Wendell Steinhauer, a high school mathematics teacher in Riverside public schools, is the NJEA Vice President. Steinhauer previously served as NJEA secretary-treasurer. He was elected to a two-year term effective Sept. 1, 2009, and is eligible to serve a second term in 2011-13.
Active in NJEA since early in his career, Steinhauer has served as the President (1999-2005), Vice President (1987-1993, 1996-1999), and negotiations chair (1983-2005) of the Riverside
Education Association. Steinhauer unified four separate locals under the umbrella of the REA giving them all greater bargaining power.
At NJEA, Steinhauer is chair of the Property and Personnel Committee and the Affiliated Groups Council, serves on the Staff Pension Fund, and is the liaison to Student NJEA (SNJEA). He is the host of "Classroom Close-up, NJ," NJEA's Emmy Award-winning weekly TV show airing on NJTV, featuring stories on innovative public school programs and current issues facing New Jersey educators. Steinhauer currently serves as a Commissioner of the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program.
Steinhauer also has served as President of the Burlington County
Education Association (1999-2005), South Jersey Caucus Chairman (2004-2005), and County President’s Council Vice President (2002-2005). Steinhauer worked hard to help revitalize the County President’s Council by bringing together the 21 other county education associations. The strengthened organization has been successful in resolving problems more quickly.
Additionally, Steinhauer has served on the Delegate Assembly (6 years), Executive Committee (3 years), and chaired the NJEA Professional Rights and Responsibilities Committee (2003-2005). Other committee assignments include Congressional Contact Committee, PAC Operating Committee, Gubernatorial Screening Committee, NEA Issues Committee, Hipp Grant Selection Committee, Expanded Scope of Advocacy Task Force, Membership Committee, and Hipp Grant Committee. He also has served on the Governor’s Panel for Excellent Schools.
Steinhauer served as one of NJEA’s elected members of the NEA Board of Directors. He is the first NJEA officer to concurrently hold the position of NEA Director. As NEA Director, he worked to build relationships and coalitions with other state leaders to accomplish common goals. He also has successfully organized a more effective lobbying system for New Jersey’s 15 representatives in Washington, DC.
A graduate of Clarion State College in Pennsylvania, Steinhauer holds a Bachelor of Science degree. He and his wife Mary, an elementary school teacher in Riverside, have three children, Lisa, 25; Adam, 23; and Beth, 15. Steinhauer has taught and coached in Riverside for 27 years.