Spiller receives New Leader Council’s Education Award for commitment to equity and social justice

NJEA Vice President Sean M. Spiller was recognized on June 26, by the New Jersey Chapter of the New Leaders Council (NLC), for his ongoing commitment to fighting for social justice and equity. New Leaders Council-NJ Chapter is a non-profit organization made up of progressive leaders from across the state, and is an affiliate of the national organization.

One of the tenets of NLC is about how effective change requires proximate leaders.  According to the Stanford Social Innovation Review, “Leaders who arise from the communities and issues they serve have the experience, relationships, data, and knowledge that they are essential for developing solutions with measurable sustainable impact.”

Spiller’s recognition as a leader in education stems from the meaningful relationships he has made with communities he serves, legislators and policy makers, partners in labor and community organizations, and leading educational experts across the nation. These relationships are built on trust, experience, and the exchange of knowledge, as they work together toward creating sustainable solutions to the biggest issues impacting public education and the labor force. Due to Spiller’s approach, always rooted in justice and equity, he has accomplished many things for New Jersey’s students and schools, communities, and NJEA members.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized amongst such a dedicated and innovative network of change makers throughout our state and nation,” said Spiller. “This has been and will continue to be the greatest challenge of our time—eradicating systemic racism and other discriminatory practices. I am proud to be a part of this collective, as we forge a future for our communities and our country that is built upon our shared vision of justice and equality for all. And, I am humbled by their recognition of my work fighting for social justice and equity, and for helping to lead the 200,000 NJEA members making the change to build trust and organize around equality, equity, and respect.”

The NLC-NJ Chapter convenes groups of alumni regularly to discuss critical issues, engage in professional growth opportunities and relationship-building. Since this group keeps close to the pulse of the state, they often recognize leaders in the community who share the same goals of improving education and community successes through progressive actions and values. This year’s theme was CPR: Celebrating Progressive Resilience.

For over a decade, New Leaders Council has provided leadership development to an emerging generation of leaders. With over 9,000 deeply diverse alumni in 50 communities and states throughout the country, NLC intentionally recruits local leaders across identity, issue, and industry. To learn more about the New Leaders Council Fellowship Program, please click here.