Samuel Fancera Professor • Educational Leadership and Professional Studies View CV Website Dr. Samuel F. Fancera holds the rank of Professor and serves as the Graduate Program Director for Educational Leadership in the Department of Educational Leadership and Professional Studies at William Paterson University. With a career that bridges K–12 and higher education, he brings a unique blend of hands-on leadership experience and scholarly insight to his work. Before joining the William Paterson faculty, Dr. Fancera served for more than a decade as a principal and science department supervisor in New Jersey public schools. His experiences as a school leader continue to shape his teaching and research.At William Paterson, Dr. Fancera teaches doctoral and master’s courses on research design, leadership theory, and legal issues for school leaders, while mentoring graduate students on dissertations that tackle real-world challenges in education. He is deeply committed to preparing future leaders who can navigate complex educational landscapes and drive meaningful change. Connect with him on X: @SamFancera Professional Interests Dr. Fancera’s professional interests center on educational leadership preparation and development. His scholarship focuses on leadership practices across varying school contexts that foster professional learning, empower teachers, and create equitable opportunities for all students. His research has appeared in leading journals such as Professional Development in Education, NASSP Bulletin, Leadership and Policy in Schools, Research in Educational Administration and Leadership, Journal of Organizational and Educational Leadership, and The Clearing House, and he regularly shares his work at academic conferences. Degrees EdD Educational Theory, Policy, & Administration, Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ EdM Educational Theory, Policy, & Administration, Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ MS Exercise & Sport Sciences, University of Arizona Tucson, AZ BA Biology, Kean College Union, NJ Specialization Context-responsive leadership; digital networks for professional development/learning Licenses and Certifications Certificate of Eligibility 06/30/2010 School Administrator CE, NJDoE State Standard Certificate 07/31/2010 Principal, NJDoE State Standard Certificate 05/31/2005 Supervisor, NJDoE State Standard Certificate 06/30/2003 Teacher of Physical Science, NJDoE State Standard Certificate 06/30/2002 Teacher of Biological Science, NJDoE State Representative Publications Leadership in Context: Examining School District Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors to Predict Superintendent Salary; 2026 https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1170&context=joel Stronger together: Uniting families, schools, and communities through the Community Learning Collaborative; Case Studies for Aspiring and Current Building Level Educational Leaders; Excellence in Education Journal; 2026 https://excellenceineducationjournal.org/index.php/eej/issue/view/221/204 Flip-flopping visions: Challenges for principals who outlast district leadership; Case Studies for Aspiring and Current Building Level Educational Leaders; The Excellence in Education Journal; 2026 https://excellenceineducationjournal.org/index.php/eej/issue/view/221/204 Bridging Educational Silos: Exploring Professional Development and Learning Opportunities through Academic Library/Public-School Partnerships; , ; 2026 Promoting and supporting teacher leaders: The potential of targeted professional development.; 2025 https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1758556 Representative Presentations Do superintendent salary inequities persist? A multi-year analysis of district context and compensation. NERA 2026 Conference Northeastern Educational Research Association Trumball, CT 2026 A typology of school communication based on educator responses to the Organizational Bullshit Perception Scale NERA 2026 Conference Northeastern Educational Research Association Trumball, CT 2026 Bridging Educational Silos: Academic Library–P–12 Partnerships for Professional Development, Information Literacy, and Educational Innovation 2026 New Jersey Academic Libraries Conference VALE NJ-EDGE Union, NJ 2026 Cultivating teacher leaders: A study of strategy design and professional development NERA 2025 Conference Northeastern Educational Research Association Trumball, CT 2025 Investigating equity directors’ responsibilities and expectations in public schools NERA 2025 Conference Northeastern Educational Research Association Trumball, CT 2025 Awards and Honors Nominated for Excellence in Educational Leadership Award University Council for Educational Administration 04/01/2012 Reward School, Indiana Avenue School #18, Woodbridge Township School District, Woodbridge, New Jersey New Jersey Department of Education 04/01/2012 Dissertation Proposal Award Delta Xi Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, Rutgers University 04/01/2008 Media PDiE Author Interview https://strath.zoom.us/rec/play/TZ1OcGZ6BPuFQsOn_1Cv5-hNbsL_sb6btYMuLQmBelQleerXsd3QP1I3EvLpNFYIICNuDbKziRKloPP6.XJ1fA3vlzkbL-gXE?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=JDdJC6cRRqumxqiIVBDZ4w.1624882689687.5dad7928f26efb9ae68488e458157a5c&_x_zm_rhtaid=79 A short interview with a number of authors, whose articles have recently been published in PDiE and the focus of these conversations is leadership within technology enhanced professional learning spaces. Fellowships, Grants and Research Practices to Promote and Support Teacher Leadership in New Jersey P-12 Public Schools (Contracted with the NJ Department of Education) Contract Applying self-determination theory to elucidate the online professional learning landscape for teachers in the post-pandemic era Grant Fostering pathways for STEM teachers and leaders Grant The professional development and learning landscape for urban and rural teachers and administrators: Factors to consider for the post pandemic era Grant Notable Courses Taught Fall 2026EDLP 6160 Curriculum Design: Technology Across DisciplinesEDLP 6131 Internship in Educational Leadership Part ALEAD 7320 Research Design and Methods IILEAD 7901 Leader Learner CommunityLEAD 8600 Dissertation: Scholarship in PracticeSpring 2027EDLP 6010 Leadership in Learning CommunitiesEDLP 6030 Educational ResearchLEAD 7310 Research Design and Methods ILEAD 7901 Leader Learner CommunityLEAD 8600 Dissertation: Scholarship in Practice Email 973 720 3088 4015 Valley Road Monday through Thursday @ 2:30-3:15 p.m.
