Hoboken Public Schools just made history! They’re now the first district in New Jersey to have every school awarded the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Lighthouse Award.
This award, given by the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence (BRSE), shows how committed the district is to providing top-notch education.
Even more impressive, Hoboken is now recognized as a 2024 Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Lighthouse District.
- Hoboken Public Schools are the first in New Jersey to have all their schools win the National Blue Ribbon Lighthouse Award.
- The award was given for outstanding performance in areas such as academics, school culture, and community partnerships.
- Hoboken school leaders will receive awards and share their success stories at a big Orlando, Florida, conference in December 2024.
How Hoboken Achieved National Recognition
The path to this honor was not easy, that’s for sure. The BRSE organization, an independent non-profit, conducts a thorough national assessment, evaluating schools across key performance areas.
These areas include Student Focus and Support, School Organization and Culture, Challenging Standards and Curriculum, Active Teaching and Learning, Technology Integration, Professional Community, Leadership and Educational Vitality, and School-Family-Community Partnerships.
For Hoboken Public Schools, the assessment process also involved a detailed analysis of academic achievement and growth in English Language Arts and Mathematics.
To support this, quantitative data points from local, state, and national assessments were used to measure these achievements.
In addition, the evaluation was enriched by stakeholder surveys and interviews conducted by Jayne Ellspermann, a Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence representative and former NASSP National Principal of the Year.
During her visit, Ellspermann toured classrooms and engaged with students, parents, and faculty, sharing a comprehensive understanding of the district’s educational environment.
The Leadership and Collaboration That Drove Hoboken’s Success
What really set Hoboken apart was the strong leadership and teamwork throughout the district.
Speaking of the district’s achievements, Dr. Judy Warden Fields, CEO of Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, praised Hoboken’s courage and teamwork in ensuring every student gets the best education possible.
Dr. Fields noted that this recognition reflects their current success and ongoing efforts to improve.
Moreover, each school in the district—including Hoboken High, Hoboken Middle, Joseph F. Brandt Elementary, Thomas G. Connors Elementary, and Wallace Elementary—proved they were ready to meet BRSE’s high standards.
Altogether, this achievement is a major milestone, not just for Hoboken, but for the entire state of New Jersey.
Award Ceremony and Future Educational Leadership
As part of the celebration, Hoboken’s schools will be recognized at a special awards ceremony during the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Conference.
This exciting event will be held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
During the ceremony, the principals of the winning schools—Robin Piccapietra, Ryan Sorafine, Charles Bartlett, Martin Shannon, and Juliana Addi—will proudly receive their awards at a luncheon on December 5, 2024.
Not to mention, Superintendent Christine Johnson will be present to give a talk and lead a workshop.
All in all, this is a fantastic opportunity for Hoboken’s educators to share their insights and help other schools improve.
The conference, which attracts education leaders from over 40 states, is a perfect platform to showcase their successful practices.
Sustaining Excellence Through Continuous Improvement
The title of National Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School is valid from 2024 to 2029, which means the district must continue its great work for the next five years. After that, the schools can apply to renew their recognition.
As Hoboken Public Schools look ahead, they’re focused on using what they’ve learned from the BRSE assessment to continue improving education for all students.
By remaining dedicated to supporting students, working with the community, and maintaining high academic standards, Hoboken will maintain its reputation for excellence.
In short, Hoboken Public Schools’ success in earning the National Blue Ribbon Lighthouse Award is a huge achievement, and it reflects the hard work and dedication of the entire school community.
As the district prepares to share its success story on a national stage, it will set an inspiring example for other schools aiming to achieve the same level of excellence.
