District Director of School Counseling Jennifer Grimaldi has been inducted into the IOTA Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for Key Women Educators. One of the purposes of DKG is to recognize and honor women who have demonstrated distinctive service in the field of education.
“Membership in DKG is by nomination only, and we are extremely pleased to welcome Jennifer into this society,” said Stacy Kasse, representative from the IOTA Chapter, who announced Grimaldi’s May 6th induction.
“We are very proud of this honor for Ms. Grimaldi,” Washington Township Superintendent of Schools Joe Bollendorf said. “She continues to display excellent leadership as our District counseling director. We extend our sincere congratulations and heartfelt appreciation for all she brings to the staff and students of our District each day.”
Currently, there are 65,000 members of DKG in 17 countries worldwide. DKG International offers scholarship opportunities for degree advancement, leadership, publishing, as well as travel and networking opportunities. Chapter and state organizations participate in a wide variety of ventures including support for future collegiate educators, early career educators, local food banks, Schools for Africa initiative, DKG at the United Nations, Ronald McDonald houses, literacy programs, and local libraries. DKG is proud to pursue worthwhile projects that make a difference around the world.
A 1993 graduate of Holy Family University with a bachelor of arts in elementary education and special education, Grimaldi earned a master of arts in school counseling from Rowan University in 1998. She holds New Jersey certifications as an elementary teacher, teacher of students with disabilities, school counselor, supervisor, principal and school administrator. She is also a licensed disaster response crisis counselor and a substance abuse coordinator.
Grimaldi, a New Jersey Teacher of the Year nominee in 1997, was honored in 2008 as the Camden County School Counselor of the Year and in 2011 as a General Colin L. Powell Service Award recipient. She was the 2011 Naviance Excellence in Leadership finalist and a 2013 nominee for the American School Counselor Association Counselor of the Year award. In May of 2019, she was the inaugural recipient of Rowan University’s Dr. Hector Rios Community Change Agent Award. A graduate of the program, Grimaldi studied under Dr. Rios and was recognized not only for her outstanding leadership in the realm of school counseling, but also for the partnership that she created with the Rowan University professors.
