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Leadership Academy

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Register for the 2025-2026 Leadership’ Academy

Mission Statement

The purpose of the Leadership Academy is to create a forum for dialogue and exchanging ideas and experiences. Using the university as a catalyst, the academy will provide professional growth opportunities for administrators and aspiring administrators focused on dynamic leadership that promotes reflective practice and affects teacher and student learning. Additionally, it will create a network of support for colleagues and establish a collaborative relationship with the university, university faculty, and its resources.

The Academy will hold four workshops a year with topics on timely issues directly related to matters of interest to school and district leaders.

2025–2026 Monmouth University Leadership Academy & MC3 Calendar

Meeting DatesTime(s)Host/Location
July 23, 2025MC3 Leadership Retreat with Lead Well EDU
8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.		Hosted by Monmouth University

The Great Hall
July 31, 2025NJASA Summer Conference
8:30 a.m.–1 p.m.		Hosted by Monmouth University

Anacon A&B
August 14, 2025Edcamp New Jersey
8:30 a.m.–1 p.m.		Hosted by Monmouth University

Anacon A&B
September 18, 2025MC3
9 a.m.–12 p.m. (breakfast)		Monmouth University
October 8, 2025Joint Event: Monmouth University Leadership Academy & MC3
8:30 a.m.–1 p.m. (breakfast & lunch)

Speaker: Michael Salvatore, Ph.D.
“Unleashing the Power of Social Emotional Leadership”		Monmouth University
November 13, 2025Monmouth University Leadership Academy
8:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. (breakfast) 
Speakers: David Aderhold, Ed.D, and Scott Rocco, Ed.D.

MC3
12:30–3:30 p.m. (lunch)		Monmouth University

Anacon A&B
January 9, 2026Connected Leadership Conference
Joint Event with OC3, Roundtables, OC3 & MU
8:30 a.m.–2 p.m.		Monmouth University
February 19, 2026Monmouth University Leadership Academy
8:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. (breakfast) 

MC3
12:30–3:30 p.m. (lunch)		Monmouth University
February 24, 2026Special MC3 Offering at MOESC
4 Disciplines of Execution
Sponsored by FranklinConvey Education		MOESC MRA International Learning Center
100 Tornillo Way
Tinton Falls, NJ 07712
March 26, 2026Monmouth University Leadership Academy
8:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. (breakfast)
Speakers: David Aderhold, Ed.D, and Scott Rocco, Ed.D.
“The Cost of Educational Leadership Session #3: The Organizational Burden – Strategic and Systemic Costs to the Institution”		Monmouth University
April 23, 2026Monmouth University Leadership Academy
8:30 a.m.–12 p.m. (breakfast) 

Speakers: David Aderhold, Ed.D, and Scott Rocco, Ed.D.
“The Cost of Educational Leadership Session #4: The Ethical and Reputational Costs – Trust, Transparency, and Community Standing”

MC3
12:30–3:30 p.m. (lunch)		Monmouth University

The Cost of Educational Leadership

Presented by David M. Aderhold, Ed.D., and Scott Rocco, Ed.D

David M. Aderhold, Ed.D, is the superintendent of schools for West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. As a 24-year administrator, he has served as superintendent of schools, deputy superintendent, principal, and assistant principal. Aderhold is the president-elect of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators and the past president of the Garden State Coalition of Schools. He has also served in the following state-level roles: co-chair for the NJASA Staff Recruitment and Retention Committee, a member of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s Educator Shortage Task Force, chair of Murphy’s Educator Evaluation Task Force, and a member of the NJ Legislative Education Recovery Task Force. Aderhold currently serves as a member of the NJDOE Educator Evaluation Task Force. 

In 2016, Aderhold was selected to be a member of the second cohort of the international TED-Ed Innovative Educator Program. In 2018, he was named the New Jersey Association of Gifted Children’s School Administrator of the Year. In 2019, Aderhold was selected as the 2019 Mercer County Superintendent of the Year, and in 2020, he earned the NJASA Central Jersey Superintendent of the Year. In addition, the Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth Suicide Prevention honored Aderhold with its Excellence Award in 2021, and in 2023, he was honored with the New Jersey PTA Outstanding Superintendent Award. Aderhold is an adjunct professor in the Graduate School of Education at Rider University where he teaches in the doctoral program for Educational Leadership.

Scott Rocco, Ed.D. is in his 32nd year in public education. He has served as an educator and leader at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Currently, he serves as the superintendent of schools in Hamilton Township School District, one of the largest school districts in New Jersey. 

As a firm believer in the importance of lifelong learning and giving back to his profession, Rocco teaches as an adjunct professor at The College of New Jersey in the Graduate School for Educational Administration, and at Rider University’s College of Education and Human Services. In addition, he serves as an instructor for New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association in the NJEXCEL program. Rocco has held leadership positions in the New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA) as an officer, including past president of the association. While a member of NJASA he has also co-chaired several committees, including the annual Techspo Conference. He currently sits on the AASA Governing Board. In 2023, NJ Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages named Rocco the Superintendent of the Year. In 2022, NJASA named him the NJ State Superintendent of the Year, and Building One America named him the Public Servant of the Year.

Previous Sessions