New Jersey Education Association

NJEA Higher Ed Conference and Summit
2026-03-27 - 2026-03-29
Higher Education Conference – March 27-28, 2026
The conference begins with registration at 2 p.m. on Friday followed by workshops, dinner and keynote address. On Saturday, the conference continues with more workshops and concludes with lunch.
Agenda
Friday, March 27
2:30-5 p.m. | Hotel and NJEA Check-In
4-6 p.m. | Workshops – Session I (participants choose one)

Courageous Conversations
Your Voice is Your Power

6-6:45 p.m. | Reception
7 p.m. | Welcome, Keynote Speaker, Dinner
8 p.m. | Networking Events
Saturday, March 28
7:30-8:45 a.m. | Breakfast
9-11 a.m. | Workshops – Session II (participants choose one)

Interpreting Community College Financial Condition: Comparative Financial Audit Analysis
Member Engagement
Vision and Goals

11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. | Workshops – Session III (participants choose one)

Leaves of Absence
Replaced by a Bot: The Future is Now
Who We Are and What We Bring

1:30-2:15 p.m. | Lunch
Higher Education Collective Bargaining Summit – March 28-29, 2026
The Summit will immediately follow the conference beginning with registration at 3 p.m. on Saturday followed by workshops and dinner. The summit will continue Sunday and conclude with lunch.
The summit is an interactive program that will address current issues facing negotiations teams. Strategies and techniques for strengthening your local to improve bargaining position will be explored.
Agenda
Saturday, March 28
4-4:15 p.m. | Check-In
4:15-6:45 p.m. | Summit
7-8 p.m. | Dinner
Sunday, March 29, 2026
7:30-8:45 a.m. | Breakfast
9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Summit
12:30-1:30 p.m. | Lunch
The costs to attend are:

Conference & Summit – Single: $465; Double: $325; Commuter: $180
Conference Only – Single: $325; Double: $255; Commuter: $180
Summit Only – Single: $145; Double: $75; Commuter: $0

Register

Members must register themselves for the conference – there is no group registration using the online platform. Payment will be required by credit card only. When registering, members will need to know their NJEA PIN.
Registration must be completed by March 12, 2026. Registration link coming soon.
For questions, and if you need help with your NJEA PIN, contact the Region 29-Higher Education office at HigherEd@NJEA.org or 609-689-9580.

NJEA Equity Alliance Conference
2026-04-18 08:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Heldrich Hotel, 10 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, 08901, United States
The conference combines reflection, learning, and strategic planning to help members advance equity within their school communities.
Following opening remarks, spoken word, and grounding acknowledgments, participants will join two workshop sessions that address key equity issues. Equity Alliance Chairs will then guide discussions that help members identify challenges, explore possible approaches, and create practical steps for moving forward.
The conference is designed to ensure that participants leave feeling supported, motivated, and prepared to take meaningful action in support of equity in their local contexts.
Conference Agenda

8:30-9:30 a.m. | Registration/Continental Breakfast
9:30 a.m. | General Session begins

Land/labor Acknowledgement
Immigration Acknowledgement
Welcome – Steve Beatty
Spoken word

10:15 – 11:15 a.m. | Workshop Section 1 (Break outs, Choose Your Own Adventure)
11:40 a.m. – 12:40  p.m.| Workshop Section 2 (Break outs, Choose Your Own Adventure)
12:45pm | Lunch, Hotel restaurant
Mid Conference Remarks – Tina Dare
2:10 p.m. | Open Conversation About Equity
2:40 p.m. | Equity Alliance Chair Facilitated Brainstorming and Action Planning (break outs)
Closing Remarks – Petal Robertson
4 p.m. |  Close of Conference

Registration
Individuals may register online using the button above. For county and local associations registering multiple members, please download the form below and mail it to the address on the form with your check. Registration deadline: April 5, 2026.

Equity Alliance Conference County/Local Sponsorship Registration Form

Download File

NJEA PDII Transform/Aspiring Educators (NJAEA) Conference
2026-04-25 08:00 - 17:00 | Princeton Marriott at Forrestal, 100 College Rd E, Princeton, NJ, 08540, United States
REMIX YOUR LEARNING IN 2026
ARRIVE EARLY on conference day to be among the first 25 participants to attend a private Meet and Greet with Jason Reynolds! Doors open at 7:30 a.m.
TRANSFORM is the premier event for educators who are passionate about creating inclusive and innovative learning environments. Discover professional learning opportunities that empower educators and strengthen public schools. NJEA TRANSFORM offers a full day of programs for educators in instructional practice, special education, hope and healing, technology, and teacher leadership. This conference is being held in partnership with the New Jersey Aspiring Educators Association (NJAEA).
Conference Schedule
7:30 – 9 a.m. | Registration, Breakfast, Wellness Activities, and Exhibits
9 – 10:15 a.m. | Welcome and Keynote Presentation
10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Breakout Sessions: Choose one of seven
12:15 – 1:15 p.m. | Lunch, Member Benefits Fair, and Wellness Activities
1:15 – 3:15 p.m. | Breakout Sessions: Choose one of seven
3:15 – 4 p.m. | Wellness Activities, Prize Giveaway, and Networking Event
Keynote Speaker

Jason Reynolds is a New York Times No. 1 bestselling author of many books, including the “Remix” of Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, written in collaboration with author and historian Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. This gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative illuminates the many insidious forms of racist ideas and gives readers the tools to identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their own lives. Based on Kendi’s National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning, Reynolds has re-imagined this ground-breaking work for young adults and provides an accessible book that helps young readers understand race and society. Reynolds has won numerous awards, such as the Newbery Honor and the NAACP Image Award, and is the subject of the recent documentary, Dear Dreamer, about the power of seeing yourself in books.
Morning Breakout Sessions (choose one):

AI-Supported Access: Elevating Multilingual Learner Voice and Engagement: Lisa Chiavuzzo (NJEA Teacher Leader Academy)
Balancing the Wheel: Creating Your Personalized Wellness Plan: Stefanie Lachenauer (Former NJ State Teacher of the Year)
Beyond Representation: Sustainability and True Inclusion within the Teaching Profession: Dr. DaQuan K. Bashir and Thuraya Zeidan (NJEA Human & Civil Rights, Equity and Governance; NJEA Justice & Equity Fellowship)
Equity Centered Project-Based Learning and AI Tools for Educators: Theresa Maughan (Former NJ State Teacher of the Year)
Remixing the Region: New Approaches to 6-12 U.S. Curriculum on Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA): Roula Ramadan, Gaby Guzman (NJEA Consortium Design Team Ambassador)
Smart Media; Curriculum-Aligned, Inclusive Instruction: Erica Romitelli, Adrianna Perry (NJEA A.C.C.E.S.S. Model)
The Power of a Piece of Paper: One Paper Projects to Spark Creativity and Conversation: Nicole Backlund (NJEA Teacher Leader Academy)

Afternoon Breakout Sessions (choose one):

Remixing Learning with AI: Brian Janik, Mike Mason (NJEA PDII Consultants)
BraverSchools: Breaking Binaries and Bias to Support LGBTQ Youth: Jennifer Braverman (Former Burlington County Teacher of the Year)
Chinatown & MOCA: Living Classroom Remix: Inclusive Curriculum, Community Engagement, and Culturally Rich Learning: Shihong Zhang (NJEA Consortium Design Team Ambassador)
MOVE: Movement Overcomes Virtually Everything: Nancy Ynchaustegui (NJEA Member)
The 14-Year PD: How Parenting My Disabled Child Has Made Me a Better Special Educator: Erin Putman (NJEA Consortium Design Team Ambassador)
The Power of Play: Remixing Learning Through Inclusive, Healing-Centered, Joyful Classrooms: Josephine Hunt, Charlene Gerbig (NJEA Teacher Leader Academy)
The Science of Reading: What Every New Jersey Educator Should Know: Shaina Brenner, Stacey Brown-Downham (Former Camden County Teacher of the Year)

Free books for participants courtesy of BookSmiles
NJEA & BookSmiles: Banned on the Run: BookSmiles will distribute thousands of free books at the conference, including many titles found on banned books lists. Every attendee can leave the conference with multiple books for their classroom libraries.
Wellness Activities with Carrie Sarlo-Randazzo, Holistic Movement
7:45 – 8:15 a.m. | Chair Yoga
8:15 – 8:45 a.m. | Destress at your Desk
Wellness Activities with Jody Koveloski Thorpe, Mystical Blossoms
12:45 – 1:15 p.m. | Guided Meditation
3:15 – 3:45 p.m. | Sound Healing
Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Only registered participants may attend. No on-site registration. Registration deadline: April 17, 2026
Purchase order registrations are not available online and must be placed with the conference registrar, Krista Orellana, at korellana@njea.org.
Questions? Email pdevents@njea.org
If you have a special physical, communication, dietary, or other related need which may require assistance or accommodations to permit or facilitate your attendance/participation in the conference please contact Krista Orellana, at korellana@njea.org.
COST
$95 for NJEA members, $170 for nonmembers.
Refund deadline: April 17, 2026.
Registration fee includes program, breakfast and lunch.
The conference provides five hours of professional learning credit.
REGISTRATION
Preregistration is required. Register above.

NJEA MOC Experience Spring Empowerment Conference
2026-05-30 | Conference Center at Mercer, 1200 Old Trenton Road, Princeton Junction, NJ, 08550, United States

Carol Watchler LGBTQIA+ Advocacy Conference
2026-06-06 08:30 - 16:30 | NJEA Headquarters, 180 W. State Street, Trenton, New Jersey, 08608, United States
Kick off Pride Month at the 4th Annual Carol Watchler LGBTQIA+ Advocacy Conference on June 6, 2026, at NJEA. Centered on the theme “Past, Present, and Future,” this event features a historical gallery, a diverse lineup of workshops, and a keynote by Melanie Willingham-Jaggers.
Attendees will be provided with the tools needed to create, support, and defend inclusive curriculum, while creating a space for LGBTQIA+ advocates and their allies to interact and share their successes with members interested in learning more.
We especially encourage queer NJEA members who are struggling to be their authentic selves to attend and learn from some of New Jersey’s most accomplished social justice advocates.

Keynote speaker: Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Executive Director of GLSEN, now Glisten (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network)
Workshops

Know your Rights Under the NJ LAD and FLA
SOGI/MOC: Your Story
Being an LGBTQIA+ Ally: Learning and Growing
The Queer Union-Talking Shop
Using PEP to Organize Around LGBTQIA+ Issues
Navigating Tomorrow: A Trans Youth Perspective
Advocacy & Action: How to Make a Difference in the Challenging Public School Space
History in the Making
Beyond Inclusion: Creating Brave Spaces for Queer Youth
Intersex 101

Register by June 1.
Join us for a powerful day of celebration, advocacy and inspiration.

NJEA PDII Impact Conference
2026-07-15 07:30 - 16:00 | Princeton Marriott at Forrestal, 100 College Rd E, Princeton, NJ, 08540, United States
For many educators, summer provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on the school year and invites them to reimagine what next year might bring. NJEA’s IMPACT Conference will provide an opportunity for educators to engage with various topics and themes in ways that spark joy and creativity. Following a keynote address from Prof. Temple Grandin, world-renowned neurodiversity pioneer, select from a variety of breakout sessions on topics such as technology, arts integration, diversity, teacher leadership, healing-centered practices, and more, designed to renew your passion for education. Plus, enjoy book giveaways and prizes throughout the day.
ARRIVE EARLY on conference day to be among the first 25 participants to attend a private book signing with Temple Grandin! Doors open at 7:30 a.m.
Conference Schedule
7:30 – 9 a.m. | Registration, Breakfast, Exhibits
7:45 – 8:45 a.m. | Wellness Activities
9 – 10:15 a.m. | Keynote
10:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. | Morning Breakout
12:20 – 1:50 p.m. | Lunch, Wellness, Exhibits
1:50 – 3:50 p.m. | Afternoon Breakout
3:50 – 4 p.m. | Prize Giveaway
Keynote: Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University. When she was two and a half years old, she had no speech and all the symptoms of severe autism. Early intensive speech therapy enabled her to speak by age four. Her mother always encouraged her interest in art and urged her to draw many diﬀerent things. Good teachers and mentors were essential for Temple’s success. Her high school science teacher challenged her with interesting projects where she had to ﬁgure out how to make things work. When studying in school became a pathway to becoming a scientist, she was motivated to study.
An HBO movie titled Temple Grandin was made about her life, and Temple was inducted into The National Women’s Hall of Fame and The Academy of Arts and Sciences. Facilities she has designed handle over half the cattle in the U.S. Some of her most important books are New York Times Bestseller “Animals in Translation,” “Thinking in Pictures,” “The Autistic Brain,” and “The Way I See It.” Riding horses and caring for them helped her get through diﬃcult teenage years when she was bullied and teased.
Free books for participants courtesy of BookSmiles

NJEA & BookSmiles: Banned on the Run
BookSmiles will distribute thousands of free books at the conference, including many titles found on banned books lists. Every attendee can leave the conference with multiple books for their classroom libraries.
COST: $95 for NJEA members
Refund deadline: July 8, 2026
Registration fee includes program, breakfast and lunch.
The conference provides up to five hours of professional learning credit.
Register
Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Only registered participants may attend. No on-site registration. Registration deadline: July 8, 2026.
Purchase order registrations are not available online and must be placed with the conference registrar, Krista Orellana, at korellana@njea.org. Questions? Email pdevents@njea.org
If you have a special physical, communication, dietary, or other related need which may require assistance or accommodations to permit or facilitate your attendance/participation in the conference please contact Krista Orellana, at korellana@njea.org.

NJEA IMPACT Conference Flyer

Download File

NJEA R.I.S.E. Conference
2026-07-22

NJEA Jack Bertolino Summer Leadership Conference
2026-08-01 - 2026-08-05 | Harrah’s Atlantic City, 777 Harrah’s Boulevard, Atlantic City, 08401, United States
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.
