NJ Aspiring Educators Vice President

Matthew Yuro is a senior at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). He is majoring in Special Education, Elementary Education, and History, in which he is a part of the five-year master's program with TCNJ’s School of Education. He plans on becoming a special education elementary school teacher after he graduates.

Prior to serving as NJEA Preservice Vice President, Matthew served as the NJEA Preservice President from 2023-2024, Vice President from 2022-2023, and Membership and Local Outreach Chair from 2021-2023. In these roles, Matthew has been a strong advocate for aspiring educators across the state, being able to attend many NJEA Executive Committee meetings and represent NJEA Preservice members at the NJEA Delegate Assembly. Matthew has also been able to help increase membership numbers by implementing the NJEA Preservice previews and promos, helping to talk about the benefits of being an NJEA Preservice member.

Serving on the NJEA Preservice leadership team, Matthew attended the 2021, 2022, and 2023 NJEA Convention in Atlantic City, NJ. He has also attended the 2023 and 2024 NEA Aspiring Educators Conference. Matthew has had the opportunity to serve on the National Education Association Resolutions Committee from 2023-2024, and the NEA Aspiring Educators Advisory Committee from 2022-2023, representing aspiring educators nationwide. Through this role, Matthew helped plan the 2022 Aspiring Educators Conference in Orlando, Florida and helped find ways to bridge the gap between aspiring and early-career educators. Aside from serving as NJEA Preservice Vice President for this year, Matthew was elected to serve as NEA Board of Director for the 2024-2025 year, representing over 40,000 aspiring educators nationwide.

At TCNJ, Matthew is involved in many extracurricular activities, including serving as an International Trustee for Circle K International, President for the Student New Jersey Education Association, President of the History Club, President of Kappa Delta Pi, President of Phi Alpha Theta, President of Omicron Delta Kappa, and President for Late Night Take. Matthew is also a substitute teacher and college AVID tutor at Monroe Township School District and is a Student Manager of Residential Operations with TCNJ’s Residential Education and Housing.

As the newest NJEA Preservice Vice President, Matthew looks forward to strengthening our membership numbers, growing new preservice chapters, and supporting the NJEA Preservice program for future aspiring educators to take part in. Matthew also looks forward to getting paid student teaching in New Jersey and advocating for NJEA Preservice members across the state.