NJPSA Executive Director Pat Wright has announced that the Board of Directors has extended her contract as executive director through June 30, 2021. She had previously announced her intention to retire during the 2020 year, but will now remain in her role to ensure that there is ample time for a smooth transition of leadership, given the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and transition to distance learning. She made her announcement in this letter to NJPSA members:
Dear NJPSA Members:
Once again, thank you for the incredible job you have been doing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Your dedication to the profession and your unwavering devotion to your students, staff, and community are an inspiration to us all. I am humbled by your diligence, tenacity, creativity, and success during this transformation to virtual learning.
This crisis has caused all of us to make changes and adjustments in our lives, and I have come to a new decision in my own life that I am pleased to share with all of you. As you will recall, I had announced my intention to step down from my role as Executive Director of NJPSA this year. A search committee composed of Board members, previous Board presidents, and NJPSA staff had begun the process of reviewing candidates to become the new Executive Director when the pandemic hit, schools were closed, and the new era of education began. After careful reflection and in order to ensure that there is ample time for a smooth leadership transition during this very difficult time, the NJPSA Board of Directors has extended my contract until June 30, 2021. The work of the search committee will resume in January, when the position will be re-advertised. Current candidates will be given an opportunity to supplement their applications, new candidates will be considered, interviews will be conducted, and a new Executive Director will be appointed.
Throughout this pandemic, we have made every effort to provide legal support and guidance, communications on the latest information from the NJDOE, government advocacy, webinars and roundtable discussions, retirement planning services, and newly developed online professional learning. I am so very proud of our NJPSA and FEA staff.
Please know that as NJPSA/FEA moved to a work-from-home environment, we had two main goals:
- To continue to support our members in every way possible
- To explore new opportunities for growth in our new reality so that our organization will learn, grow and be even stronger when the crisis passes
Thank you again for everything you are doing to lead our schools and meet the needs of all New Jersey students. I wish you good health and all the best for the remainder of this school year and the summer.