Award
Left to right: Irene LeFebvre, president of the New Jersey School Boards Association; Dr. Karen Cortellino, vice president for legislation and resolutions at NJSBA; and Bernadette Dalesandro, president of Morris County School Boards Association.

Dr. Karen Cortellino, a member of the Montville Township Board of Education and vice president for legislation and resolutions at the New Jersey School Boards Association, received the inaugural Irene LeFebvre Excellence in Boardsmanship Award at the Morris County School Boards Association’s meeting at Parsippany Hills High School June 16.

The award was established to honor a local school board member who exemplifies Irene LeFebvre’s dedicated service as a board member, her leadership, commitment, and significant contributions to the education of students in Morris County. LeFebvre is president of NJSBA and also president of the Boonton Board of Education.

An impartial committee of board members from outside of Morris County decided who best exemplifies LeFebvre’s leadership and strong commitment to personal and professional development, and her involvement in school governance at the local, county and state levels. Nominees for the award were nominated by a formal resolution of their board of education.

“Karen is the epitome of an exemplary board member in every way. Her dedication to students can only be described as outstanding,” said Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, NJSBA executive director.

Cortellino served as president of the Montville Board of Education for six years from 2010 – 2016.  She has served on every standing board committee, as well as various ad hoc committees. In addition to being an NJSBA officer and serving Montville, she is a member of the Morris County School Boards Association, which she served as president from 2013 – 2018.

She is involved in numerous other civic organizations and has earned the designations of Certified Board Member, Master Board Member and Certified Board Leader through the NJSBA Board Member Academy.

She graduated from Queens College of the City University of New York, and the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara Medical School. She received post-graduate training at Maryland General Hospital. She works at the Pink Breast Center, an imaging facility dedicated to breast and women’s imaging.