Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie has told the 200,000-member New Jersey Education Association that he is not interested in seeking its endorsement.
In a letter to NJEA President Joyce Powell, Christie refused an invitation to participate in NJEA’s gubernatorial candidate endorsement screening process this weekend. Powell expressed her disappointment in Christie’s unwillingness to participate in a constructive dialogue about educational issues in New Jersey.
In a statement, Powell said: “It is unfortunate that Mr. Christie is unwilling to take the time to have an honest discussion about educational issues with the organization that represents the overwhelming majority of the state’s educators. It is also unfortunate that the Republican standard-bearer has chosen to break his party’s long-standing tradition of candid discussion and direct communication with NJEA.”

NJEA represents more than 200,000 teachers, education support professionals, higher education staff, and retired educators in New Jersey.

New accountability regulations threaten school staff and programs
Local leaders need to be aware of new regulations instituted by the N.J. Department of Education (NJDOE) this summer. The regulations guide actions of the new executive county superintendents and restrict budgetary flexibility at the local school district level starting in 2009-10. This advisory summarizes information on the fiscal accountability regulations which have been issued to date, what NJEA

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Watch Classroom Close-up, NJ at a new time Classroom Close-up, NJ, NJEA’s award-winning show featuring members and students, airs on NJN Public Television every Monday at 7 p.m. and every Saturday at 9 a.m. Watch the current episode online.

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Attend Fall Focus for Leadership meetings

NJEA annually holds Fall Focus for Leadership meetings in each county for local and county leaders. NJEA officers provide insight into important educational and association issues. Each local association president should attend with members of his or her leadership team.
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Join the Committee of 1000
NJEA takes pride in its ability to organize its members to participate in grassroots politics. The Legislature makes decisions that affect our schools, our students, our communities, and our profession. Committee of 1000 members will contact only NJEA members by making phone calls, distributing campaign literature, organizing other NJEA members, and simply helping NJEA members get out the vote. You and your members can volunteer at njea.org.

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Elect pro-public education candidates NJEA’s 125-member political action committee voted to endorse Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) in his bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate. In addition, NJEA has endorsed ten candidates for Congressional seats. They include two Republicans and eight Democrats.