Hundreds of NJEA members convene in Atlantic City
This past weekend, more than 600 local leaders attended the 2024 NJEA Winter Leadership Conference South in Atlantic City. The mid-winter conference was a crucial intersection for NJEA members to unite, share ideas and refine their leadership skills. Through access to a wide range of workshops, attendees delved into topics critical for building and sustaining union strength throughout the school year.
On Friday night, NJEA President Sean M. Spiller, Vice President Steve Beatty, and Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson inspired the crowd by sharing stories about various members throughout the state. All three officers noted the critical issues facing public education this year, including inequities in the pension system, unnecessary paperwork in the evaluation system, and member recruitment and retention's role in continuing to build political power.
Training, led by NJEA staff, took place on Friday and continued throughout Saturday. Many local and county associations sent teams of members, choosing to spread out and coordinate which workshops they attended to bring more relevant information back to their associations. From legal and political updates to collective bargaining and grievance adjudication processes, members were well-informed about the most up-to-date strategies that educators can employ to defend and expand their rights. Furthermore, the workshops emphasized the role that local education associations play in the ongoing fight for social and racial equity in New Jersey's public schools.
Two more Winter Leadership Conferences are slated for the next few months: Winter Leadership North on February 22 - 23, 2024, in Parsippany and Winter Leadership Central on February 22-23, 2024, in Princeton. NJEA members are encouraged to attend to take advantage of these meaningful training opportunities.