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     NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
     
     
     
     
     
    Press Release

    Contact Anne H. Gallagher

    NJASA Director of Communications

    609-599-2900, ext. 126

    agallagher@njasa.net   

     

     

    The 2013 New Jersey Superintendent of the Year Dr. Christopher M. Manno is available to comment on education-related issues.

     
     
     
    Click here to view video!
     

     

    Trenton, New Jersey, November 15, 2012....Dr. Christopher M. Manno, Chief Education Officer, Burlington Township School District, was selected New Jersey's 2013 candidate for the American Association of School Administrators' (AASA) National Superintendent of the Year Award by the New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA).

     

    NJASA Executive Director Richard G. Bozza said, “Chris Manno is a dedicated, hard-working professional who continually strives to improve the quality of education for all students. He is a remarkable chief education officer with vision, imagination, and compassion for the students he serves.”

     

    The NJASA procedure names three regional – Northern, Central and Southern – Superintendent of the Year winners prior to selection of the State Superintendent of the Year. Manno was selected the NJASA Central Regional Superintendent of the Year. The two other chief education officers joining Manno are: Northern Regional winner – Dr. Daniel Fishbein, Chief Education Officer, Ridgewood Public Schools; and Southern Regional winner – Dr. Albert K. Brown, Shared Chief Education Officer, Stratford School District and Laurel Springs School District. All the regional Superintendents of the Year were introduced on October 23rd at the Opening General Session of the Annual Fall Workshop in Atlantic City. The workshop was co-sponsored by the NJASA, the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials (NJASBO) and the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA).

     

    New Jersey Superintendent of the Year Manno’s leadership was instrumental in the design implementation of the All Students Achieving Plan – a systemic, collaborative, evidence-based continuous improvement process, which focuses on improving student achievement, community engagement, safety and security, and management and operations. 

     

    The All Students Achieving Plan conveys Burlington Township School District's Values, Mission, Vision, Goals, and annual Objectives in a one-page, simple, and compelling document. The plan, modeled upon the United Airlines Go Forward Plan, and the process that supports it are the driving force behind all school and district improvement efforts in Burlington Township. 

     

    The plan itself is used as a "dashboard" to gauge progress throughout the year, and includes the use of regular "Flash Reports" to promote data-driven decision making. Each year the plan is constantly revisited and results evaluated in a systematic manner, with input from various school community stakeholders. The process culminates each year in a District Strategic Planning Convocation in which staff, administrators, Board Members, and others celebrate progress, learn, and plan for the future.  

     

    Manno, a prolific writer and noted author of curriculum-related materials, believes an educator should never leave the classroom. Over the years, he has taught and facilitated various workshops and classes to current and aspiring school leaders that focus on leadership, strategic planning, process management, and instituting change.

     

    A NJASA member since 1998, Manno has served on the NJASA Executive Committee, the NJASA Curriculum and Instruction Committee and the NJASA Achievement Gap Committee. Currently, he is serving his second term as President of the Burlington County Association of School Administrators (BCASA). Last year he revamped the County Roundtable meeting format to streamline the delivery of information, to include a Leading and Learning component of each meeting, and to foster more collaboration between Chief Education Officers.

     

    At the local level, he is an active Burlington Rotarian and is the project chair for the Rotary Start Kids Smart Program, which each year provides backpacks and school supplies to children of needy families in Burlington Township and Burlington City. Manno, also formed a Schools and Faith-Based Roundtable – a group of pastors and other faith-based partners – who come together several times a year to discuss their common vision for improving and serving the community.

     

    Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Burlington Township Food Pantry and was involved in the Pantry's formation. He is very proud of that work, as it makes a real difference for the children and families in the community.

     

    A committee of NJASA Past Presidents selected Manno to represent New Jersey in the 2013 National Superintendent of the Year Program. The national award, established in 1988, is sponsored by ARAMARK Education, ING Foundation, and AASA, and is open to all public school superintendents in the United States and overseas.

     

    The selection qualifications for the State and National Superintendent of the Year include: meeting the needs of their students; demonstrated communication strength; a commitment to professional development and growth; and significant community involvement.  Additionally, at the state and regional levels, NJASA has an additional qualification that addresses service to the Association.

     

    AASA will announce the National Superintendent of the Year at its Annual Conference on Education in February 2013. The recipient of this prestigious honor will receive a $10,000 college scholarship for a student at the high school where the superintendent graduated.

     

    New Jersey Superintendent of the Year Manno is a proud Burlington Township resident where he has lived with his wife, Melissa, and four children for twelve years. Manno and his family are all proud Burlington Township Falcons!

     

     

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    About NJASA

    The New Jersey Association of School Administrators is an organization of chief education officers and school administrators who lead school districts in New Jersey’s 21 counties. The Association’s mission is to ensure a superior statewide system of education. Through ongoing professional training and education, the Association shares knowledge among its members about best practices from both educational and administrative perspectives. Its goal is to move education forward by ensuring the highest quality of instruction for all New Jersey children.

     

    Education Brief Videos Explain Budget Considerations

    What schools can offer to students is directly affected by budget. Due to the complexity of the school budget cuts and the effects that will be felt in schools across the state, the NJASA has released a series of videos to help parents and taxpayers better understand the issues, and the potential aftermath of the events and changes. Each video can be accessed on a special NJASA YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/TheNJASA or by clicking on the YouTube icon on the NJASA website, www.njasa.net.