JerseyCAN, the only statewide advocacy organization in New Jersey committed to ensuring access to high-quality public schools for every child, regardless of zip code, cultural background, and socioeconomic status, formally announced today that it has selected the 2026-27 participants for both its Teacher Leader Policy Fellowship and Parent Champions for Strong Schools Fellowship.
“JerseyCAN launched the Teacher Leader Policy and Parent Champions for Strong Schools fellowships because the people closest to our classrooms and our students bring a uniquely informed perspective and thus should have a real hand in shaping education policy,” stated JerseyCAN Executive Director Paula White. “New Jersey is a state where teachers are working diligently to advance learning, where support staff are helping to create safe havens in our school buildings, and where parents are connecting with their local schools to partner with them for success. At the same time, we face serious challenges in every region: persistent inequity; significant grade-level gaps in math and ELA; a lack of consensus around universal benchmarks; and, as recent local and national reports show, stalled progress. We must make sustainable progress, which will necessarily include the voices of parents and teachers. Over the years, our fellows have helped draft policy with elected leaders and led initiatives in their own districts to drive positive change. I want to congratulate our 2026-27 cohorts. This is an important annual moment for JerseyCAN, as both programs have become among our most impactful. As always, the selection process was competitive. I am excited to see what each fellow will accomplish over the next year and beyond.”
JerseyCAN’s Teacher Leader Policy Fellowship and Parent Champions for Strong Schools Fellowship are year-long programs designed to advance collaboration and drive meaningful progress on education policy, elevate the voices of teachers and parents in decision-making, and build a connected network of education advocates across New Jersey. Fellows explore the latest policy trends and issues in New Jersey education, deepen their understanding of local, state, and national governance, and build engagement and advocacy skills. Both fellowships also draw on JerseyCAN’s relationships with elected officials in Trenton and across the state, giving fellows multiple opportunities to connect with influential education stakeholders.
Over the years, Fellows have gone on to help draft legislation in Trenton, serve on NJDOE advisory committees, and publish op-eds in prominent outlets. As part of the fellowship, each participant designs and leads a policy project on an issue they care about. Last year’s fellows’ work ranged from addressing teacher certification barriers and strengthening instructional coaching to advancing literacy, promoting ethical AI policies, supporting English Learners, and advocating for student representation in education policy.
Both fellowships continue to be led by Dr. Chelsea Collins and Dr. Scott Oswald. Collins, a former language arts teacher at Woodstown Middle School, was named 2015-16 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year. She now consults for the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association’s NJ Leadership Academy, NJ Tutoring Corps, Penn Graduate School of Education, and Learning Forward. Oswald is an adjunct faculty member at Rowan University and Stockton University and serves as Executive Director of Programs for NJ Tutoring Corps.
“The legacy of JerseyCAN’s fellowship program is that we are creating the next generation of education leaders and advocates in the Garden State,” stated Dr. Chelsea Collins, JerseyCAN’s Director of Fellowships. “We’ve built a program that recruits exceptional teachers and parents, helps them find the issues they’re most passionate about, and gives them the training to turn those passions into policy plans that shape New Jersey’s future. This year’s cohort stood out for their commitment and dedication from the moment they applied. They understand what previous fellows have accomplished for our state, and they’re ready to build on that work.”
The following lists those who will participate in this year’s cohorts:
2026-27 NJ Teacher Leader Policy Fellows
Breanne Mannes, Livingston Public Schools, Heritage Middle School, 7th and 8th grade, Special Education and Social Studies
Caleb Conner, Camden City School District, Uncommon Schools Camden Prep, Copewood Middle School, 7th Grade Math
Court Shuller, Gloucester Township Public Schools, Ann A. Mullen Middle School, 7th grade ELA
Gargi Adhikari, Readington Township School District, Holland Brook School, 5th Grade Math and Science
Hashim Bennett, Newark Public Schools, Weequahic High School, 12th grade
Jessica Sadej, Prospect Park School District, Prospect Park School #1, K-6 Reading Specialist
Kelly Villarreal, Freehold Regional High School District, Colts Neck High School, 10th grade U.S. History I
Lamar Washington, Newark, Great Oaks Legacy Charter School, PreK4-12th
Melanie Abbamondi, Hillsborough Township Public Schools, Hillsborough High School, Math/intervention
Melissa Walsh, Mount Laurel School District, Hartford Upper Elementary School, self-contained SLD class grades 4-6
Michael Gottfried, Roxbury Public Schools, Roxbury High School, Grades 9-12, Physics, Aviation, Geophysical Science
Rebecca Muller, Collingswood School District, Collingswood High School, Special Education Mathematics
2026-27 Parent Champions for Strong Schools Fellows
Denise Furlong, Wall
Elizabeth Parrish, Burlington
Gabriel Nyenator, Bloomfield
Jennifer Quinones, Newark
Katina Leake, Newark
Kellie Hinkle, Haddon
Khalid Sanchez-Muhammad, East Orange
Kristen Stirtz, Brick
Leon Carelli, Southampton
Rabia Nawaz, Franklin Park
Shonnelle Ford, Newark
Timera Henry, Camden
