Watchung Hills vice principal Jim Flacker honored as NJPSA Visionary Vice Principal of the Year

Vice Principal Jim Flacker of Watchung Hills Regional High School was honored during a public meeting when speakers presented him as the 2025 NJPSA Visionary Vice Principal of the Year.

School staff and students described Flacker’s role leading the school’s freshman transition work, which seeks to integrate incoming ninth graders from four different middle schools through repeated visits, peer panels, evening events for families and a club-and-athletics fair to connect students with coaches and club leaders. “Mr. Flacker made sure all of us were really comfortable and we got the gist of high school pretty easily,” said a student who spoke at the event.

Colleagues praised Flacker’s day-to-day presence and mentorship, saying he practices an approachable style often described as “management by walking around.” The meeting included multiple remarks noting that he supports teachers through professional development and hands-on guidance.

A resolution-style proclamation read at the meeting records that Flacker was first employed at the district in July 2019, credits him with spearheading design-thinking professional development for staff, and cites his work developing a new course curriculum infused with design-thinking principles for a foundation creative-design course. The proclamation also notes it will be read at a public meeting of the Watchung Hills Regional High School Board of Education on Oct. 28, 2025.

Speakers emphasized that Flacker’s programs aim to build a cycle of belonging: ninth graders connect with upperclassmen and, as they advance, return as peer mentors. The meeting closed with a brief celebration; culinary students prepared carrot cake and tiramisu for the event, and Flacker was invited to address attendees.

No formal policy votes or budgetary actions were recorded in the provided segment of the meeting.