Hillsborough Superintendent Recognized Nationally For Excellence In School Safety

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Michael J. Volpe, Superintendent of Hillsborough Township Public Schools, has been named the 2025 national winner of the NASS "Excellence in Safety and Security" award by the National Association of School Superintendents (NASS).

The award was announced on Sept. 10 at the 2025 NASS Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

"My first job is not to educate your children… but to create a safe and comfortable environment where an outstanding education can take place," said Superintendent Volpe. "I am incredibly humbled and honored to receive this award from NASS. This recognition is not just for me, but for the entire Hillsborough school community."

Volpe thanked the school staff, students, security team, Coordinator of School Security Operations David Stokoe, and Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Technology Joel Handler.

"Their partnership and leadership have been instrumental in pushing these vital safety efforts forward," said Volpe. "Most importantly, I want to thank my wife, Stacey, for her unwavering support and for allowing me to pursue this mission with the focus it demands. This award is a testament to what we can accomplish when we all work together to create a safe and secure environment for our children to learn and thrive."

When Volpe was appointed as Superintendent in January 2023, he spearheaded a complete overhaul of the district's security posture, transforming it from a deficient security apparatus to a proactive, comprehensive framework built on three pillars: Personnel, Technology, and Infrastructure.

His initiatives, developed in less than two years, have redefined safety for the district's 7,200 students.

At the conference, Volpe was also asked to present and participate in a national panel, speaking to other superintendents from across the country about his work.

A Career Committed to Educational Leadership

Superintendent Volpe brings a wealth of experience to his role, having served as a teacher, coach, and administrator at various levels. His journey in educational leadership includes serving as a Principal in both Hillsborough and Florham Park.

He also served as the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in Princeton and Director of Human Resources in Hillsborough, where he was responsible for significant advancements in staff diversity and efficient operations. He was Superintendent in Moorestown immediately before returning to Hillsborough.

A passionate advocate for school safety, he was designated as a "School Safety Specialist" in multiple districts and has presented at state and national conferences on the topic.

In his time as “School Safety Specialist” in both Hillsborough, when he was Director of Human Resources, and Moorestown, when he was Superintendent, Volpe partnered with the NJ State Police and the Office of Emergency Preparedness to have all of both school districts’ schools assessed by a professionally trained group of security experts.

Upon completion, confidential detailed reports and options for consideration for every building were provided to each school district. Upon his return to Hillsborough, Volpe recognized that very few of the options presented were implemented.

"It was disappointing to see that there were still so many gaps in safety and security when I returned to Hillsborough as Superintendent, but it was also highly motivating," Volpe said.

That motivation led to the efforts that Volpe spearheaded since January of 2023 which is already leading to both qualitative and quantitative results.

One such noticeable impact of these efforts is already apparent. Comparing the 2023-24 school year to the 2024-25 school year, suspensions for fighting at the high school have plummeted by 87.5 percent. The district is also tracking other data and will continue to do so over the future and share such successes with the community.

• Related: Suspensions Due To Fighting 'Dramatically Decreased' At Hillsborough High School

Key achievements highlighted by the NASS selection committee are rooted in three main areas.

In terms of personnel, a dedicated security team was built with more than 300 years of collective law enforcement experience, including a Coordinator of School Safety Operations and a Building Monitors strategically placed in each school - the result of a successful referendum that Volpe planned within his first two months as Hillsborough Superintendent.

For technology, the district implemented modern tools for proactive threat detection, communication, and access control, including a visitor management system, the Linewize student safety threat detection platform, and an upgraded communications system with 72 portable radio units that allow for direct, unified emergency communication with the Hillsborough Township Police Department.

Finally, in infrastructure, the district fixed security vestibules, added new emergency panic alarms, implemented swipe access on interior doors, and installed new security cameras, including in elevators, all to create more secure physical environments. Many other projects are ongoing.

The award also comes with another significant distinction: based on this work, Volpe was nominated for the NASS National Superintendent of the Year.

While he did not move forward as a finalist, the Hillsborough Public Schools community is immensely proud of his nomination and celebrates the "Excellence in Safety and Security" award as a profound recognition of his efforts.

"Real security isn’t just about preventing bad things from happening, it’s about creating a place where students can truly thrive," states Volpe. "When an entire community commits to safety, it changes more than just the buildings, it transforms the culture inside them. That’s what I am hearing from staff members, parents, and community members. As a parent of four children who graduated from Hillsborough - and not just the Superintendent - I couldn’t be prouder of that."