role, he accepted it, finally seeing himself making a difference.
In hindsight, the seeds for Bunion’s desire to be an educator were planted early, but he couldn’t see it at the time. During college, he interned for The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, GA. During the internship, the interns were tasked with working at an event at the local Boys and Girls Club. Though it was a one-day event, he enjoyed working with the children so much that he kept coming back, volunteering weekly. At the time, he didn’t believe that he would ever teach; he just knew that he really enjoyed working with children. A spark was lit.
At the beginning of his teaching career, Bunion enjoyed his job and knew that he was making an impact with his students. However, he didn’t realize the scope of it. He knew that he had a connection with his students but assumed that it was due to their close proximity in age, as he was in his mid-twenties when he began teaching. It wasn’t until he met his students’ parents that he realized how deep an impact he had made. “In PTA meetings, the parents would tell me about how much of an effect I’m having on their kids, how their kids would come home and talk about me”, he said. “More than just talking about the class, the kids would come home and talk about the impact I had on them. That was the a-ha moment that made me realize that maybe I really am making a difference”.
Understanding the importance of having the right people in your life, Bunion enjoys being a guiding light. To achieve this, Bunion teaches his students how to open their own doors. He has high standards in his classroom, with the motto “do everything in the spirit of excellence”. In his class, students must work hard and dress up for presentations. His demand for excellence has earned him a reputation among students as “OD,” short for overdosing, but Bunion relishes the label. “I am going to be a thorn in their side. I am going to push you, I am going to make you rise,” he said. Bunion will not relent from his motto, because he has seen the results. He has seen students rise to the added expectations, accomplishing things they didn’t know were possible. He smiles when discussing a former student who is now entering her final year of dental school. Students may initially complain, but the proof is in the pudding, as his JAG program typically has a waiting list for entry.
As a track coach, Bunion sees the value in extracurricular activities. He sees it as an opportunity to prepare students for life. “With competitiveness, in all our lives, we are going to compete. We’re going to compete for spots in college, and we are going to compete for jobs. We are constantly competing,” he said. “Learning how to be the best version of yourself, push past adversity, doubts, and limitations, those are great skills for young people to develop, and that’s going to benefit them in their lives no matter what they choose to do.” His ethos has translated to success on the field. In his two-decade tenure with the track team, the program has won 22 state titles, and some of his graduates have competed at the collegiate level. While this is a proud accomplishment, Bunion has his sights set on the big picture. “Who they become from this in five to ten years is more important than who they are in high school. To me, it’s an education for life.”
When asked what he wanted his legacy to be, Bunion was succinct. “That I made a difference. Hopefully, I made an impact on my students and the district that I serve.”
The NJSBA congratulates Leon Bunion on his achievement.
