The 2026 NJEA Jack Bertolino Summer Leadership Conference will offer a broad menu of workshops that equip members to become stronger association advocates.

Session 1 – Aug. 1-3, 2026

Session 2 – Aug. 3-5, 2026

How do I register?

If you are an NJEA member, you are eligible and encouraged to attend the conference. To register, you should talk to your local and/or county association president.

Local and county association presidents will receive registration brochures with detailed information about the 2026 NJEA Jack Bertolino Summer Leadership Conference (SLC). You should consult the SLC brochure and/or contact your local president for details on lodging, daily schedules, accommodations for members with special needs and registration procedures. Each SLC session has its own registration link, so please be sure to select the correct link(s). If you plan to attend both Session I and Session II, you must register for each session separately by selecting the corresponding links.

If your association will be covering the cost of your participation at SLC, you should speak with your local and/or county association president before completing your online registration.

Most workshops offer 7.5 hours of training. Now That I’m President, What Do I Do? is an extended workshop providing additional training time for new presidents.

If you are an NJEA member, you are eligible and encouraged to attend. You will find topics among the workshop offerings that will prepare you for your current or future roles, sharpen your leadership skills and show you how your local can develop to its full-functioning capacity.

There are two three-day program options:

• Workshop I – Aug. 1-3 (Saturday to Monday)
• Workshop II – Aug. 3-5 (Monday to Wednesday)

Not all of the workshops are offered in each workshop period. The workshop descriptions indicate when each program is scheduled. To accommodate educational support  professional members (ESP) who may wish to limit use of vacation or personal time, Workshop #25 is scheduled from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon.

For all other workshops, registration opens on Day One at 1 p.m. The opening session begins at 3 p.m. The conference concludes on Day Three with a brunch served at 10:30 a.m. following the final workshop session.

This year’s summer leadership conference will take place at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. Since the conference is dedicated to developing association advocate representatives, no professional development credit is given for attendance in any workshop.

Special needs

If you have a special physical or communication need or disability that may require assistance or accommodations, or if you have any questions or concerns about housing arrangements, please contact NJEA at slc@njea.org or at 609-599-4594, ext. 2270 by June 1.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for first-time attendees. See your local president for more information or visit njea.org/slcapplication. The deadline to apply is May 3.

Pricing and payment

Conference costs for all attendees include workshop materials, self-parking, organized meals and coffee breaks, entertainment, taxes and service fees. Pricing for members staying overnight also includes hotel accommodations and taxes.

The pricing for all workshops, except Workshop #1 is as follows:

• Commuter – $275 per session
• Double Occupancy – $325 per session
• Single Occupancy – $450 per session

The Now That I’m President, What Do I Do?  workshop has an additional $150 fee because an extra overnight training session will be held in October.

Checks must be made payable to “NJEA/SLC” and returned with registration material to:

NJEA Summer Leadership Conference
c/o WSFS Bank
PO Box 13661
Philadelphia, PA 19101-3661

Please note that registrations and payments are first mailed to the bank where checks are deposited. Afterward, registration materials are forwarded to NJEA for processing. For this reason, deposited checks should not be viewed as confirmation that a registration has been accepted and processed. It is recommended that checks be mailed no later than three days after registering online and must include copies of the confirmation email or receipt. Checks mailed without an accompanying list of attendee names will result in delayed registration confirmations until the names are provided. All registrations are pending until the conference registrar has been notified that the check has cleared. If the conference reaches capacity, a refund will be issued.

Which workshop(s) should I take?

Whether you are currently serving in a leadership position or you aspire to become involved in some capacity within your local association, there are trainings that can help develop and hone your skills. To guide you, this page lists various association roles followed by workshops that may be beneficial for each position.

Being an officer is not the only position within your association, and there are opportunities to get involved in other ways. Additionally, we have included a track for those exploring future
leadership roles. Please note that not all advocacy workshops are offered at the 2026 SLC. Some may be available at other conferences throughout the year. These courses are listed in no particular order and are not mandatory to serve in any position.