Petal Robertson, a 20-year high school English teacher working in the Montclair School District since 2004, is vice president of the New Jersey Education Association. Robertson was elected in April 2025, taking office on Sept. 1, 2025.

During her four-year term as NJEA secretary-treasurer, Robertson’s focus has been building a more inclusive, member-driven organization. In her role, she was intentional about seeking member voices to consistently create spaces that are a direct representation of the membership.

Committed to social justice, Robertson works to ensure equity for all marginalized communities. She advocates for immigrant families, expands union access for members of color through NJEA’s Members of Color Network, and stands for LGBTQIA+ rights, affirming the freedom to love and to live one’s truth. Robertson fights to secure gender justice in pensions and health benefits. In 2021, she established an annual NJEA Celebration of Women to uplift women working in public education. In 2017, Robertson co-founded Restorative Justice Montclair, an initiative designed to replace outdated, unexamined traditional school disciplinary policies.

No stranger to organizing, Robertson played an instrumental role in the campaign to win Chapter 78 relief and ESP Job Justice as a member of the statewide steering committee, which navigated a two-year campaign that ended with a historic victory. Robertson aided Starbucks Workers United of Montclair and Somerset in establishing their unions. Through an initiative with Public Schools Strong she co-created Power Table, which brings together groups within the community to advocate for public school students. Robertson also partners with other community organizations including Indivisible and the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Delta Pi Chapter.

As an organizer and labor leader, Robertson’s work has received national recognition. In 2017, she was featured as a National Education Association member “Making a Difference.” NEA highlighted the role she had played as a leader of the Montclair Education Association. From 2018 to 2020, she worked with NEA to develop and implement the “Local Presidents Training.” As part of this work, she has trained local education association leaders around the country. In April of 2021, she authored “Draw the Line in Permanent Marker: Three Organizing Principles,” published that month by Labor Notes, a national publication dedicated to advancing the role of unions.

A dynamic leader, truth-teller, and public speaker, Robertson is often invited to deliver keynotes at conferences and events. She has spoken for numerous community organizations and institutions of higher learning, including the New Jersey Chinese Teachers Association’s Annual Conference, Seton Hall University, Montclair State University, Union County College and the National Conference of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc.

Dedicated to empowering others to lead, Robertson partnered with NEA to train other state leaders on the role of secretary-treasurer. Before becoming an NJEA officer, Robertson served as the president of the Montclair Education Association (2017-21) and a member of the NJEA Executive Committee (2020-21).

Robertson has earned numerous awards. She received the Lawrence High School Trailblazer Award, the Bugg Foundation Medgar Evers Leadership Award for Unwavering Service to Guide and Support the Special Needs Community at the Amistad Gala, the National Association of University Women presented her with the Wilma Ruth Bell Glass Ceiling Award, and the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Delta Pi Chapter presented her with the Citation Award for Outstanding Leadership and Achievement in Education.

A graduate of Seton Hall University, Robertson holds a bachelor’s degree in English and communications and a master’s degree in secondary education.

Her parents immigrated to the U.S. from Guyana, and the experience of growing up as the youngest child of first-generation Americans has shaped Robertson into the passionate leader she is today. In her spare time, Robertson works with community organizations and businesses to undo the personal, political and policy-based damage caused by institutional racism. Robertson lives in Old Bridge, New Jersey.