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Press Releases

Keep up with the latest announcements from NJSBA.

NJSBA Issues Statement on Death of Former Gov. James. J. Florio

September 26, 2022

TRENTON, Sept. 26, 2022 - Dr. Timothy Purnell, executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association, issued a statement following the death of former…

NJSBA Opposes SEHBP Premium Hikes

September 20, 2022

TRENTON, Sept. 19, 2022 –The New Jersey School Boards Association is expressing its disappointment concerning the approval today of double-digit premium increases in the School…

NJSBA Raises Concerns about Potential Increases in School Employees’ Health Program Rates

July 23, 2022

The New Jersey School Boards Association is expressing its concern about potential increases in 2023 premiums for the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program.

New Jersey Prioritizes Implementation of K-12 Climate Change Education Standards

June 27, 2022

On June 22, the New Jersey Climate Change Education Hub, an online portal, was launched to connect K-12 educators to the resources they need to…

NJSBA Extends Condolences Following School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas

May 26, 2022

New Jersey School Boards Association President Irene LeFebvre and Executive Director Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod issued the following joint statement in response to the school…

Dr. Timothy Purnell to be NJSBA’s Next Executive Director

May 26, 2022

Dr. Timothy J. Purnell, a former New Jersey Superintendent of the Year and the interim executive county superintendent of Morris County, has been named as…

Voters to Decide School Construction Proposals

March 08, 2022

Trenton, March 7, 2022 - Voters will head to the polls for a special election tomorrow, March 8, to decide various school construction proposals –…

Report To Help School Districts Navigate N.J.’s Climate Change Education Standards

February 28, 2022

February 28, 2022—The New Jersey School Boards Association and Sustainable Jersey today released a comprehensive report with dozens of recommendations on how New Jersey schools…

NJSBA and NJASA Announce Online University Hub Partnership

November 16, 2021

Trenton, Nov. 16, 2021 -- The New Jersey School Boards Association has forged a partnership with the New Jersey Association of School Administrators in its…

NJSBA Honors Chester Trustee as Board Member of the Year

October 22, 2021

Trenton, Oct. 22, 2021 - Kerri Wright, a longtime member of the Chester Board of Education and a lawyer who specializes in education law and…

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About Press Releases

New Jersey School Boards Association Names

Dr. Timothy J. Purnell as Incoming Executive Director

TRENTON, May 19, 2022 — Dr. Timothy J. Purnell, a former New Jersey Superintendent of the Year and the interim executive county superintendent of Morris County, has been named as the next executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association following a nationwide search. The organization’s board of directors approved the appointment unanimously May 13.  Purnell will succeed Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod in July, who announced in January that he would retire as executive director after almost 10 years at the helm of the Association. “The NJSBA Executive Director Search Committee received scores of applications from throughout the country,” said NJSBA President Irene LeFebvre. “We were impressed with Dr. Purnell’s creativity, business acumen and commitment to the children of New Jersey. We’re confident that his enthusiasm, educational expertise and business experience will be an asset to local boards of education and serve the Association well.” Purnell thanked the board of directors for appointing him to serve in such an important role. “I have long admired the work of NJSBA,” he said. “As a superintendent, I had the experience of working with the Association at various times and I understand the role that local boards of education play in advancing student achievement. I’m excited to take on this role, which will allow me to make a contribution to public education in New Jersey.” Purnell’s commitment to New Jersey students and educators runs deep. Since April 2021, he has served the New Jersey Department of Education as interim executive county superintendent of Morris County, providing general support and oversight between local school districts and Trenton. He was superintendent of Somerville Public Schools in Somerset County from 2011 to 2017. During his time in Somerville, he served as the legal chair of the New Jersey State Board of Examiners and president of the Somerset County Superintendents’ Roundtable. Prior to that, Purnell was superintendent of Harding Township schools in Morris County. He started his career as a science teacher in the Montclair Public Schools in Essex County before rising up the ranks in school administration. In 2015, Purnell was named the New Jersey Superintendent of the Year by the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, and in 2016, was awarded National Superintendent of the Year by the National Association of School Superintendents. He is the co-founder and CEO of “It’s Anonymous,” a startup that serves as an anonymous crowdsourcing platform for companies, businesses and communities to unleash their hidden potential. He earned a doctorate in educational administration from Seton Hall University, a master’s degree in administration and supervision from Montclair State University and a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences from the University of Delaware. He graduated from Montville Township High Schools and is a member of the MTHS Hall of Fame.

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The New Jersey School Boards Association is a federation of the state’s local boards of education and includes the majority of New Jersey’s charter schools as associate members. NJSBA provides training, advocacy and support to advance public education and promote the achievement of all students through effective governance.  

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The New Jersey School Boards Association, a federation of boards of education, provides training, advocacy and support to advance public education and promote the achievement of all students through effective governance.

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