for students. The direction is clear, though: AI is coming quickly, and staying ahead of it will require proactive professional development and thoughtful implementation so that technology remains a force for positive learning rather than a risk that outpaces adult guidance. Great Meadows is also ensuring that technology supports early exploration and future readiness. Even as a pre-K through grade eight district, it introduces students to STEM and STEAM experiences that can shape later choices. Coding clubs exist even at lower elementary levels. The middle school offers a dedicated technology program, structured alongside other encore classes, and the classroom environment reflects hands-on STEM learning with tools such as 3D printers and applied design activities. Extracurricular clubs provide additional exposure to STEM-related interests, helping students develop early confidence before they transition to high school. Because Great Meadows students typically attend Hackettstown High School, and because the county offers a technical high school option as well, early exposure matters. Students can begin to see what they enjoy and where their strengths lie before stepping into the larger system, where formal pathways and career programs become more defined. Inclusivity is another defining commitment. Mai, who also serves as Director of Special Services, has worked intentionally to expand opportunities for students with disabilities to learn and connect alongside their non-disabled peers. Great Meadows is participating in a statewide initiative now known as All In for Inclusive Education, an effort designed to help districts create stronger inclusive practices across academic and social settings. Mai explains that the work involves collaboration with other districts and with program partners to identify and implement strategies that expand shared learning environments, whether through classroom structure, daily routines, or social inclusion in spaces like lunch and recess.The goal is not only access, but belonging, and building a school culture where all students feel part of the same community. At the same time, district leaders recognize that 297 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 02 GREAT MEADOWS REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
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