Email:
ernest.palestis@centenaryuniversity.edu

Bachelor Degree/Major/Institution

B.A. History New Jersey City University

Masters

M.A. Political Science William Paterson University

M.A. Urban Education /Administration New Jersey City University

Ed. D Educational Leadership Nova / Southeastern University

Area of Greatest Professional Interest

Educational Leadership and Change / Mentoring of Aspiring Superintendents / Administrators

Recent Honors/Publications/Presentations/Community Service

• International Technology Education Association – Program of Excellence Award
• New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education Best Practices Award
• New Jersey Department of Education Best Practice Awards (3) for Early Childhood Education; Social Problem Solving and Decision Making; Mathematics
• New Jersey Developmental Disabilities Council Exemplary Practice Award (2)
• New Jersey Monthly – The Top 75 Public High Schools – (6)
• New Jersey Parent Teacher Association Superintendents Award
• New Jersey School Boards Association Parent Involvement Award
• Recipient of Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation grant to study the preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy
• Recipient of Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Parents as Partners grant
• Redbook Magazine – America’s Best Schools Award – Overall Excellence
• School Match – What Parents Want Award – (6)
• State of New Jersey – The Senate and General Assembly – Joint Legislative Resolution, honored for work in field of technology, special education, educational leadership, public school choice
• State of New Jersey – Proclamation by the Governor – honored for work in field of mathematics
• Technology Educators Association of New Jersey – Program of the Year
• United States Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools Award (3)
• United States Department of Education and Regional Laboratory at Brown University exemplary practice award for Technology Leadership
• United States House of Representatives – Congressional Citation for Educational Excellence
• US News & World Report – America’s Best High Schools – (4)
• Recipient of INCLUDE grant of 800K to improve the performance of special education students in the field of mathematics and science
• New Jersey Department of Education Star School Award
• New Jersey Department of Education Public School of Choice
• Blue Star School – Top 100 Schools in US – Financial Literacy
• Advanced Placement District Honor Roll – (3)
• Best School Districts – K12.NICHE.COM – (2)
• New Jersey and National School of Character
• Washington Post – America’s Most Challenging High Schools
• Published in School Leader; Scholastic Administrator; New Jersey Monthly; NJEA Review; Redbook; Technology and Learning; Perspective; The American School Board Journal
• Presentations for Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University; New Jersey School Boards Association; County College of Morris; New Jersey School Public Relations Association; New Jersey PTA; Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and various public schools
• Community Service with Boy Scouts; Rotary; board of education member; and several education foundations