A Berkeley Heights parent advisory group that overhauled how the district engages special education families has won a statewide leadership award.

The Berkeley Heights Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) received the 2026 Debbie Esposito Parent Leadership Award from SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, as first reported by TAPinto Berkeley Heights. The award recognizes a parent advisory group that has demonstrated exceptional leadership and sustained engagement on behalf of its district's special education community.

The Berkeley Heights Board of Education honored the group with a formal resolution at its Thursday, Sept. 24, meeting. SEPAG co-leaders Anjali Viswanath and Kelly Villanueva attended alongside Superintendent Dr. Kim Feltre, Director of Special Services Kevin Morra and Supervisor of Special Education Alyssa Rush.

The recognition caps a transformation that began when Viswanath and Villanueva approached the district about reshaping the SEPAG. Until then, the group was mainly district-led with minimal parent participation, according to the district. The two parents worked with Morra and Rush to build a parent-led model that launched in the 2025-26 school year.

The group now meets monthly, collects feedback from parents, meets with administrators and sets yearly goals focused on student needs. It also hosts social events.

"The award is there, but it's not like our work is done," Viswanath and Villanueva said at the Sept. 24 board meeting. "Because students with disabilities are a diverse population, the group needs greater parent participation so that everyone's voice is represented and heard."

Every New Jersey school district is required to have a SEPAG under state regulation N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.2(h). The groups are charged with providing input on system-level challenges in special education. Berkeley Heights Public Schools, which enrolls about 2,350 students, posted on its official X account Monday, Sept. 28, that it was "thrilled" to recognize the group.

The board's resolution stated that the award highlights the role parent-led groups play in strengthening school communities and improving outcomes for students with disabilities.

Parents interested in joining the Berkeley Heights SEPAG can sign up for email updates through the group's online form or contact [email protected].