Dr. Najla Staggers gets #celebratED for earning her Doctor of Education degree in Leadership and Learning in Organizations from Vanderbilt University! She currently serves as the Principal of the Hall School in the Bridgeport, Connecticut Public Schools, and prior to this, she served as Director of Mentor Training and Program Development for The Governor's Prevention Partnership, and as the Director of Grants for the Norwalk, Connecticut Public Schools. We celebrate Najla for

Courtney Gibbons gets #celebratED for being promoted to Professor of Mathematics at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York! She has been serving on the Hamilton faculty since 2013, and she has recently launched the MOTHERFUNCTOR Newsletter, providing weekly insights for mathematicians, educators and policymakers. In the last two years, Courtney has served the National Science Foundation (NSF) as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, and in the Directorate for Computer

Azad Madni gets #celebratED for receiving the IISE Albert G. Holzman Distinguished Educator Award! The prestigious award recognizes educators who have contributed significantly to the industrial and systems engineering profession through teaching, research and innovation. He is known for developing the educational framework, TRASEE™, which applies storytelling, experiential learning, digital twinning, AI and rigorous scientific modeling to teach complex technical concepts. Hi

Lisa Bradley-Coates gets #celebratED for being named a new Education Specialist with Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)! Throughout her career, she has served students and educators in challenging environments, strengthening her resilience, deepening her compassion, and reinforcing her belief that education has the power to transform lives. Lisa is also a member of the Teacher Advisory Board for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and she

Dr. Marnie Hazelton gets #celebratED for being named the new Superintendent of the Alum Rock Union School District in San Jose, California! Marnie is a champion for student voice who has served as Superintendent for the Superintendent for the Englewood Public School District and the Linden Public Schools, both in New Jersey, and the Roosevelt Union Free School District in New York. Marnie works to dismantle barriers and build systems that ensure equity is not an aspiration, b

Dr. Aaliyah A. Maxwell gets #celebratED for being appointed by Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger to the Virginia State Board of Education! She currently serves as a Senior Fellow conducting collaborative research to drive innovation in early childhood policy and practice at Harvard University. Previously, she served as CEO at the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), and as a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Local, State and National Engagement

Dr. Rashon Hasan gets #celebratED for being selected as the next superintendent for the Asbury Park Board of Education! He also serves as a Professor at Felician University in Rutherford, New Jersey. Previously, he led the Plainfield, New Jersey Public Schools, and served as Chief Financial Officer for the Leonia, New Jersey Board Of Education. We congratulate Rashon on this new role, and we anticipate great things from him in Asbury Park! Asbury Park Board of Education Plai

Shonda Collins-Richey gets #celebratED as the new Executive Director of Elementary Schools of the Spotsylvania County, Virginia Public Schools! Previously, she served as Director of Core Curriculum for the Stafford County, Virginia Public Schools, and as a Principal for Spotsylvania Schools. Shonda earned her Masters in Educational Leadership and Administration from George Mason University. We are excited for her new role, and we look forward to the impact she is going to hav

Shannon Szymczak gets #celebratED for her new role as a Social Emotional Learning Facilitator for the Federal Way, Washington Public Schools! Shannon is a career-long advocate for children and a passionate proponent for teacher care and well-being. We celebrate her for this exciting new role, and we know she will make a positive impact in Federal Way! Federal Way Public Schools Tacoma Public Schools LinkedIn Facebook

Andre D. Spencer gets #celebratED for being named the new Superintendent of the Willingboro Township, New Jersey Public Schools! Prior to this, he has served superintendencies in Teaneck, New Jersey Public Schools, the Manor, Texas Independent School District, and for Queens South in the New York City Department of Education. A native of Maryland, Dr. Spencer started as a as a science teacher, assistant principal, principal, and network team lead for the Baltimore City Public

Daryl C. Howard gets #celebratED for being honored with a special community achievement award from Upper Chichester Township, Pennsylvania officials during a hometown ceremony on Juneteenth (June 19, 2026)! This recognition celebrated his personal journey, leadership, and professional contributions as an author, equity specialist, and educator who serves as a thought leader in race, culture, and social-emotional learning. The award was presented by Upper Chichester Township m

Heather Lageman gets #celebratED for being named the new Director of State Accountability & Educator Licensure for the Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS)! In addition to serving in multiple leadership capacities over the past ten years with BCPS, she has also led as the Director of Curriculum for the Maryland State Department of Education, and she has volunteered her time and expertise to a number of state professional organizations, including Maryland ASCD, Learning Fo