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Leadership is in Your Future!

The Foundation for Educational Administration (FEA) offers the NJEXCEL (New Jersey EXpedited Certification for Educational Leadership) Program as the state-approved, innovative, non-traditional program leading to certification for Supervisor, Principal, Director of School Counseling Services, Teacher-Leader and School Administrator.  Eligibility for admission to NJEXCEL includes a minimum of a master’s degree in a related educational field and four years of full-time certificated experience as a teacher and/or educational specialist. 

Please click on and review our

NJEXCEL Brochure

for an overview of the exceptional features

of our excellent program.

 

Applications for our

January 2026 Cohort

will be accepted until

November 1, 2025. 

Don't miss your opportunity!

Consider registering for an NJEXCEL Information Session to learn more about the program (see side panel and links).

All Info Sessions will be held online via Zoom.

 

In The News

NJEXCEL Career Accomplishments

 Congratulations to the following members of the NJEXCEL Community of Learners who shared 2024 and 2025 career news:

  • Octavia Greer (July 23/M3/C) was appointed as Preschool Coordinator for the Woodbury City Public Schools, effective September 2025.
  • Kelly Harmon (July 13/M3/C and July 18/M4/C) has been named as a 2026 ACTE Champion for CTE Award Winner by the Association for Career and Technical Education.  For her contributions to the improvement, promotion, development and progress of career and technical education, she will be recognized at the ACTE Awards Gala in December 2025 in Nashville, TN.
  • Lynn Thompson (July 22/M2/Central) was appointed as Assistant Principal of Nellie F. Bennett Elementary School in the Point Pleasant School District, effective September 2025.
  • Tara Cotton (Jan 24/M2/C) was appointed as Vice-Principal of Millville High School in the Millville Public Schools, effective September 2025Ashley Powell (Jan 22/M2/C) was appointed as Assistant Principal of Dunellen High School in the Dunellen Public Schools, effective August 2025.
  • Meri Petkovska (July 24/M3/N) was appointed as Supervisor of Bilingual Education, ESL, and World Languages K-12 in the Bound Brook Public Schools, effective August 2025.
  • Farjana Rahman (Jan 24/M2/N) was appointed as Assistant Principal of Mathematics and Science at Orange Preparatory Academy of Inquiry and Innovation in the Orange Public Schools, effective August 2025.
  • Samantha Wilson (July 24/M2/C) was appointed as Supervisor of Pupil Services and Guidance in the Hamilton Township School District (Atlantic County), effective August 2025.
  • Michelle Dailey (July 22/M2/C) was appointed as Principal of University Heights Elementary School in the Hamilton Township School District (Mercer County), effective July 2025.
  • Catherine Steege (Jan 24/M/N) was appointed as Supervisor of Student Support Services in the School District of the Chathams, effective July 2025. 
  • Lindsay Warren (July 23/M2/C) was appointed as a Vice-Principal of Mount Olive High School in the Mount Olive Township School District, effective July 2025.
  • Jacqueline Janik (Jan 24/M2/C) was appointed as Principal of Warren H Wolf Early Childhood Development Center in the Brick Township Public Schools, effective July 2025.
  • Jennifer Finnerty (July 24/M1/N) was appointed as Principal of Nishuane Elementary School in the Montclair Public Schools, effective July 2025.
  • Kristina Mannino (Jan 24/M1/C) was appointed as Assistant Director of Student Services for the Robbinsville Public Schools, effective July 2025.
  • Matthew Tabrys (July 24/M3/N) was appointed as Supervisor of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for the Hillsdale Public School District, effective July 2025.
  • Daniel LaGuardia (Jan 22/M2/Central) was appointed as Supervisor of Instruction in the Howell Township Public Schools, effective July 2025.
  • Jessica Young (July 21/M3/Central) was appointed as Principal of Sayen Elementary School in the Hamilton Township School District (Mercer County), effective July 2025.
  • Marisa Stefani (July 23/M3/Central) was appointed as Director of Special Services for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District, effective July 2025.
  • Brigid Mullins (July 24/M2/Central) was appointed as Supervisor of Special Services in the Monmouth Ocean Educational Services Commission (MOESC), effective June 2025.
  • Margarita Baldeo (July 20/M2/C) was appointed as Assistant Superintendent for Student Services for the Princeton Public Schools, effective May 2025.
  • Lee McDonald (July 11/M2/C, Jan 13/M4, NJEXCEL Faculty) was appointed as Superintendent of the Rumson-Fair Haven School District, effective April 2025.
  • Neel Desai (July 07/M3/C) was appointed as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in the Lawrence Township Public Schools, effective March 2025.
  • Denise Ortlieb-Herbert (Jan 23/M3/C) was appointed as Supervisor of Special Services, Grades 7-12, for the Hillsborough Township Public Schools, effective February 2025. 
  • Julie Spoerl (Jan 24/N2/N) was appointed as Director of Technology and Learning for the Springfield Public Schools, effective February 2025.
  • Marcy Marx (July 23/M3/C) was appointed as Supervisor of Special Education (gr. 9-12) for the North Brunswick Township Schools, effective February 2025.
  • Angela Elder (Jan 24/M2/N) was appointed as Acting Assistant Principal at Alexander D. Sullivan Elementary School PS 30 in the Jersey City Public Schools, effective February 2025. 
  • Jaclyn Abruzzese Lithgow (July 23/M3/C) was appointed as Assistant Principal of Monroe Township Middle School in the Monroe Township School District (Middlesex County), effective January 2025.
  • Farjana Rahman (Jan 24/M2/N) was appointed as District Supervisor of Mathematics (K-12) for the Orange Public schools, effective January 2025.
  • Laura Venezio (July 22/M3/C) was appointed as Supervisor of Language Arts K-12 for the Linden Public Schools, effective January 2025.
  • Anthony Procopio Jr. (July 22/M3/C) was appointed as Assistant Principal K-8 of Hainesport Township School in the Hainesport Township School District, effective November 2024.
  • Ewa Dziedzic-Elliott (Jan 20/M2/C) edited the book We Can Teach That: Information Literacy for School Librarians that was published in November 2024.
  • Giselle Perez (Jan 24/M2/C) was appointed as Supervisor of Elementary Language Arts and Academic Intervention (K-5) in the Franklin Township Public Schools, effective November 2024.
  • David Giraldo (Jan 22/M3/N) was appointed as Assistant Director of Park Academy Middle School, a Bergen County public school program operated by Pascack Valley Regional High School District, in collaboration with the River Vale Public Schools, effective November 2024. 
  • Maura Boeri (Jan 23/M3/N) was appointed as District Director of Assessment and Data Analysis and Supervisor of Business Technology and Art (6-12) in the Bergenfield Public Schools, effective October 2024.
  • Chance Summerer (Jan 24/M2/N) was appointed as District Supervisor of School Counseling in the Randolph Township School District, effective October 2024.
  • Matthew Rice (July 23/M3/N) was appointed as Science Department Chair at Bard High School Early College in Newark, effective October 2024.Doris Jones (July 22/M3/N) was appointed as Vice-Principal of Madison Elementary School in the Rahway Public Schools, effective September 2024.
  • Alyssa Wetzel (July 23/M3/N) was appointed as Child Study Team Coordinator for the North Warren Regional School District, effective September 2024.
  • Joseph Serratelli (July 22/M3/Central) was appointed asVice-Principal of Manchester Township High School in the Manchester Township School District, effective September 2024.
  • Jason Toncic (Jan 23/M3/N) was appointed as Supervisor of Humanities (6-12) for the New Brunswick School District, effective August 2024.
  • Andrew Rosado (July 22/M3/N) was appointed as Assistant Principal of School 13 in the Clifton Public Schools, effective August 2024.
  • Ashley Powell (Jan 22/M2/C) was appointed as Instructional Coach in the Dunellen Public Schools, effective August 2024.
  • Jasmine Akauola (July 18/M3/C) was appointed as Assistant Principal of Bedwell Elementary School in the Somerset Hills School District, effective August 2024.
  • Michael Tozzi (Jan 15/M3/C) was appointed as Principal of John F. Kennedy Elementary School in the Jamesburg Public Schools, effective August 2024.
  • Patricia Coban (July 23/M1/N) was appointed as Elementary Principal of the Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology, effective August 2024. 
  • Amina Chowdhry (Jan 23/M3/C) was appointed as Assistant Principal of Math and Science at Achievers Early College Prep in Trenton, effective July 2024. 
  • Angelo Monaco (Jan 20/M3/C) was appointed as Vice-Principal of Joseph E. Soehl Middle School in the Linden Public Schools, effective July 2024.
  • Brielle Heitman (Jan 22/M3/N) was appointed as Assistant Principal of Henry Johnson Charter School in Albany, NY, effective July 2024.
  • Amanda Trombetta (July 23/M1/N) was appointed as Director of Education, Information Systems, Platforms, and Staff Development in the Kinnelon Public Schools, effective July 2024. 
  • Kathleen "Katie" Nesheiwat (Jan 22/M3/N) was appointed as Supervisor of Elementary Student Support Services in the Westfield School District, effective July 2024. 
  • Jennifer Mooney (July 21/M3/N) was appointed as Assistant Principal of Readington Middle School in the Readington Township Public Schools, effective July 2024.
  • Gabriel Tavarez (Jan 23/M3/N) was appointed as Assistant Principal of Teaneck High School in the Teaneck Public Schools, effective July 2024. 
  • Jeanne Muzi (Jan 16/M3/C) was appointed as Director of Student Achievment, Equity and Opportunity in the Lawrence Township Public Schols, effective July 2024.
  • Melanie Scharadin Fillmyer (Jan 12/M3/S) was appointed as Director of School Counseling and Student Supports in the Lawrence Township Public Schools, effective July 2024.
  • David Zatta (July 19/M3/C) was appointed as Principal of Riley Preschool Annex and Roosevelt Preschool Annex in the South Plainfield School District, effective July 2024.
  • Eileen Fernandez (July 21/M3/N) was appointed as Assistant Director of Summer School in the North Bergen School District, effective Summer 2024.
  • Danielle Cicalese (Jan 23/M2/N) was appointed as Vice Principal of Crossroads School in the Union County Educational Services Commission, effective June 2024.
  • Angelo Monaco (Jan 20/M3/C) was recognized by the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) as part of the 2024 Next Generation of Afterschool Leaders. The honorees will be profiled in the Spring 2024 issue of NAA's AfterSchool Today magazine.
  • Alina Duran (July 22/M3/N) was appointed as K-12 Supervisor of Business, Art, Music and CTE in the Ridgefield Park Public Schools, effective March 2024.
  • Darrell Ford (Jan 20/M3/S) was appointed as K-12 Supervisor of Math and BSI in the Monroe Township Public Schools (Williamstown, NJ - Gloucester County), effective March 2024.
  • Joseph Gesualdi (Jan 22/M3/C) was appointed as Special Education Instructional Coach in the Franklin Township Public Schools, effective February 2024. 
  • Stacey Arzt (Jan 23/M2/C) was appointed as Assistant Principal-Special Services in the Tabernacle Township School District, effective February 2024.
  • Jessica Young (July 21/M3/C) was appointed as Vice-Principal of Franklin Elementary School (elemetnary) in the Franklin Township Public Schools, effective February 2024.
  • Andrew Rosado (July 22/M3/N) was appointed as Supervisor of Athletics, Activities, & PE/Health (K-12) in the Kinnelon Public Schools, effective February 13, 2024.
  • Christine Cherence (Jan 20/M3/C) was appointed as Principal of Cliffwood Elementary School in the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District, effective January 2024.
  • Tammy Pegrem (July 22/M3/C) was appointed as Vice-Principal of Timberlane Middle School in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, effective January 2024.
  • Michelle Dailey (July 22/M2/C) was appointed as Assistant Principal of The Newgrange School in Hopewell, NJ, effective January 2024.
  • Erica Walk-Polito (July 23/M3/C) was honored as the "2024 Educator of the Year" for the Port Republic School District.
  • Octavia Greer (July 23/M3/C) was honored as the "2024 Teacher of the Year" at Evergreen Avenue Elementary School in the Woodbury City Public Schools. 
  • Jeanette Pena (Jan 19/M3/N and Jan 22/M4/N) was appointed and sworn in as a new member of the New Jersey State Board of Education on January 17, 2024.  Her term runs through June 2028. She was nominated by Governor Murphy and confirmed by the State Senate to serve in this important post. 

Congratulations and best wishes!

 

Read More

NJ EXCEL News Archive

NJEXCEL Models

Candidates in NJEXCEL Models 1-4 are eligible for graduate level credits through NJEXCEL's Professional Learning Review with Thomas Edison State University (TESU) upon full and successful of the NJEXCEL program. Tuition rates below are effective for January 2026 and are subject to change.

NJEXCEL Model 1
  • For practicing supervisors who have completed more than 4 years of full-time certificated supervisory experience
  • Minimum of a master's degree in a related educational field
  • Required instructional seminars plus minimum 300 hours of field-based experiences, projects, and internships
  • Tuition = $10,350 (plus books, I-Mentor fee of $650, ASCD/ISTE membership fee to ASCD/ISTE, SLLA fee to ETS, licensure fee to NJDOE, transcript fee to TESU-if desired) 
  • Duration:  January-January or June/July-July (approx. one year)
  • Graduate Credit Award from TESU: 29 credits
  • Certifications: Principal CE, Teacher-Leader#, Director of School Counseling Services*
NJEXCEL Model 2
  • For practicing teachers or educational specialists with supervisor certification and at least 4 years of full-time certificated educational experience or for practicing supervisors who have completed less than 4 years of full-time certificated supervisory experience
  • Minimum of a master's degree in a related educational field
  • Required instructional seminars plus minimum 300 hours of field-based experiences, projects, and internships
  • Tuition = $11,050 (plus books, I/S Mentor fees of $1050, ASCD/ISTE membership fee to ASCD/ISTE, SLLA fee to ETS, licensure fee to NJDOE, transcript fee to TESU-if desired)  
  • Duration:   January-January or June/July-July (approx. one year)
  • Graduate Credit Award from TESU: 32 credits
  • Certifications: Principal CE, Teacher-Leader#, Director of School Counseling Services*
NJEXCEL Model 3
  • For practicing teachers or educational specialists who have completed at least 4 years of full-time certificated educational experience
  • Minimum of a master's degree in a related educational field
  • Required instructional seminars plus minimum 300 hours of field-based experiences, projects, and internships
  • Tuition = $14,250 (plus books, I/S Mentor fees of $1400, ASCD/ISTE membership fee to ASCD/ISTE, SLLA fee to ETS, licensure fee to NJDOE, transcript fee to TESU-if desired)  
  • Duration:  January-July or June/July-January (approx. one and one-half years)
  • Graduate credit award from TESU: 42 credits
  • Certifications: Supervisor, Principal CE, Teacher-Leader#, Director of School Counseling Services*
NJEXCEL Model 4
  • For practicing educators holding NJ Principal Certification (CE, Provisional or Standard) OR those with NJ School Business Administrator certification who have completed 4+ years of SBA experience
  • Minimum of a master's degree in a related educational field
  • Field-based experiences include a 150-hour school administrator internship
  • Tuition = Tier 1 - $4,400; Tier 2 - $4,050-If candidate has taken and passed SSA prior to program entrance; Tier 3 - $3,750-Special rate offered to NJEXCEL Alumni (plus for all Tiers - I-Mentor fee of $650, SSA fee to ETS, licensure fee to NJDOE, transcript fee to TESU-if desired).  
  • Duration:   January-January or June/July-July (approx. one year)
  • Graduate Credit Award from TESU: 10 credits
  • Certifications: School Administrator CE
NJEXCEL Model 5
  • For practicing educators who need only the 300 hour School Based Internship for Principal CE, as determined by criteria and formal evaluation by the NJ Department of Education
  • Minimum of a master's degree in a related educational field
  • Tuition = $2,250. (plus I-Mentor fee of $1300, SLLA fee to ETS, licensure fee to NJDOE) 

NOTES:  Tuition rates and credit awards are effective for the January 2026 cohorts and are subject to change. *Eligibility for Director of School Counseling Services certification requires 3 years of full-time guidance counselor experience.  #Candidates will become eligible for the NJ Teacher-Leader Endorsement if state eligibility requirements are met.

Locations

NJEXCEL sessions may be offered at one or more regional New Jersey sites:  Central - NJPSAFEA, Monroe Township (Middlesex County - NJEXCEL Headquarters), North - Parsippany-Troy Hills School District (Morris County), and South - Black Horse Pike Regional School District (Camden County).