Assistant principal honored with leadership award

Assistant principal Jeana Sabatini Gilbert pictured with the Michele Kamans Memorial Leadership Award

Armstrong Middle School Assistant Principal Jeana Sabatini-Gilbert was honored by Rider University with the Michele Kamens Memorial Leadership Award. The award is designated to recognize and celebrate an educator who has shown leadership and dedication in supporting and serving individuals with disabilities and their families.

“I was truly surprised and honored to receive the Michele Kamens Memorial Leadership Award,” said Sabatini-Gilbert. “It means a lot to be recognized in this way, and I’m so grateful to be part of the BTSD family.”

The award is in honor of Kamens, who was a part of the Rider University family for more than 20 years before sadly passing away in 2018. During her time at Rider, she left a lasting impact as a vocal advocate for the inclusion of special education students in the general education classroom.

Among her many contributions, Kamens launched the school’s special education program in 1998 and later co-founded a study abroad program for education majors. Kamens also developed the undergraduate special education minor and the Master of Arts in Special Education. For her outstanding contributions, she was awarded Rider’s prestigious Frank N. Elliott Award for Distinguished Service in 2011.

Sabatini-Gilbert joined Armstrong as assistant principal in 2023. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Rider, and is currently working toward her doctorate at the university.

“Seeing Jeana working with our students is an acknowledgement that she is a worthy recipient of such a prestigious award,” Superintendent Michael Nitti stated. “She is dedicated to her students and in supporting each and every child at Armstrong and providing them with what they need to achieve. We are proud of her for this accomplishment and thank Rider for recognizing such a dedicated educator.”