NJPSA/FEA Awards


Visionary Leadership Awards  |  Student Scholarships  

NJPSA annual awards programs include the NJPSA Visionary Leadership Awards, which honor school leaders in K-12 NJ schools, and the NJPSA Student Leadership Scholarship Program, which honors NJ students for demonstrated leadership in school activities and in co-curricular activities other than athletics.

NJPSA Visionary Leadership Awards

The annual NJPSA Visionary Leadership Awards program honors K-12 school leaders at the elementary, middle and secondary school levels. The award categories are:

  • Visionary Principal of the Year, Elementary Level
  • Visionary Principal of the Year, Secondary Level
  • Visionary Assistant Principal of the Year
  • Visionary Supervisor/Director of the Year

2025 Award Winners

Tony Cattani, Principal of Lenape High School in Medford, Visionary Principal of the Year, Secondary Level. Tony has also been named the national Principal of the Year award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
Gisela Ciancia, Principal of Roosevelt School in New Brunswick, Visionary Principal of the Year, Elementary Level.
Kimberly Hayes, Career and Academic Pathways Supervisor for the Northern Highlands Regional High School District, Visionary Supervisor/Director of the Year.
James Flakker, Vice Principal of Watchung Hills Regional High School, Visionary Vice principal of the Year.

Visionary Leadership Awards 2026 Brochure

Visionary Leadership Awards Online Application

NJPSA Visionary Awards Rubric Criteria

Previous Award Winners

2024 Visionary Award Winners

Dr. Lindsay Gooditis, Principal of Franklin Township School in Quakertown
Visionary Principal of the Year Elementary Level

Dr. Neil Burti, Principal of John A. Carusi Middle School in Cherry Hill
Visionary Principal of the Year Secondary Level

Dr. Laura Mathieu, Assistant Principal of Janis E. Dismus Middle School in Englewood
Visionary Assistant Principal of the Year

Dr. Bobbie Downs, Director of Child Study Team, Related Services, and Educational Services Unit of Burlington County Special Services School District
Visionary Supervisor/Director of the Year

NJPSA Student Leadership Scholarships


Additionally each year, the NJPSA Student Leadership Scholarships program provides 25 student leadership scholarships of $2,000 each, which are awarded to graduating seniors for their demonstrated leadership in community or school activities (other than athletics). Winners are selected from each of the three regions of our state – north, central, and south. Eligibility is limited to districts that receive this application directly from NJPSA.

Student Scholarships Homepage

2024-2025 NJPSA Student Leadership Scholarship Winners

Photo of 2024-2025 Student Scholarship winners

Student School County Principal School District
Abhay Bhaskar Edison Academy Magnet School Middlesex Amro Mosaad Middlesex County Magnet Schools
Amanda Cosentino Hanover Park High School Morris Thomas Callanan Hanover Park Regional High School District
Ari Rosen Bernards High School Somerset Scott Neigel Somerset Hills School District
Benjamin Bruchhauser Montville Township High School Morris Douglas Sanford Montville Township School District
Bill Tang John P. Stevens High School Middlesex Fay Kim Edison Township
Charlotte Bertoni Monroe Township High School Middlesex Kevin Higgins Monroe Townshp
Donovan Veletto West Morris Central High School Morris Timothy Rymer West Morris Regional High School District
Giavonna Formelio Timber Creek Regional High School Camden Kelly McKenzie Black Horse Pike Regional School District
Gwendolynn Dubrow Dunellen High School Middlesex Paul Lynch Dunellen
Jack Latson Verona High School Essex Joshua Cogdill Verona Public School District
Josiah Zaki James Caldwell High School Essex Jim Devlin Caldwell - West Caldwell
Madeline Senate Somerville High School Somerset Gerard Foley Somerville
Mia Compel West Morris Mendham High School Morris Steve Ryan West Morris Regional High School District
Mia Nerone Triton Regional High School Camden Melissa Sheppard Black Horse Pike Regional
Michelle Lin Brick Township High School Ocean David Kasyan Brick
Nazli Yildiz Clifton High School Passaic Ahmad Hamdeh Clifton Public Schools
Nicholas Veloso Cliffside Park High School Bergen Lawrence Pinto Cliffside Park Public Schools
Raquel Lamego Kearny High School Hudson Curtis Brack Kearny
Riyash Varia bergen county academies Bergen Russell Davis bergen county technical school district
Sameer Sharma Bordentown Regional High School Burlington Robert Walder Bordentown Regional School District
Seamus Burke Lakeland Regional High School Passaic Hugh Beattie Lakeland Regional High School
Stefano D'Agostino Manalapan High School Monmouth Shawn Currie Freehold Regional
Stuti Shah Edison High School Middlesex Charles Ross Edison Township Public Schools
Umi Joshi Colts Neck High School Monmouth Brian Donahue Freehold Regional High School District
William Goff Hawthorne High School Passaic Kevin Pfister Hawthorne Public Schools

Student Scholarships Program Home Page