About NJEA
The mission of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) is to advance and protect the rights, benefits, and interests of members, and promote a quality system of public education for all students.
NJEA puts its commitment to students and public school employees first. Since 2019, Education Week has named New Jersey’s public schools as the best in the nation, an accolade that was echoed by U.S. News & World Report. Our members work hard to ensure that every child has access to an excellent public school that cares for their academic, social, emotional, and physical well-being.
Our hard work has paid off
New Jersey leads the nation in a number of categories:
- New Jersey’s public school students scored among the world’s best on the 8th grade NAEP test.
- New Jersey’s public school students scored the best in the nation on the 4th grade NAEP test.
- New Jersey’s high school graduation rate is among the best in the nation, and we have the lowest high school dropout rate.
- According to the College Board, New Jersey public school students outperform private school students on AP exams.
- According to the College Board, New Jersey public school students outperform private school students on AP exams.
- New Jersey public school students earn the highest AP scores in the nation, even as the number of students taking the exams has doubled over the past 15 years.
National recognition
NJEA members have been recognized at the national level for their excellence, including:
- Kimberly Scott-Hayden
2021 NEA ESP of the Year
- Jonathan Lancaster
2021 NEA Global Fellow
- Kimberly Dickstein-Hughes
2019 NJ Teacher of the Year and NEA Global Fellow
- Angela Mikula
2020 Hunterdon County Teacher of the Year and 2017 Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program recipient (United Kingdom)
- Argine Safari
2017 NJ Teacher of the Year and 2018 Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program recipient (Finland)
- Daniel Willever
2019 Milken Award Winner
- Nicole Silva
2018 Milken Award Winner
- Toni Ann Palmisano
2017 Milken Award Winner
- Maria DeBruin
2017 Milken Award Winner
- Lindsay Frevert
2016 Milken Award Winner
During the pandemic, our members made sure that students continued to learn in a safe, healthy environment and prioritized their social and emotional needs. In addition, they worked together to provide meals to students who experienced food insecurity.
NJEA’s leaders have received many honors and awards, including:
- NJEA President Sean M. Spiller
- NJEA President Sean M. Spiller
- NJEA President Sean M. Spiller and NJEA Past President Marie Blistan
- NJEA Past President Marie Blistan