Innovative programs in five New Jersey schools have earned recognition in the New Jersey School Boards Association’s annual School Leader Award program.
Each year, the School Leader Award showcases creative and effective programs that New Jersey schools are implementing to enhance student achievement. Entries are judged on their level of innovation, and how well their programs meet students’ needs, enabling them to achieve to their highest potential. Congratulations to all involved for successfully serving their students.
This year, the judges of the 2025 School Leader Award program selected one school district for exemplary program recognition and four recognized programs.
Wildwood Public School District
Urban Gardening (Exemplary Program)
What began as a small-scale urban garden designed to teach students in the after school program about sustainable gardening in an urban setting evolved into a dynamic, schoolwide initiative serving students in grades 3 through 12. The program originated with planter boxes built through a collaboration between the Industrial Arts department and the After School Program. Since then, Wildwood Public Schools has steadily expanded the garden’s footprint and impact. In 2019, with joint grant funding from OceanFirst Bank and the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers, a greenhouse and outdoor classroom were constructed, significantly increasing opportunities for hands-on, interdisciplinary learning. The addition of an industrial composter in the 2023–2024 school year further enhanced the program’s focus on sustainability. While the garden was initially used primarily during after-school hours, it has since become integrated into the school-day curriculum.
The continued growth of Wildwood Public School’s Urban Garden reflects the district’s commitment to experiential learning, sustainability, and student empowerment. By integrating academic content with real-world application and community engagement, the garden serves as a model for innovative education. As the program evolves, it will remain a cornerstone of interdisciplinary instruction, cultivating not only plants, but also curiosity, responsibility, and lifelong skills in every student who participates.
Livingston Public School District
Innovating with Artificial Intelligence (AI) (Recognized Program)
The Livingston Public School staff recognized that in order to continue to navigate the evolving landscape of education in the 21st century, they had to be committed to providing their students with the best resources to prepare them for success in an ever-changing world. In this spirit they recognized that Generative Artificial Intelligence (Al), Large Language Models (LLM), and prompt-engineering tools, while still relatively new and evolving daily, can be valuable tools in the educational environment. The goal is to articulate guidance for teachers, and a program for students, that recognizes the value and impact of Artificial Intelligence, while emphasizing ethical use of the technology. Staff endeavored to establish a comprehensive framework for educators and a student centered curriculum to foster Artificial Intelligence (Al) literacy. This initiative aims to enable a thorough recognition of Al’s transformative value and multifaceted societal implications, while concurrently instilling principles of responsible Al integration and ethical technological deployment within educational contexts.
Al was also extended to a new course for students at Livingston High School. “Innovating With Al” is a semester-long course designed to give students hands-on experience with artificial intelligence as it relates to business. Students begin by learning about the history of Al, what Al is (and is not), and exploring the ethics of Al including lessons on bias. Once the foundation is set, students learn the ways in which Al is impacting businesses, and explore how Al can be used in sales and marketing, social media, and customer interactions. The course culminates with a student portfolio in which students demonstrate real-world applications for Al in a business of their choice.
Manville Public School District
Learning Comes to Life at Duke Farms (Recognized Program)
The Manville School District is proud to highlight its ongoing and expanding partnership with Duke Farms, a 2,700-acre ecological preserve in Hillsborough, NJ, dedicated to environmental stewardship, climate solutions, and education. Since 2018, this collaboration has provided students from preschool through high school with annual, curriculum-aligned field experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom and into the natural world. As a living laboratory, Duke Farms offers students the opportunity to explore nature, history, and sustainability firsthand while enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. These immersive experiences are offered at no cost to Manville students, thanks to the generosity of Duke Farms and the Doris Duke Foundation. This meaningful partnership enriches student learning while inspiring a deep respect for the environment.
The Manville School District’s partnership with Duke Farms exemplifies the power of place-based, interdisciplinary learning to deepen understanding, inspire curiosity, and support academic achievement. By bringing instruction beyond classroom walls, students gain authentic opportunities to connect with content in ways that are relevant, engaging, and memorable. Whether through early exposure to ecological systems, or targeted interventions, this collaboration reinforces core academic skills while nurturing confident learners who see themselves as scientists, mathematicians, environmental stewards, and critical thinkers. As the partnership continues to evolve, it stands as a model for how meaningful community collaboration can enrich education and empower students across all grade levels.
Mendham Borough Public School District
Middle School Superpowers – Strengthening the Home School Connection (Recognized Program)
As research has consistently shown, the level of parental involvement in a child’s education decreases as a student progresses to higher grade levels. The middle years are an especially challenging time, as parents often assume that their child either does not want or does not need their support, but the reality is quite the contrary.
The idea for Middle School Superpowers – Strengthening the Home-School Connection, was born in the summer of 2023. After reading “Middle School Superpowers – Raising Resilient Teens in Turbulent Times,” written by Phyllis Fagell, staff came up with the idea of a Parent Book Club, suggesting that the 2024-2025 Advisory curriculum follow the chapters of the book, with one monthly lesson being dedicated to each superpower. The program would include a monthly book club meeting and related advisory lesson to foster collaboration between the school and parents, assisting parents in having meaningful conversations at home with their child. Advisory lessons were held to complement the book club discussions, which were taught by eighth grade student mentors.
The Middle School Superpowers program structure is one that can be replicated in future years. To continue to provide opportunities for parents to engage, the 2025-2026 school year will feature a “Parent Series,” offering presentations and discussions on a variety of pertinent topics, with the goal of facilitating another Parent Book Club in the 2026-2027 school year.
Teaneck Public School District
Forging Powerful Partnerships for Progress: The Teaneck High School Election Worker Initiative (Recognized Program)
The Teaneck Public School District’s Election Worker Training Program has created a strong partnership between schools and local government, empowering high school scholars to engage directly in the democratic process. Through this initiative, students develop civic responsibility, leadership skills, and stronger community connections — while the district strengthens collaboration with local election officials. The program offers students hands-on experience serving as trained election workers at local polling sites, helping them develop a deeper understanding of the electoral process and their role as active citizens.
As the first district in New Jersey to launch this initiative, Teaneck Public Schools has demonstrated how collaboration between schools and local government can foster civic engagement, leadership development, and community pride. Through national presentations, including to the League of Innovative Schools, Teaneck is encouraging districts across the country to adopt this model.
By empowering students to participate in real-world democratic processes, the district is building the next generation of informed, responsible leaders, and strengthening the ties between schools, local government, and the broader community.
