Individual Bios

 Dr. Edward J Lazzara currently serves as Principal of Sparta High School (NJ) as well as teaches at the college level.  Dr. Lazzara started his career  teaching  students with special needs. He was a head basketball coach as well as coaching football, and baseball at the high school level.  Throughout his career, he has held many administrative positions as Vice Principal, Supervisor of Special Services, and Athletic Director.  

Dr. Lazzara holds his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, a Master of Arts in Special Education, and a Bachelor of Science in Business. Dr. Lazzara resides in Sparta with his wife Maura and their family.  Their children have all participated in athletics.  Samantha cheers at James Madison University, CJ plays soccer at the University of Hartford, Blake played lacrosse and attends the University of South Carolina and Chloe is a cheerleader at the HS level. Dr. Lazzara is proud to serve the community in this capacity and honored to be a part of Sparta's outstanding school district and the Centenary University community. 

Bachelor's: Business, Jersey City State College          Masters: Special Education, New Jersey City University    Doctoral: Ed.D. Ed. Leadership, Centenary University.        Harvard: Graduate School of Education

Area of Greatest Professional Interest:

Leadership Development, Study and Practices, Student transition from 8th to 9th Grade, Personnel: Hiring and Retention Practices, Educational Technology, Staff Development, Self Reflective Practices

Publications/Presentations:

• Transitioning to High School: Assisting Students Through the Implementation of a Freshman Seminar Course

• Google Apps For Education - Using Google’s free G Suite platform to maximize technology in your district.

• Bringing Concurrent Courses to your District - How Warren County High Schools partnered with Centenary University to bring Social Media alive in your high school.

• Twitter and Branding Your District - How School Districts use Twitter and other social media applications to communicate with our community.

Jimm Kramer recently retired as Principal of Mount Olive Middle School (NJ) after serving in public education for nearly 30 years.  Jimm taught  Social Studies across multiple grades and levels during his career. Starting out  teaching  middle school Social Studies, he later moved to Mount Olive High School.  Jimm has coached multiple sports and served for eight years as Head Football Coach for Mount Olive High School, highlighted by a Section II Group III state Championship.  He has won multiple Coach of  The Year honors, culminating with State Coach of The Year - All Seasons All Sports for the state of New Jersey. Before being named Principal of Mount Olive Middle School he served as Vice Principal, Supervising Social Studies, Business and STEAM Technologies during the course of his career.

Jimm is an international speaker on education, as he has traveled throughout China speaking  at multiple engagements.  He has also been part of a team opening over 20 schools throughout Asia.  He has been asked to participate in multiple international educational summits speaking to educators throughout Asia and Europe.

Jimm resides in Flanders with his wife Emily and their two sons Caden and Dylan.

Bachelor's: Business, East Stroudsburg University         

 Masters: Teaching, Fairleigh Dickinson University    

Masters: Educational Leadership, New Jersey City.       

Area of Greatest Professional Interest:

Leadership Development, Student transition to and from Middle School, Developing Soft Skills, Credit Recovery & Alternative School Platforms, Staff Development

Presentations:

Hands on/Minds On -Actively engaging, promotes critical thinking

RTI - Tier III Interventions - Alternate pathways to success.

 Jamie Barker currently serves as  Vice Principal of Sparta High School (NJ).  Jamie started her career as an English teacher and a head varsity soccer coach, guiding her students towards achievement and leading her soccer team to two conference titles.  Jamie earned the honor of being awarded NJ Herald’s Coach of the Year during her time as varsity coach. She is a graduate of Sparta High School where she has served as a teacher, coach, and administrator throughout her career.  As a Sparta resident, she takes pride in positively influencing students and staff and giving back to the community.  She has two children in Sparta schools, and she has transitioned to coaching their youth sports teams.  Mrs. Barker is also pursuing her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership at Centenary University.

Bachelor's: Teacher of English, Montclair State University        

Masters: Educational Leadership, Marygrove College   

Doctoral: Currently Pursuing Ed.D. Ed. Leadership, Centenary University      

Area of Greatest Professional Interest:

Hiring, management, professional development and empowerment of personnel

Strength-building and team-building to positively motivate students and staff towards achievement and progress

Enhancing ​​safety and security and disciplinary practices to support the physical and social emotional wellbeing of all students

Expanding and enhancing academic, athletic, and co-curricular programming to serve and meet the needs of all students and staff

Initiatives/Presentations:

• Creation and development of a Professional Development Academy to support the transition to hybrid instruction through surveying staff to assess needs, highlighting staff strengths, providing support from outside, and allowing teacher choice in session selection

• Restorative Disciplinary practices that positively impact student social emotional needs through district Align program

• Benefits and effective use of of instructional technology in the classroom

Lee is a former running back  and 2 time Super Bowl Champion in the NFL for the New York Giants. He was the NFL Special Teams Player of the Year in 1986. He played a significant role in the Giants 39-20 win in Super Bowl XXI. Lee attended the University of Colorado and was awarded Freshman All Big Eight, All Big Eight Honorable Mention, and Blue/Grey All Star Classic. Lee was traded to the Cleveland Browns, where he earned the starting running back position. After suffering a severe ankle injury, he decided to retire, having played seven years in the NFL.

Lee has traveled the country speaking and educating all level of students, athletes, business professionals and leaders. His larger then life personality captivates and connects with all audiences. 

Bachelors:  Business Administration        Malone University 

Masters: Business Administration            Southern New Hampshire University 

University of Colorado Team Captain, Four Year Letter Winner

Lee is the Executive Principal at Move Your Chains, LLC

Ares of Greatest Professional Interest:

Work Place Conflict, Inspirational and Motivational Speaking, Leadership, Identifying Who You Are, Student Empowerment, Staff Development