Superintendent's Corner
September 2026 NRESC Updates from Dr. Vancheri
Welcome Back!
Greetings to the Wonderful NRESC Family!
The 2026–2027 school year is officially off to a running start, and we’ve already nailed month one! Every program is operating at full steam, and our transition into the new school year has been completely seamless. As we move into October, remember that great years aren't built in a single day—they're built day by day, through small acts of dedication, patience, and enthusiasm.
October also brings crisp autumn weather, more football than anyone could ever imagine, playoff baseball (Go Yanks!), and Halloween. For me, Halloween simply marks the official green light to start decorating for Christmas the second I hand out that last Snickers bar on October 31st!
Onward!
Dr. Nicholas V. Vancheri
NRESC Superintendent of Schools
#SharedServicesMakeSense
At NRESC, we’re here to help our partner districts find high-quality, cost-effective solutions that meet their needs and support their students and staff. If you’re considering outsourcing a service, make NRESC your first call—we’d welcome the opportunity to show you what shared services can do.
#SharedServicesMakeSense
NRESC Convocation 2026!
Thank you to everyone who attended the NRESC 2026 Convocation at Second Home! We were thrilled to kick off the new school year together, filled with inspiration, growth, and collaboration.
Because the NRESC proudly serves over 80 different schools and municipalities across 6 counties, opportunities for our entire family to gather in one room are rare and precious. That distance makes our moments together all the more vital. Coming together isn't just about professional development—it's about building the camaraderie, trust, and connection that fuel our shared mission across Northern New Jersey.
The day was highlighted by engaging breakout activities on a wide range of timely topics, giving our team the chance to share insights and collaborate across disciplines. To top it off, we enjoyed a fantastic food truck lunch courtesy of Curbside Culinary Creations, generously provided by the NRESC Education Foundation. Nothing strengthens a team quite like good food, great conversations, and shared purpose!
New Staff Orientation 2026! All Aboard!
The Voice of the NRESC Snow Day is in 7th Grade!
The voice of the NRESC snow day, Nicholas, is now in 7th grade! If you’ve chatted with me on more than a few occasions, you’ve probably heard me tell the tale of my years as a middle school principal from 2012–2015 at Paterson School #7—Bobcat Pride and the Pride of Stoney Road! I often joke about how 7th grade each year seemed to eliminate whatever little hair I had left at the time. Well, now we have our own 7th grader, so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers!😄
SAVE THE DATE! Thursday, November 12: Our 2nd Annual Gala
Please mark your calendars for the NRESC Education Foundation's 2nd Annual Gala on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM at The Grand in Totowa.
Whether you are joining us to celebrate our honorees, support educational initiatives, or simply enjoy an evening with colleagues and friends, we hope you will save the date and be part of this special occasion.
Additional details can be found here:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2nd-annual-nresc-education-foundation-gala
Our First Grant Winners!
Congratulations to Christine Lisa, Denise Brush, and Julianne Soby who each received $200 mini-grants from the NRESC Education Foundation to support their classrooms. Christine Lisa, a speech therapist at Second Home, will use the funds to expand on the Sensory Hallway at the day hab center in Totowa. Denise Brush, a teacher at Ramapo Avenue Learning Center, in Pompton Lakes will use the funds to support the "True Colors Music Program" for our youngster learners. Lastly, Julianne Soby, an occupational therapist assigned to the Paterson Public Schools, will use the funds to build her resource library to further enhance purposeful play. Congrats to our winners and thank you to all who submitted grant applications!
NRESC Mission 150 Challenge – One Employee. One Sponsor. One Incredible Impact
Our new Mission 150 Challenge, an exciting initiative to support the NRESC Education Foundation and expand opportunities for the students, families, and programs we serve.
The goal is simple: 150 employees securing 150 Hole Sponsors for our 2027 NRESC Education Foundation Golf Outing. If each of us identifies just one local business, contractor, restaurant, community partner, family member, or friend willing to become a Hole Sponsor, together we can raise more than $20,000 to invest back into our organization.
The official challenge will run from September 1 through November 1, with additional details shared at our September Convocation. However, there's no reason to wait! Summer is the perfect time to begin reaching out to potential sponsors, and any sponsorships secured before the challenge begins will count toward the competition.
Thank you for your continued support of the NRESC Education Foundation. Together, we can make a tremendous impact—one sponsor, one employee, one incredible mission at a time!
Pearl is Officially a Library Pup! 🐾📖
Pearl is officially a library pup! Pearl recently made her first visit to the Totowa Library, and she had a wonderful time meeting some of her newest readers. This visit was extra special because Pearl got to experience story time from both sides!
First, Pearl settled in and listened as Ayanna read a book to the children. Then came the best part: The children read to Pearl!
Pearl was the perfect audience, listening carefully as a young reader shared their story with her. With her gentle personality and wagging tail, she made reading feel fun, relaxed, and special. It was a beautiful reminder that sometimes the best way to encourage a love of reading is to have a furry friend nearby, always ready to listen.
Thank you, Totowa Library, for welcoming Pearl! We can't wait for more stories, more smiles, and more Pawsitively Perfect Pearl visits!
Welcome to the World Blu!
We have some exciting news to share—and yes, it has four paws!
Please join us in welcoming Blu, the newest member of the NRESC family.
Blu was born on September 13, 2026, and while he won’t officially join the NRESC as our second therapy dog until sometime in 2027, we couldn’t wait to introduce him to everyone! And there’s something pretty special about Blu’s connection to our first therapy dog, Pearl. Blu isn’t just Pearl’s future colleague—he’s her brother! Blu and Pearl have the exact same parents, making this a true family affair.
Blu’s name also has a special meaning.
Blu is named in honor of the New York Giants Youth Foundation, which generously provided the NRESC Education Foundation with a $5,000 gift to help get this exciting initiative off the ground. Their generosity helped turn the idea of bringing a second therapy dog to NRESC into a reality.
And Blu won’t be making this journey alone. When he officially joins us in 2027, NRESC Human Resources Coordinator Gleny Gaines will serve as his handler. We’re excited to see the bond they develop and all the places their work together will take them throughout the NRESC family.
We’re looking forward to watching Blu grow, welcoming him to NRESC in 2027, and seeing the impact he will have on our students, staff, and communities—alongside his big sister, Pearl.
The Therapy Dogs are Famous!
Fall Recreation Events are Rocking!
🍂 There’s still time to join the fun! The NRESC Recreation Department has put together another great lineup of activities and opportunities for the 2026 Fall Recreation Program.
Don’t miss out on all that NRESC Recreation has to offer—register today! 👇
Fall into Recreation Fun in September!
🍂 We had a fantastic kickoff to our Fall Into Fun Recreation Program! We’re off to a great start and can’t wait for all the fun still to come!
The NRESC Recreation Program will continue bringing fun, engaging, and memorable activities to our participants throughout the fall. We’re looking forward to a season filled with smiles, new experiences, and plenty of fun! 🎉
Where Partnership Meets Student Success
📚 Connecting with students, coordinating schedules, and getting ready for a great school year! Colleen Takemoto and Christina Marion are pictured here as part of our NRESC team providing related and educational services at the Academy of St. James of the Marches in Totowa.
We’re proud to partner with our region’s non-public schools and support students every step of the way! 💙
#SharedServicesMakeSense
Before & Aftercare Is Back in Action!
For a more in-depth look at our childcare happenings this month, check out their newsletter here.
Summer Camp in Passaic County was a Hit!
Phoenix Center Apple Adventures: Learning at the Core!
This month, our classrooms were all about apples! 🍎 Our students took a bite out of learning as they explored the life cycle and parts of an apple, discovered how apples grow and change, and learned about the legendary Johnny Appleseed.
Our apple-themed learning came to life through hands-on, multisensory activities that made each lesson meaningful and fun. Students painted apple masterpieces, created their own books, and incorporated apples into math activities focused on counting, sorting, and number recognition.
Through art, literacy, math, science, and sensory exploration, our learners had opportunities to see, touch, hear, create, and experience the concepts they were learning. It was a month filled with creativity, discovery, and learning from the core to the stem! 🍎
Second Home's Visit to Our New Neighbors at Juhu Cafe
Juhu Cafe, a coffee shop, opened across the street from Second Home late this summer. They are a great business and are wonderful to everyone at Second Home. They welcomed us for lunch this past month. Check them out!
Second Home's CBI Trip to Demarest Farms
For more information about the monthly happenings at Second Home, please check out their program newsletter here.
Technology That Works Behind the Scenes
Your technology infrastructure should work for you—not become another thing you have to worry about. From servers and networks to day-to-day IT support, the NRESC Technology Department provides our partner districts and municipalities with high-quality, cost-effective solutions backed by a team that understands the unique needs of public organizations.
Let our team handle the backend so you can focus on what matters most. If you’re looking for a trusted technology partner, give NRESC a call—we’re ready to help.
#SharedServicesMakeSense
The Amazing Transportation Team!
New School Year Spotlight: The NRESC Transportation Team! With a $20 million budget, the NRESC transportation department itself is larger than 6 school districts in Passaic County! Additionally, 1/3 of all school-aged children in Passaic County ride a bus daily which is coordinated in some capacity by the NRESC transportation team! #SharedServicesMakeSense
Global Campus is Growing! East Orange
The NRESC’s Global Campus, focused on academic achievement, is exceeding enrollment expectations with an increased partnership with the East Orange Public Schools!
NRESC is committed to partnering with school districts to provide high-quality educational programming and support for students who may be experiencing school avoidance or difficulty accessing their home school environment. By keeping students closer to home and within the NRESC network, districts can help reduce the significant costs associated with out-of-district placements while ensuring students continue to receive the high-quality instruction, individualized support, and caring environment that NRESC is known for.
Welcome Dr. Seipp, Wanaque's New Superintendent!
Welcome Jaime Cangialosi-Murphy, Lakeland's New Superintendent!
We Wish You Well, Marta!
Thank you Dr. Pillari!
Say it Ain't So, Debbie!
The NRESC is pleased (and sad!) to recognize Debbie Rubestello (middle of the picture), Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and Business Administrator, ahead of her upcoming retirement on January 1, 2027.
Since joining the NRESC in 2014, Debbie has provided twelve years of dedicated service and unwavering commitment to our organization. Operating within a high-energy and fast-paced environment, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional perseverance, resilience, and professionalism. Her steady support and contributions have been invaluable to the leadership team and the entire community.
The NRESC extends its deepest gratitude to Debbie for her outstanding service and wishes her the absolute best in her well-deserved retirement.
Round 1 of the Apparel Store is now CLOSED!
We’re excited to share that the first round of our apparel store with our new vendor, Destination Athlete, was a success! Thank you to everyone who placed an order. Items from this first order period are expected to arrive this month.
As a reminder, there will be three (3) additional open order periods throughout the remainder of the school year, giving staff, families, and friends additional opportunities to purchase apparel. Our next order period is scheduled to launch around Black Friday, just in time for holiday shopping!
Friendly Reminders
All payroll questions and inquiries can be sent to Mr. Benito Squillaro at payroll@nresc.org.
Calendar Reminders
- October 12: NRESC central office, schools, and programs are CLOSED (Columbus Day).
- October 16: NRESC Board of Directors Meeting (11:30 am).
- October 16: SGOs/PGOs Due to Administrators for Review.
- October 23: Early Dismissal for Students at Phoenix and Second Home. Professional Development for staff at these programs in the afternoon.
- November 4-5: NRESC central office, schools, and programs are CLOSED (NJEA Convention).
- November 11: NRESC central office, schools, and programs are CLOSED (Veterans Day).
- November 13: End of Round 1 Observations
- November 13: NRESC Board of Directors Meeting (11:30 am).
- November 25: Early Dismissal for all NRESC schools and programs, as well as central office.
- November 26-27: NRESC central office, schools, and programs are CLOSED (Thanksgiving Break).
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