Greene, G. K. (gkg6)

G. Kennedy (Ken) Greene, Ed.D., has nearly four decades of successful experience as an educator including roles as superintendent, principal, teacher, coach, and now as consultant advancing equity, leadership, and policy.  He is an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Education Policy and Social Analysis at Teachers College, Columbia University, and conducts research studies with the Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy at Rowan University.  He designed the NJASA 4 Equity initiative as president of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators and coordinated regional consortia for excellence through equity with the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania.    

Dr. Greene developed a widely-used index to analyze the key elements of New Jersey’s state aid formula and helped lead a broad advocacy campaign resulting in greater fairness in its school funding law.  He is a recipient of NJASA's Distinguished Service Award and the University Council for Educational Administration’s Excellence in Educational Leadership Award.  He has been recognized three times as administrator of the year by his peers in two counties.

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Consultant, Kennedy Greene LLC, 2022-

Mentor, NJ School Administrator Residency Program, 2022-

Regional Coordinator, NJ Consortia for Excellence through Equity, 2019-2024

Superintendent, Newton Public Schools, 2009-2022

Principal, North Warren Regional Middle/High School, 2001-2009

Assistant Principal, Phillipsburg High School, 1998-2001

Dean of Students, Phillipsburg High School, 1996-1998

TEACHING EXPERIENCE 

Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Education Policy and Social Analysis, Teachers College, Columbia University, 2022-

• Developed and teaching a course on school finance.

Adjunct Professor, Educational Leadership Program, Centenary University, 2018-2022

• Developed and taught course on school finance in the Ed.D. Program as a founding faculty member, chaired and served on dissertation committees.

Adjunct Professor, Educational Leadership Program, College of Education, Lehigh University, 2014-2019

• Developed and taught courses on law & ethics and resource allocation in the Urban Principals Academy as a founding faculty member.
• UCEA Excellence in Educational Leadership Award, 2018.

Adjunct Professor, Department of Organization and Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University, 2006-2014

• Developed and taught course on resource allocation in the Summer Principals Academy as a founding faculty member; advisory board member.

Social Studies Teacher, Phillipsburg High School 1991-1996

Middle School Teacher, White Township School 1988-1991

Athletic Coach 1987-2001

Substitute Teacher 1987-1988

POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION 

Ed.D. in Education Administration, Teachers College, Columbia University, 2005

M.A. in History, College of Arts & Sciences, Lehigh University, 1989

B.A. in International Business & German, College of Arts & Sciences, Lehigh University, 1987

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

New Jersey Association of School Administrators, 2009-

Distinguished Service Award, 2021

Leadership and Diversity Committee, 2019-

• Founding member borne out of multiple equity initiatives.
• Initiate programming and recommend presenters.
• Support county affiliate groups.

Executive Officer, 2016-20

• President, 2018-19; initiated and guided NJASA 4 Equity campaign.
• Served on NJDOE Road Back Steering Committee, 2020; and NJDOE Road Forward Operations Workgroup, 2021
• Testified at state legislative hearings on school funding, community schools, and other equity initiatives.
• Liaised with Legislative, Great Schools, and Shared Services Committees.
• Facilitated and served on committees for officer nomination, distinguished service award, and regional/state superintendent of the year awards.

Government Relations Committee, 2013-22

• Provided statute and code recommendations for school reopening, 2020.
• Represented NJASA at state legislative and administrative meetings on topics such as ESSA, regionalization, blended learning, QSAC, and Vision 2020.
• Organized regular meetings with state legislators to discuss education issues.

Professional Development Committee, 2010-13

• Initiated county PD calendar; provided input on PD topics for NJASA seminars.
• Served on NJDOE advisory panel to revise mandatory training programs.

Sussex County Superintendents Roundtable Association, 2009-22

• Superintendent of the Year, 2013 & 2022
• COVID Closing/Reopening Committee, 2020
• President, 2014-16; Vice President/Secretary, 2012-14
• Professional Development Plan Review Committee, 2012
• Teacher of the Year Selection Panel, 2012

Board of Directors, New Jersey Community Schools Coalition 2022-

Executive Committee, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, 2020-2022

Advisory Board, Lehigh University School Study Council, 2018-2020

Commission on Secondary Schools, Middle States Association, 2002-2010

• Strategic Planning Advisory Committee, 2007-10; Team Chair/Member, 2002-07

New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, 1998-2009 

• Administrator of the Year, 2005
• Initiated regional networking meetings for high school principals.

State Executive Committee, NJ Coalition of Essential Schools,  1998-2001

COMMUNITY SERVICE 

Gretchen Wrenshall Community Service Award, City of Easton, 2022

Planning Commission, City of Easton, 2020-

Volunteer, Greater Easton Development Partnership, 2015-

Board of Directors, Friends of Easton PA, 2014-

ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PRESENTATIONS and PUBLICATIONS

Excellence through Equity

Accomplishments

• Recognized by the NJ Department of Education for leading a high performing school district.
• Achieved the highest graduation and college enrollment rates in school district history.
• Acknowledged by the College Board Honor Roll for significant gains in AP access and student performance.
• Identified by NJ Monthly as having a Top 100 public high school for the first time in school district history.
• Affirmed as having the county’s healthiest elementary and middle schools, most productive high school service organization, a state model school for positive behavior interventions, and a national school of character.
• Facilitated open course enrollment, universal design for learning, community schools, multi-tiered systems of support, and equity training.   
• Designed new service models to better address student support needs such as a college and career center, academic assistance, transition program, and intervention & referral services.
• Built a stronger appreciation for diversity through the Youth Forum on Race Relations, Martin Luther King Day volunteer activities, peer to peer groups, and school assemblies.
• Researched and provided leadership to student service improvements such as revised grading system, semester exams, unit lunch, academic awards, and student privilege criteria.
• Recognized as a “Champion for Children” by the United Way of Northern New Jersey.
• Received “Partnership Award” from the Warren County Human Relations Commission.

Presentations and Publications

• Greene, G. K (2024, March-June). Dignity, engagement & individualization: A renewed framework for greater equity in our schools. Community dialogues, Green Township School District, Greendell, NJ.
• Greene, G. K (2024, March 13). Dignity, engagement & individualization: A renewed framework for greater equity in our schools. Presentation, NJ Association of Educational Leaders, Parsippany, NJ.
• Greene, G. K (2024, January-April). Dignity, engagement & individualization: A renewed framework for greater equity in our schools. Presentation, Center for Prevention and Counseling, Newton, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2023, October 3). Beyond DEI. Presentation, Anti-Bullying Specialists, Sussex County, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2023, April 24-25). Excellence through equity. Presentation, New Superintendents Academy, New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA), Trenton, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2022, December - 2023, March). Belonging through a culture of dignity. Book study, Franklin Township School District, Washington, NJ.
• Dunbar, A. and Greene, G.K. (2022, July 20). Empowering middle school student voice. Presentation, Summer Leadership Institute for District and School Leaders, Coalition for Educational Equity, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, Philadelphia, PA.
• Greene, G. K. (2022, May 24-25). Excellence through equity. Presentation, New Superintendents Academy, NJASA, Trenton, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2022, May). Equity planning and implementation. NJASA On Target.
• Greene, G. K. (2022, January 18). Excellence through equity. Presentation, Warren County School Boards Association, Warren County, NJ. 
• Taylor, K. and Greene, G. K. (2021, September 30). Lessons from a global challenge:  How the pandemic has helped educators truly see our students and families. Presentation, Women’s Leadership Conference, Somerset, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2020, September 29). NJCEE overview. Presentation, NJASA, Trenton, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2020, June 24). Excellence through equity. Presentation, NJASA, Trenton, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2020, February 8). Excellence through equity. Presentation, New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), Montville, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2019, December 10). Excellence through equity. Presentation, Centenary University Leadership Network, Hackettstown, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2019, April/May). NJASA 4 Equity update. NJASA On Target.
• Greene, G. K. (2019, April 9).  NJASA 4 Equity. Testimony, NJ Legislature’s Joint Committee on the Public Schools, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2019, March 29). NJASA 4 Equity. Presentation, NJASA Equity Conference, Somerset, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2019, March 15). NJASA 4 Equity. Presentation, Women’s Leadership Conference, Somerset, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2019, February). One step back and another one forward. NJASA On Target
• Greene, G. K. (2018, December). NJASA 4 Equity update. NJASA On Target.
• Greene, G. K. (2018, November). One vision, our voice. NJASA On Target.
• Greene, G.K. (2018, October 24). NJASA 4 Equity. Presentation, NJASA Executive Committee, Atlantic City, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2018, September). The power of equity, NJASA On Target.

Ethical Leadership

Accomplishments

• Developed, revised, and implemented plans for schools to reopen and re-engage after COVID-related closures. 
• Published a database to track, analyze, and communicate COVID-related health information used by superintendents and adapted by the county education office for wider distribution.
• Promoted student-centered instruction through accelerated learning, formative assessment, blended instruction, curricular alignment, digital citizenship, and flexible resource allocation. 
• Developed and implemented a multi-year plan leading to a unified regional K-12 curriculum.
• Led pK-12 literacy and math committees to identify common goals and multi-tiered systems of support.
• Introduced strengths-based human resource tools as a framework for professional learning plans.
• Recalibrated staffing levels using analytic tools developed from research on the state’s funding formula.
• Proposed and implemented sensitive policy changes on topics such as random drug testing, school choice, HIB, social trips, physical restraint, memorials, and use of school facilities.
• Led curricular reforms to improve academic performance by revamping the master schedule, revising course levels and prerequisites; redesigning the middle school program; and piloting 12th grade academic options and 11th grade community service requirement.
• Supported NJSBA board recertification, strategic facilities planning, and school sustainability certification.

Presentations and Publications 

• Greene, G. K. and Haviland, D. (2023, October - 2024, March). Talent identification and strengths-based development. Professional development series, Franklin Township School District, Washington, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. and Haviland, D. (2023, October 9). Talent identification and strengths-based development. Presentation, Netcong School District, Netcong, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. and Haviland D. (2023, July 20). Talent identification and strengths-based development. Presentation, Lenape Valley Regional High School District, Stanhope, NJ.
• Greene, G. K., and Haviland, D. (2022, August - 2023, May). Talent identification and strengths-based development. Professional development series, Sparta Township School District, Sparta, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2022, February 16). ARP ESSER Roundtable. Presentation, New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), Trenton, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. (2021, October 21). Post pandemic what sticks and stays: Impacting strategic planning. Panel discussion, One-Day Seminar, NJASA, Trenton, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2020, May 4). The changes we should expect to take place in schooling. NJ Spotlight. 
• Greene, G. K. (2019, June). Outgoing president’s message. NJASA On Target. 
• Greene, G. K. (2019, March 19). Board of education dynamics. Panel discussion, Superintendent Institute, NJASA, Trenton, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2018, May 1). Board-superintendent relations. Panel discussion, Superintendents Academy, NJASA, Trenton, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. (2016, October 11). Implementation of ESSA in New Jersey. Testimony, NJ Legislature’s Joint Committee on the Public Schools, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. (2016, September 14). Implementation of ESSA in New Jersey. Testimony, NJ Department of Education, Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools, East Brunswick, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. (2015, May). Three simple yet valuable lessons, NJASA On Target.
• Greene, G. K. and Dunn, S. (2015, January 22). Board planning and community outreach. Presentation, Sussex County School Boards Association, Newton, NJ.
• Greene, G. K. and Baggs, B. (2011, May 3). Challenges of the superintendency. Presentation, Superintendents Academy, NJASA, Trenton, NJ.

Policy and Practice

Accomplishments

• Spearheaded a statewide advocacy campaign that modernized the state aid formula resulting in greater fairness in the school funding law.
• Initiated a community schools model to provide health and social services directly to students and families; engaged local partners in family and community connection events.
• Advocated with state officials for the development of community schools as a vehicle for equity.
• Guided a shared services consortium of school districts featured in NJSBA’s School Leader as a state model.
• Reduced or leveled tax levy multiple times to bring average increases to less than half of the previous decade.
• Directed successful grant applications to fund full-day preschool and after-school programs; recommended cost savings measures to include a dark fiber broadband network, health insurance carrier changes, clean energy initiative, solar energy systems, and emergency generators.  
• Named one of New Jersey’s Top 100 Policymakers by NJ Insider.

Presentations and Publications 

• Rowan School Regionalization Institute. (2024, May). A feasibility study on the regionalization of the Delsea Regional High, Township of Franklin, Elk Township, and Borough of Newfield School Districts.
• Greene, G .K. and Oswald, S. (2023, February 7). The feasibility study process. Presentation, Sweeney Center for Public Policy, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ.
• Rowan School Regionalization Institute. (2023, September). A study on the send-receive relationship between the Bloomsbury (N.J.) Board of Education and the Phillipsburg (N.J.) Board of Education.
• Greene, G. K. (2021, February 24). Rural education policy briefing. Panel discussion, OCRE, Washington, DC.
• Greene, G. K. (2020, April). School-community partnerships: where student learning meets the real world. NJASA On Target.
• Stankiewicz, G., Murdock, B., and Greene, G. K. (2019, October 24). Community schools: a vehicle for equity. Presentation, NJSBA, Atlantic City, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. (2019, October 11). Community schools and early childhood education. Panel discussion, NJ Community Schools Convening, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. (2019, July 24). NJASA 4 Equity and community schools. Panel discussion, NJASA, Trenton, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. (2019, April 16). Community schools could become hubs for delivering resources. NJ Spotlight.  
• Greene, G. K. (2018, October). New Jersey school funding database FY19 (see also FY18, FY17, FY16).
• Greene, G. K. (2018, April 28). School Finance 101. Panel discussion, NJSBA, Mountain Lakes, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. (2018, April 11). Community schools in New Jersey.  Testimony, NJ Legislature’s Joint Committee on the Public Schools, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. (2018, April 9). Recommendations for state policy on school funding. Testimony, NJ Assembly Budget Committee, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. (2018, March 29). Recommendations for state policy on school funding. Testimony, NJ Senate Budget Committee, NJIT, Newark, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. (2017, May 25). School funding in New Jersey. Panel discussion, NJSBA Legislative Day, Trenton, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. (2017, February 2). Funding fairness?: The effects of underfunding and inequitable distribution of state aid on New Jersey taxpayers and school district budgets. Testimony, NJ Senate Select Committee on School Funding Fairness, Middlesex County College, Edison, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. and Fletcher, P. J. (2017, January 18). Funding fairness?: The effects of underfunding and inequitable distribution of state aid on New Jersey taxpayers and school district budgets. Testimony, NJ Assembly Education Committee, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. and Fletcher, P. J. (2017, January 17). Funding fairness?: The effects of underfunding and inequitable distribution of state aid on New Jersey taxpayers and school district budgets. Testimony, NJ Legislature’s Joint Committee on the Public Schools, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. (2016, March 22). SFRA distribution and the Funding Fairness Index. Testimony, NJ Senate Budget Committee, NJIT, Newark, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. (2016, March 21). SFRA distribution and the Funding Fairness Index. Testimony, NJ Assembly Budget Committee, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ. 
• Greene, G. K. (2015, December/January). The state aid dilemma. NJASA On Target.
• Greene, G. K. (2015, November 18). School-municipal cooperation: Creative solutions to the 2% cap. Panel discussion, NJ League of Municipalities Conference.
• Greene, G. K., Baggs, B., and Nittolo, J. (2010, October 20). Tri-District Consortium: A working shared services partnership model. Presentation, NJSBA Workshop, Somerset, NJ.
• Greene, G. K., Huerta, L. A., & Richards, C. E. (2007). Getting real: A different perspective on the relationship between school resources and student outcomes. Journal of Education Finance, 33(1), 49-68.