Last Thursday Marc Mondry, a teacher at East Brunswick High School, was honored by the Urban Land Institute Northern New Jersey (ULI) as their “Educator of the Year.”

Earlier this year, ULI partnered with the East Brunswick school district to introduce the first UrbanPlan program in New Jersey. UrbanPlan offers students an opportunity to participate in a hands-on, simulated real estate planning program while working side-by-side with leading industry professionals.

ULI Northern New Jersey sought out East Brunswick High School as the first school in the state to offer UrbanPlan, given East Brunswick’s reputation for excellence in social studies and its national leadership in programs such as the Advanced Placement Institute for Political and Legal Education.

Under his direction, students assumed the roles of members of a fictional development team. They learned about various market forces (supply and demand, availability of capital, risk versus reward, etc.), plus how to both clash and collaborate with non-market forces (regulation, politics, advocacy groups, etc.). UrbanPlan is selectively offered at leading high schools and universities nationwide as an advanced placement, undergraduate and graduate class.

In late May, the students have to present and defend their proposals in front of a volunteer-based mock City Council at the East Brunswick Municipal Building.