Workshops
1. Now That I’m President, What Do I Do?
(offered 8/6-8 and 8/8-10)
PART 2 – 9/30-10/1 – 1-½ Day Workshop
For: Newly elected presidents
The job of an effective local president is the most challenging you’ll ever face in your association. This workshop is designed to help newly elected presidents identify those challenges, develop strategies to deal with them, and build a strong, effective association. We will discuss advocacy topics so you leave empowered and with all the information you need to lead your association. This training begins prior to the start of the conference at 1:15 p.m. Participants should plan to arrive by 12:45 p.m.
Resident: $458* Commuter: $371*
*If a single room is requested for Workshop 1, the cost is $626 since an additional overnight occurs in September
2. Vital Skills for Experienced Presidents
(offered 8/8-10)
For: Experienced presidents|
Prerequisite: At least one year of experience as a president
In this workshop, experienced local presidents will have the opportunity to learn not just from the presenters, but from each other. As the light at the end of the COVID tunnel becomes brighter, the workshop will help leaders prepare to regain a sense of normalcy. Membership, advocacy, communications, and legal updates will be highlighted. Through these topics and others that may arise, we will explore what you learned about yourself as a leader during this current moment and how to move your association forward.The goal is for presidents to leave the workshop feeling energized, renewed, and ready to face the upcoming school year with confidence.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
3. Basic Treasurer’s Training (offered 8/6-8 and 8/8-10)
For: Local treasurers
Learn the ABCs of being a local treasurer. Understand the fiduciary responsibilities of this important association role. Learn about building a budget and fiscal issues, implementing time management tools, taking the fear out of treasury audits and payroll, and laying the foundation for a computerized treasury. Lastly, understand the benefits of the Local Association Financial Assistance Program (LAFAP) form and learn how to complete a LAFAP through our online system.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
4. Advanced Treasurer’s Training (offered 8/8-10)
Prerequisite: Treasurers who have completed Basic Treasurer’s Training
This course is designed for the experienced treasurer interested in using Quicken® to maintain the association’s books and conform to Local Association Financial Assistance Program (LAFAP) reporting requirements.
Enrollment limited to 18 participants (one per local). Computers will be provided.
Resident: $397 Commuter: $357
5. Basic Grievance Processing (offered 8/6-8 and 8/8-10)
For: Any member who is new to grievance processing as either an association representative (AR) or as a grievance committee representative
This workshop will provide an introduction to the basic vocabulary, essential tools, complete process, and changing laws of grievance work from the local association level through court appeals. Problem-solving options will be made available to local grievance representatives. These will be reviewed through case studies illustrating specific solutions to real problems.
Participants need to bring a copy of their collective bargaining agreement.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
6. Advanced Grievance Processing (offered 8/6-8 and 8/8-10)
Prerequisite: Basic Grievance Processing or experience in processing grievances
Learn the skills needed, and why it is necessary, for the local association to present grievances effectively at the board of education level. Case studies and role playing will be utilized in group activities in order for participants to present a grievance to a board of education. Participants will be instructed in the following concepts prior to preparing their cases: past practice, clear versus ambiguous contract language, just-cause standards, management rights, maintenance of benefits, and duty of fair representation.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
7. Legal Issues Affecting School Employees (offered 8/6-8 and 8/8-10)
For: All members
This workshop is an in-depth review of pertinent provisions of school and labor laws and administrative and legal decisions affecting members. We will examine the impact of school and labor laws on employment, analyze techniques for proper forum selection for dealing with disputes (i.e., role of PERC, the commissioner of education, courts, and agencies), review decisional law and legislative enactments, recognize statute applications/interpretations through case-by-case determination, and examine, analyze, and review association roles.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
8. PERC Law (offered 8/6-8 and 8/8-10)
For: Negotiators, grievance committee representatives, and other association leaders
To assist in negotiations and representation, this workshop will focus on unfair labor practices and court cases outlining negotiability/arbitrability disputes including discipline, transfers, extracurricular assignments, and duty of fair representation. What constitutes past practice, just cause, and relief from unilateral changes in working conditions will be explored in depth.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
9. AR – Key to a Strong Organization (offered 8/6-8 and 8/8-10)
For: Association representatives; open to all members
Learn the fundamentals and develop skills to become an association advocate. This program concentrates on contract enforcement, basic school law, member benefits, membership promotion, emerging instructional issues, legislative action, and your state and national association.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
10. Basic Collective Bargaining (offered 8/6-8 and 8/8-10)
For: New and inexperienced negotiators
Master the essential phases of bargaining with particular emphasis on the role of laws in the negotiations process; organization of and preparation for negotiations; negotiations tactics and techniques; the use of mathematics in negotiations; the 2010 bargaining law; impasse resolution including mediation, fact-finding, and superconciliation; job actions and communication; and ratification.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
11. Advanced Collective Bargaining (offered 8/6-8 and 8/8-10)
For: Experienced negotiators who have completed Basic Collective Bargaining or members who have actively participated in the bargaining process as a member of a team
Advanced Collective Bargaining workshop topics include hot topics at the table, how to get to where we want to go, salary guides (alternative methods of distribution), what to do when the going gets tough, legislation affecting bargaining, and bargaining health benefits.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
12. Basic Salary Guides (offered 8/6-8)
For: New local negotiators preparing for successful salary negotiations
Methods of costing, analyzing, and understanding salary guides will be presented. Successful salary negotiations techniques such as developing comparisons, member input, district’s ability to pay, planning salary guide workshops, and planning a successful ratification will be emphasized. Challenges facing ESP and inclusive local associations will be stressed. Current issues of importance will be discussed and successful strategies in these areas will be presented.
Participants need to bring a copy of their collective bargaining agreement.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
13. Advanced Salary Guides (offered 8/8-10)
Prerequisite: Basic Salary Guides
The workshop will give participants an understanding of how salary guides are constructed and calculated. Participants will construct a base-year cost-out and salary guides for three additional years on an Excel spreadsheet. Knowledge of how a spreadsheet functions is essential. This training will expand on issues raised in Basic Salary Guides, as well as explore additional concerns and techniques.
Enrollment limited to 18 participants (one per local). Computers will be provided.
Resident: $397 Commuter: $357
14. Bargaining Health Benefits (offered 8/8-10)
For: Negotiators and leaders with interest in benefits
Learn how to deal with board demands on health insurance issues at the bargaining table. This training will provide participants with a thorough understanding of the role of insurance benefits in achieving economic security. There will be extensive instruction on medical, dental, prescription, and optical plans. This workshop will enable participants to review the legal framework, prepare for negotiations, and analyze board proposals.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
15. Health Benefits and Pensions for Your Local (offered 8/8-10)
For: All members
Become your local’s go-to person for all your members’ health benefits and pension questions. Learn the ins and outs of what you need to know when assisting your members in understanding health plan options, minimizing out-of-pocket health care costs, premium sharing contributions, preparing for retirement, understanding their pensions, and more.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
16. Managing Conflict Effectively (offered 8/8-10)
For: All members
This workshop is designed to increase personal and association effectiveness in dealing with conflict in a positive fashion. Participants will learn a variety of techniques that enhance this process by developing new strategies for identifying and handling conflict. Discussion will focus on what causes conflict and how better communication can help prevent or resolve conflict.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
17. Leadership Development 101 – A Beginner’s Guide for Association Leaders (offered 8/6-8)
For: All members
In this workshop, we will explore principles of effective leadership and team building, effective communication and listening skills, principles of time and stress management, facilitation skills for leaders, importance of change management, and leadership scenarios for association leaders.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
18. Passion. Purpose. Power. (offered 8/8-10)
For: All members
Join us for an interactive, empowerment experience designed to activate and inspire potential leaders. Identifying your passion and purpose in our association is the key to securing voice and power. From ESPs to early career to members of color, all are encouraged to join us for this engaging workshop.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
19. Membership Chair Training (offered 8/6-8 and 8/8-10)
For: All membership chairs: novice and experienced
During this course, we will examine the calendar of yearly responsibilities, as well as best practices and new techniques to help you meet those requirements. The course will be broken into four parts that will include Redesigning Your New Employee Orientation, How to Make the Membership Ask, Authentic Engagement and Follow-up, and Member Retention.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
20. Educational Support Professionals (ESP): You Are Essential, You Matter! (offered 8/5-7)
For: ESP members
Join fellow ESP members and experts on ESP issues in this lively workshop where you’ll gain the tools necessary to build your career and safeguard your interests. Just as you play an essential role in your school, your contribution to this workshop will ensure its success. Don’t miss out!
This workshop has a special schedule. Registration is at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5 and the workshop concludes with lunch on Sunday, Aug. 7.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
21. Taking a Deep Dive into Strengthening Your Health and Safety Committee (offered 8/8-10)
For: All members
Learn how to take full advantage of your health and safety committee. We will review the process for establishing your local committee, identify potential health hazards in the workplace, and learn how to use federal and local regulations to hold your employers accountable. Become a vital part of your association, better understand your obligations as committee members, and use health and safety as an organizing tool to advocate for the rights of all workers.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
22. Unleashing the Potential Political Power of Your Local Association (offered 8/6-8)
For: All members
Across the state, NJEA members go to work each day, where someone else makes decisions that have an impact on their profession. Learn how through organizing and collective action, your local association can build its political power to make sure your members have control over their professional world and their lives and influence over the people who make decisions about public education.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
23. Calling All Policy Wonks! (offered 8/8-10)
For: All members
Are education issues and education policy on your mind? Do you consider yourself a wonk? Learn about the policy-making process and hear from experts on current issues facing public education. Hear from lobbyists and policymakers who work on education policy and join the discussion on why we need to be part of the organizing and lobbying process in order to achieve good outcomes.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
24. Organizing Around Evaluation (offered 8/6-8)
For: All members
After nearly a decade under TEACHNJ and AchieveNJ, evaluation continues to present challenges for individual members and local associations. This session will provide an overview of the evaluation statute and associated regulations, and will engage participants in developing organizing strategies that will promote fair, effective, and transparent evaluation practices that reinforce strong instruction.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
25. Organizing for Participatory Leadership (offered 8/6-8)
For: All members
Looking for ways to increase participation in your association? Interested in finding ways to build consensus and allow new leadership to emerge? Trying to find ways to include all the voices in the room when you run a meeting? Using practices from the Art of Hosting Meaningful Conversations, develop new skills to work collectively to harness the shared knowledge and wisdom of your membership, creating a stronger union that can move forward toward wise action.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
26. Organizing for Participatory Leadership Advanced: Planning and Harvesting (offered 8/8-10)
For: All members
If you have some experience with World Café, Open Space, Circle Practice, or other hosting practices but have wondered about how to plan the right practice for the right project, or what to do with the harvest after the conversation is over, this workshop is for you. This workshop will focus on learning to choose and design the right hosting practice, developing questions to lead you to the conversation you want to have, and using the information you harvest to plan next actions.
Resident: $297 Commuter: $257
27. Social Media for Local Associations (offered 8/6-8)
For: Local association social media editors
Learn how to create and optimize a social media presence for your local association. Once established, social media can support your ability to activate your membership, engage your community, and maximize your organizing efforts.
This workshop is for advanced social media users.
Enrollment limited to 18 participants (one per local). Computers will be provided.
Resident: $397 Commuter: $357
28. Digital Communication Tools with NJEASites (offered 8/6-8)
For: Association editors and webmasters with an NJEASites website in the newest Ocean theme
This session will cover how to customize your website and build pages using Page Builder with custom NJEA Modules. Other topics covered include creating posts, events, galleries and forms, sending email with Sendy Creator, text messaging tools, and other digital communications resources.
Enrollment limited to 18 participants (one per local). Computers will be provided.
Resident: $397
Commuter: $357
29. How to Be a Powerful Public Speaker (offered 8/6-8)
For: All members
Learn how to look and sound your best when presenting to a group. Participants review techniques for preparing and delivering a speech. Each participant will be videotaped for a self and group critique.
Enrollment limited to 18 participants (one per local).
Resident: $297
Commuter: $257
30. Moneywise Members (offered 8/8-10)
For: Member Benefits coordinators and all members
This training will encompass all programs and services offered through NJEA Member Benefits. Attendees will learn more about the full referral service of AID-NJEA and important financial matters including life insurance, income protection, supplemental retirement income, and member discounts on everyday items and services.
Resident: $297
Commuter: $257