NJSBA’s Equity Expo an Impressive Success

The New Jersey School Boards Association’s first Equity Expo saw a crowd of nearly 150 school officials and education leaders on Friday, April 11 at the Conference Center at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor.

The morning began with Dr. Nicholas Diaz, deputy director of NJSBA, welcoming attendees to the new program and emphasizing the importance of equity. “Equity is not a one-day conversation,” he said. “It is a daily practice. It’s how we make decisions, how we allocate resources, and how we listen to and serve our students. This Expo is one small piece of a much larger journey.“

Karen Cortellino, M.D., president of NJSBA, took to the podium to share her personal experience in understanding equity. She spoke of the well-known illustration showing three children standing on platforms of the same size, unable to see over a fence. This represented equality. When the platforms were adjusted to accommodate the different heights of the children so that they all had a chance to see over the fence, the distinction between equity and equality was clear.

Dr. Cortellino explained, “Equity is so important, and I began to think more about what we as an Association could do to shine a spotlight on what it means, particularly as it relates to advancing the education of all children. This expo is an important step to doing more to inform our members on this topic.”

The expo’s keynote speaker, LeDerick Horne, spoke to a crowded theater when presenting his session, “Moving Towards More Equitable Schools.” Horne is chair and co-founder of All In for Inclusive Education, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming schools into spaces where every student belongs.

LeDerick shared his personal journey as a student in special education, and how his hardships and triumphs made him the renowned speaker, author, activist, and poet he is today. He spoke about his experience being labeled “neurologically impaired” as a child in the 1980s, and the systemic barriers that continue to exclude students with disabilities and other marginalized learners.

Towards the end of his moving presentation, Horne shared answers to the question, “How do we move beyond performative inclusion to build truly equitable schools?” Calling upon his personal experiences in special education, he provided attendees with practical, equity-driven approaches to take back to their districts and help them promote equitable, inclusive schools.  

The day continued with breakout sessions that touched upon various aspects of equity, such as alternative education programs, building a diverse educator workforce, providing opportunities beyond the classroom, and creating culturally welcoming school culture.

Before the closing panel discussion, Dr. Cortellino presented the winners with the Equity in Education Leadership Award. The award recognizes and celebrates individuals, schools, or districts that have demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing equity in education.

The winner of the individual program category was Dr. Rosetta Treece of the Hopewell Valley Regional School District. Dr. Treece is a visionary educator and leader committed to advancing educational equity and historical justice. Through her vision and dedication, she introduced the Witness Stones Project to the district, transforming how students and the community engage with history. By embedding this powerful program into the curriculum, Dr. Treece has ensured that students not only learn about the realities of enslavement but also honor the lives and legacies of those who were silenced. Her leadership has created space for critical reflection and lasting change, ensuring the community’s story is told and remembered for generations.

The winner of the district program category was the Jersey City Public Schools Administrators Academy, a shining example of equity-driven leadership development. In one of the nation’s most diverse cities, this visionary program is cultivating the next generation of school leaders — leaders who are not only skilled and effective but deeply committed to equity and inclusion. By creating a homegrown pipeline of future principals and school administrators, the district has ensured that aspiring leaders are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and mindset to drive transformative change.

Through a powerful combination of mentorship and professional development, the Administrators Academy is breaking down barriers and fostering inclusive learning environments across the district. The success of this program is already evident, as many of its graduates are now leading schools and making a meaningful impact on student achievement and school culture. The Administrators Academy stands as a model, showing what is possible when equity is placed at the center of leadership development.

To end the day, Dr. Rashon Hasan, superintendent of the Plainfield Board of Education, along with key representatives from Plainfield Public Schools hosted a panel discussion to share best practices from their district. They highlighted the district’s innovative budget strategies, impactful projects, and initiatives designed to foster greater equity and access for all students. By demonstrating the level of commitment necessary to advance equity in education, this panel discussion left attendees feeling inspired and motivated.

The New Jersey School Boards Association’s inaugural Equity Expo will certainly not be its last. After nearly selling out its first year, it is clear that education leaders from districts throughout the state are seeking guidance and unique ideas on how to make their schools more equitable and inclusive for all students.

More Great NJSBA Programming Ahead

On Friday, May 30, NJSBA will hold its Virtual Spring Conference: Fulfilling the Promise of Public Education. The virtual event will feature multiple concurrent training sessions featuring our most-requested topics and some of the most popular sessions from Workshop 2024, such as New Jersey’s revised OPRA law, mental health resources and education, promoting positive learning environments, labor relations, budgets, school law, and much more.

Register for the conference here.

NJSBA will also host its inaugural AI Conference: Preparing for Today and Tomorrow on Friday, June 6 at the Conference Center at Mercer from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Whether you are an avid user of artificial intelligence or a novice, it is imperative to appreciate the potential of generative AI in the classroom – as well as areas of concern.

This conference will explore how AI can be used in the classroom to improve student learning, how administrators are using it to perform their duties, what board members should know about AI, and the legal issues surrounding AI.

More information will be made available in the coming weeks. Register for the AI Conference here.