NJSBA honored a select group of school staff members during its Annual Workshop in October 2025. The third annual “Unsung Superheroes in Education Awards” ceremony recognized those in pre-K-12 public education before a statewide audience in Atlantic City. They are nominated for working tirelessly behind the scenes, often without recognition, to ensure that New Jersey’s schools run smoothly. Their work helps provide a safe and nurturing environment for students and supports staff and administration so they can serve as optimal leaders.
The Association’s weekly online newsletter, School Board Notes, spotlights each recipient for their work. This week, we are highlighting James “Jay” Aiello, the facilities coordinator for Verona Public Schools in Essex County.
Aiello spent most of his working life inside a single school district—from leading a classroom as an educator for a quarter of a century, to working behind the scenes to keep the district moving. He stepped into the role at 18 years old in the Verona’s K–12 district that includes four elementary schools, a middle school and a high school.
As an English teacher for 25 years at Hackettstown High School, he kept his summer job in facilities. All told, Aiello estimates that he has been working for Verona schools for about 45 years now.
“As an English teacher, that was my main life for a long time,” he said. “I retired in 2000…but I kept this job as a summer role, and eventually I came back full time.”
He works in operations and handles logistics across the district’s schools with his daily responsibilities that people have come to depend upon.
“I do deliveries among the buildings,” Aiello said. “I move mail between schools, and I deliver meals that need to go out to three of the elementary schools.”
While some of his duties have changed over time, he no longer cuts the grass as that is handled by the municipality’s public works department.”
Aiello’s role also extends beyond the school district as he also works in coordination with public works as a shared employee arrangement.
Recognition for his decades of dedicated service came through a nomination he did not expect but genuinely appreciated from Verona School Board President Pamela Priscoe along with written recommendations from other district administrators.
“I was so grateful and thankful that I had been nominated,” he said. “I was completely caught off guard.”
He reflected fondly on NJSBA’s Workshop ceremony and said it was an event he would remember for a long time.
“It was done beautifully,” said Aiello, who had several of his family members and friends attend with him. They made it a memorable night with a dinner afterward to celebrate.
The NJSBA congratulates James Aiello on being awarded for this fantastic achievement!
Nominations for the 2026 Unsung Superheroes in Education Awards are open! To shine a light on your district’s superhero, please complete a nomination form and submit it by Tuesday, June 30, 2026. All winners will be recognized at NJSBA’s Workshop slated for Oct. 19 to 22 at the Atlantic City Convention Center.
