Hopewell Valley Regional School District Superintendent Dr. Rosetta Treece has been named the 2026 Mercer County Superintendent of the Year by the Mercer County Association of School Administrators, an honor recognizing her leadership and contributions to public education over the past five years as superintendent.
The annual award recognizes a superintendent who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, educational vision and service to students, staff and the broader school community.
Treece has served as Hopewell Valley’s superintendent since 2021. During her tenure, the district has advanced initiatives focused on student wellness, sustainability, restorative practices, community engagement and academic achievement while also successfully securing voter approval for an $84 million school facilities referendum in 2025.
Among the accomplishments highlighted by the association were the district’s Sustainability Strategic Plan, including the installation of six rain gardens and a partnership with a local farm; the Digital Wellness Initiative in collaboration with the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance; the Beyond the Page community reading initiative with local libraries; expanded restorative circles in partnership with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office; Youth Mental Health First Aid training for students, staff and families; and the district’s continued support of the Witness Stones Project, in which eighth-grade students research the lives of enslaved people who once lived in the Hopewell Valley and help restore their stories to the historical record.
In announcing the award, Mercer County Association of School Administrators President Mark Daniels, superintendent of the East Windsor Regional School District, praised Treece’s collaborative leadership.
“Dr. Treece is an exemplary district leader, who values the importance of belonging, connection, shared narratives, and the belief that when we truly listen to one another, we nurture stronger, more empathetic school communities,” Daniels said. “Dr. Treece’s continued efforts and leadership as superintendent during the past five years is a testament to her commitment to the students, families, and staff of HVRSD.”
The Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education also celebrated the recognition.
Board President Anita Williams Galiano said the award reflects both Treece’s leadership in Hopewell Valley and her influence across Mercer County and New Jersey.
“Those of us who have the privilege of working alongside Dr. Treece know that her greatest strength is her ability to bring people together around a shared vision,” Williams Galiano said. “She believes deeply in the power of community engagement and in ensuring that every student knows they belong and can thrive.”
The board said Treece’s leadership has emphasized academic excellence while expanding efforts to support student wellness, sustainability, historical understanding and community partnerships.
“We are incredibly proud that her peers have recognized what we know: Dr. Treece exemplifies the very best of education,” Williams Galiano said. “Hopewell Valley is extraordinarily fortunate to call her our Superintendent, and we congratulate her on this well-deserved honor.”
