Hillsborough Superintendent Recognized Nationally For Excellence In Educational Leadership

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough Township Public Schools Superintendent Michael J. Volpe has been named the national winner of the National Association of School Superintendents Excellence Award in Power Leadership for districts with more than 2,500 students.

The honor was presented live at the group’s annual conference in Oceanside, California, after a national selection process involving dozens of nominees.

Volpe was selected from among three finalists.

The other finalists were Amy Brennan, deputy superintendent of Mason City Schools in Ohio, and Terry Connor, superintendent of Sarasota County Schools in Florida.

Volpe was also named a national finalist in a second award category for Technology and AI.

The association defines Power Leadership as balancing advocacy and execution while combining operational precision, fiscal management and community-centered leadership.

The award recognizes district leaders who guide their communities through difficult periods while maintaining focus on long-term progress, according to the announcement.

Volpe, a Hillsborough resident whose four children graduated from the district, has led the school system since January 2023.

The announcement says he brought experience as a teacher, coach, principal and administrative leader to the job.

"This recognition is a testament to the extraordinary team I am privileged to work alongside every day, but behind every tough decision and long day, there is a personal reality to this work. I could not do any of it without my wife, Stacey, who always puts me back together after the tough days when I am broken, and her support keeps me grounded so I can continue to serve," said Volpe.

The announcement points to several fiscal and operational benchmarks under Volpe’s leadership.

Those include an S&P Global Ratings long-term financial rating of AA, exploration of self-insurance options for healthcare costs, and $131,500 in district revenue generated during student device refreshes through sales of pre-owned technology. It also says the district used a reverse electricity auction projected to save up to $100,000.

The same announcement cites state benchmarking metrics that place Hillsborough first in Somerset County for per-pupil efficiency across classroom instruction, support services, administration and plant operations.

It also lists academic gains, including improved mathematics proficiency, a 100% Algebra I pass rate for economically disadvantaged students, 100 percent pass rates in AP Calculus BC and AP Precalculus, and a 36 percent increase in Advanced Placement exam volume.

In closing, Volpe linked the recognition to the district’s work under budgets adopted by the Board of Education.

"There has been a lot of conversation around budgets for the past two years. While the final budgets adopted by the Board over the past two years differed from my initial recommendations, my role as Superintendent is to lead our schools effectively under whichever path our elected Board chooses," said Volpe. "True leadership isn't about having every proposal approved. It’s about adapting, managing resources responsibly, and keeping our focus squarely on what is right for our students. I am honored by this recognition and deeply grateful for our team's dedication to our kids."