Michael McClure, member of the Maple Shade Board of Education in Burlington County, has been named the New Jersey School Boards Association’s 2026-2027 Board Member of the Year.

NJSBA leadership, Maple Shade board of education members and select NJSBA staff were on hand to honor Michael as the 2026-2027 School Board Member of the Year during the Maple Shade Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

View the presentation video here: https://youtu.be/d0bN5o2CSTs

Michael McClure has served on the Maple Shade school board for 27 years, including service as its president for ten years and vice president for four years and on numerous committees throughout his tenure. He counts as one of his accomplishments as a leader of his board that he was instrumental in passing a $29 million referendum in 2004 that upgraded the township schools.

McClure initially joined the Maple Shade Board of Education in 1999 to help advocate for more school funding and class size reduction. His goal was to advance the academic standing of his town’s youth after so many years of working with them on the athletic side.

In addition to his service on the Maple Shade Board, McClure also served as NJSBA’s president from 2019-2021, NJSBA’s vice president for finance for two terms, was a member of the NJSBA Board of Directors for eight year and president and vice president of the Burlington County School Boards Association.

“Mike McClure has been one of NJSBA’s greatest champions and a tireless advocate for children and public education across the Garden State. Throughout nearly three decades of service, including his leadership as NJSBA president during one of the most challenging periods in public education, Mike has led with humility, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to helping others succeed, “ said Dr. Timothy Purnell, NJSBA executive director/CEO. “He is a trusted mentor, a respected colleague and a remarkable leader, and this recognition reflects not only all that he has accomplished, but the deep respect and admiration he has earned from school board members throughout New Jersey.”

As NJSBA president he guided the Association during the COVID pandemic leading it through unprecedented challenges facing New Jersey and the nation, helping to steady the Association at a time of great uncertainty across public education.

In her nomination of McClure, Irene LeFebvre, Boonton Board of Education, past president of NJSBA and past Board Member of the Year, describes McClure as a mentor, quietly providing support from behind and beside the scenes assisting without taking over and able to answer any questions asked about serving as a board member.

A firm believer in the importance of professional development as a board member, McClure earned the designations of Certified Board Member, Master Board Member and Certified Board Leader through the NJSBA Board Member Academy and also serves as a group leader for training programs at NJSBA.

Given annually by the NJSBA since 2005, the award honors an individual board member who makes significant contributions to public education; exemplifies leadership in the field of education with a strong commitment to the children of New Jersey; demonstrates a strong commitment to their personal and professional development as a board member; and shows active involvement in school governance at the local, county and state levels. (Learn more about the award and its past winners.)

The winner is chosen by a group of judges at another state school boards association, who review the nomination packages that NJSBA receives.