On Aug. 2, Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, NJSBA executive director, and Patrice Maillet, NJSBA director of business development, attended the Change of Command Ceremony for the U.S. Army Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Battalion in Lakehurst.
In the ceremony, Lt. Col. Keith D. Bryant, Special Forces, relinquished command to Lt. Col. Brendan P. Toolan, Field Artillery.
NJSBA has a unique partnership with the U.S. Army in support of science, technology, education, arts, and math (STEAM) education. For the past four years, the Army has placed a STEAM education fellow on the NJSBA staff to help expand training and consultation in STEAM education areas.
NJSBA is the only state school boards association in the country to have a STEAM consultant embedded in its staff to work with local school districts. NJSBA’s popular STEAM Tank Challenge, in which teams of students present inventions to a panel of judges, also grew out of the collaboration between NJSBA and the U.S. Army.
“We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Lt. Col. Bryant for the past two years, and we wish him health and happiness in his new assignment,” said Dr. Feinsod. “We eagerly look forward to collaborating with Lt. Col. Toolan as we further develop this unique partnership.”

