Quanika Dukes-Spruill, Director of Pupil Transportation, honored as a “top innovator”
NEWARK, N.J. – Quanika Dukes-Spruill, the district’s Director of Pupil Transportation, has been named the “Top Innovator” in the Modern Student Transportation Awards in recognition of her visionary leadership and transformative work in student transportation.
Implementing advanced routing techniques, smarter vendor management, achieving cost savings, and equity and efficiency while meeting students’ needs were among the reasons Dukes-Spruill earned the award.
“Quanika’s dedication to our students is deeply personal,” said Superintendent León. “While she oversees a very complex department, she never loses sight of the fact that students are at the heart of everything her department does. This national recognition affirms that Quanika is leading with integrity, innovation, and unwavering focus on students.”
Dukes-Spruill’s award was one of four honors presented to school transportation professionals at a recent conference on Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs. The awards were given by EverDriven, a company that serves more than 800 school districts across 36 states and specializes in transporting students across a wide range of needs, including students with disabilities, students experiencing housing instability, and other high-need populations.
“On behalf of the Newark Board of Education, I extend congratulations to Quanika Dukes-Spruill for this well-deserved honor,” said Hasani K. Council, President of the Board of Education. “Her leadership reminds us that transportation is a critical pillar of equity. Because of her efforts, thousands of Newark students benefit from a system built for excellence, fairness, and safety.”
Dukes-Spruill has working in education for more than two decades and has been in her current role for 11 years. She oversees logistics for over 5,000 students with exceptionalities and provides transportation resources for more than 24,000 general education students.
Dukes-Spruill holds an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and an Executive Master’s in Education Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University. She is an active member of the National Association for Pupil Transportation, the Harvard Alumni Association, and serves on the Board of the School Transportation Supervisors of New Jersey.
About Newark Public Schools
The Newark Public Schools is the largest school district in New Jersey and dates back to 1676. The District currently enrolls over 40,000 students in 65 schools. After more than two decades of state operation and upon return to local control in 2018, the District has opened ten new schools under Superintendent León’s leadership with an additional portfolio of new options to be announced in the coming months and years. The Newark Board of Education serves as a beacon of educational excellence, dedicated to nurturing the potential of every student. With a commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and fostering a love for learning, the District continues to shape future generations and make a positive impact within the community.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Paul Brubaker, Communications Director
Email: pbrubaker@nullnps.k12.nj.us
Phone: 973-803-6983