Sean M. Spiller, a high school science teacher in the Wayne public schools, is president of the New Jersey Education Association. Spiller was elected NJEA president in 2021, his term beginning on Sept. 1.

Prior to his 2013 election to NJEA secretary-treasurer, Spiller served as an executive board member of the Passaic County Education Association (2005-2013). He also served as president (2007-2013) and negotiations team member of the Wayne Education Association. At NJEA, he was the chair of the Congressional Contact Committee, a member of the Urban Education Committee and an ethnic minority-at-large representative to the Delegate Assembly.

Spiller’s focus as a leader, throughout his service for NJEA, has been on helping members become more involved at the community level in confronting the intersection of challenges that affect public education and school employees, students, and their families. He sees the burdens placed on families with student debt, limited access to health care and underfunded communities as critical issues. As NJEA president, he aims to strengthen public education in New Jersey by confronting systemic racism, and building equity for social, economic, gender and sexual identity, and racial justice.

Spiller and his wife Lauren, also a public school teacher and NJEA member, live with their two children in Montclair where, since 2012 he has served on the township council and in 2020 was elected mayor. He is also a member of the Montclair Business Improvement District, a member of the Montclair NAACP, the League of Women Voters and many other local groups and organizations.