Transparency Over Sensitive Subjects
June 01, 2025
Effective leadership in a school district requires navigating complex and often contentious issues, such as Critical Race Theory, textbook controversies and political agendas on education.
Over the years, my approach has been rooted in transparency, proactive communication and building strong relationships within the community. This strategy has enabled our 2,600-student district in northern New Jersey to avoid many of the challenges faced by other districts and maintain a supportive and engaged community.
A cornerstone has been the transparent relationship between the school board, the administration and the community. For 47 years, my tenure in this district has fostered deep trust and mutual respect. This trust is not a matter of luck but the result of deliberate efforts to keep our stakeholders informed and involved in decision-making processes.
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This essay is part of a series called "Winning Ideas from Winning Superintendents." To view the other essays in the series, visit the June publication page.
As a central part of the applications for the National Superintendent of the Year program that 萝莉网manages annually, every state-level nominee is required to complete a series of four essays. The prompts require each superintendent to draw on the totality of their experiences over time to capture in words their leadership for learning philosophy and accomplishments, public communication skills, community involvement and professionalism.
Each of the submitted essays, running 1,000 words or less, captures the sharp thinking and meritorious actions taken by those leaders or the school systems they oversee.
In the pages that follow, we鈥檝e dubbed them 鈥渨inning ideas鈥� from 18 of the 49 state-level honorees in 2025 (Hawaii does not have a state applicant) in the National Superintendent of the Year program.
鈥� Jay P. Goldman
Full Roster of State Honorees:鈥俆he limitations of space prevent us from featuring every educator recognized in the 2025 National Superintendent of the Year program. A complete roster of each state鈥檚 award winner, along with their biographies and photos, can be found on the .
PRACTICAL TIDBIT
A cornerstone of my leadership approach is maintaining a professional yet neutral stance toward serving our students. This means not getting entangled in the polarized world of politics and ensuring our administrators and staff also remain neutral. We do not pass judgment nor do we engage in the rhetoric propagated by the media. Misinformation and disinformation are strategies that detract from our mission, and it is crucial we rise above such negativity to provide the best educational opportunities for all our students. By modeling this approach, I set a precedent for the entire district. Our focus remains on the core values of equity and inclusion, ensuring every decision is guided by the question, 鈥淚s it right for kids?鈥� This guiding question helps us maintain our commitment to serving all students, including those from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.
Throughout these essays, we鈥檝e included 鈥淧ractical Tidbits.鈥� These are brief excerpts from the applications of several 2025 National Superintendent of the Year candidates sharing their ideas about various school district operations and challenges. The excerpts have been edited for brevity and clarity.
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