Superintendent uses national bestseller as inspiration

GREEN TWP — Superintendent John Nittolo of Green Hills School has developed a Brain Gym reminiscent of a national bestselling book about the science of play.

"Play," written by Dr. Stuart Brown, is a groundbreaking book that encourages the role of play in fueling happiness and intelligence throughout our lives.

Nittolo’s belief in the text stems from his belief that professionalism begins with reading and doing research on the best practices in education. The Brain Gym, a classroom converted into a playroom at Green Hills School, has arisen from Nittolo’s research.

In the Brain Gym, students play with interactive games, puzzles, technology, and buildable equipment. Teachers are able to sign out games from the Brain Gym, or are able to take students to the room during the class period.

“These games are great for creating new pathways in their brains,” says Nittolo.

In addition to the Brain Gym, Nittolo hired a ThinkSTEM Coach, Mr. Lou Rossi. This is Rossi’s first year in the position, which was created to increase involvement in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

Rossi has already brought considerable innovation into the classroom. One of his most recent ideas was to incorporate a 3D printer into lessons in order to help students better understand concepts.

Nittolo attributes many of the technological additions to Green Hills to the Interdistrict Public School Choice program, which enables approved choice schools to enroll out-of-district students without cost to their parents. On average, New Jersey schools that participate in the Choice Program receive $10,000 per student in government grants.

In regards to his experimental and technology-driven agenda, Nittolo says, “We are a small school with many resources. If it can’t be implemented here, where can it be implemented?”

Future plans at Green Hills include adding another option for a foreign language and bolstering the ThinkSTEM program.