From the South Orange Maplewood School District:
Student artwork from the South Orange-Maplewood School District (SOMSD) was on display at The Workshop 2026 Conference, hosted by the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) at the Atlantic City Convention Center from October 19–22, 2026.
The pieces were featured in the ARTS ED NJ Student Art Gallery, located next to the Keynote Theater, where school board members, administrators, and educators from across the state viewed work by students from all three levels of the district.
The district’s participation was made possible by its visual and media arts educators:
- Laura Kruglinski, Seth Boyden Elementary School
- Michelle Reisman, Maplewood Middle School
- Cindy Malhotra, Columbia High School
“Our students’ creativity deserves a statewide audience, and our art teachers work tirelessly to nurture it,” said James Manno, SOMSD District Arts Supervisor. “Having their work displayed alongside the state’s largest gathering of school leaders underscores the importance of arts education in every community.”
Governor’s Award Winner Featured
Also on display was work by Columbia High School senior Francie Christensen, who was selected to receive both the New Jersey Governor’s Award in Arts Education and the Art Administrators of New Jersey (AANJ) Student Achievement Award, two of the most prestigious honors available to young artists in the state. Her earlier recognition at the AANJ-sponsored Emerging Artists Exhibition included her photograph “Sarah.”
Christensen’s AP Art portfolio explores the theme of “disconnection” through photography and painting, often using self-portraiture. “I am hopeful that people will gain a new perspective from the artwork or at least appreciate it aesthetically,” she said.
“We are incredibly proud of Francie and of every student whose work was represented in Atlantic City,” Manno added.
