Board Members Learn Best Practices at NJSBA's Leadership Conference

NJSBA Vice President for Finance Dr. Tom Connors with opening session speaker Dr. Julio Delgado, leadership executive manager with Apple Education.
Paul Vassek from Apple Education presented on the topic of building a staff wellness initiative that saves money.
John Comegno of the Comegno Law Group and Ray Pinney, NJSBA director of member training and engagement, presented on the topic of social media and the board member.
Dr. Julio Delgado, leadership executive manager with Apple Education, spoke at the opening session of the conference.
Liz Warner and Dr. Patricia Heindel of the School Climate and Culture Initiative spoke at the conference.
Mike Jacobs, member of the Ridgefield board and president of the Bergen County School Boards Association, with Susan Marinello, Montville district communications officer. Marinello presented a program on “Branding Your School District.”
Charlene Peterson, NJSBA field service representative, and Kathryn Whalen, NJSBA legal counsel, provided an update on recent School Ethics Commission advisory opinions.
Dr. Timothy Purnell, NJSBA executive director, presented on the NJSBA Firearm Safety Task Force's report, along with Ray Wiss, former NJSBA president; Irene LeFebvre, NJSBA immediate past president; and Vince DeLucia, NJSBA educator in residence.
Philip Stern, of the DiFrancesco, Bateman, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum law firm; Mary Ann Friedman, NJSBA field service representative; and Gwen Thornton, NJSBA senior manager of field services, spoke on how to handle various board of education scenarios.
Ray Wiss, NJSBA president emeritus, spoke about the work of the NJSBA Firearms Safety Task Force.

On Friday, June 16, the New Jersey School Boards Association held a Leadership Conference at St. Elizabeth University in Morristown. Approximately 85 members attended sessions that addressed how to handle different board scenarios, branding your school district, advocacy tips for boards, a review of recent advisory opinions, social media and social-emotional learning.

The opening session address, “The Board’s Role in Reimaging Education in New Jersey,” was delivered by Dr. Julio Delgado of Apple Education. Delgado, a longtime educator and administrator, served as superintendent in Southampton, New York, among other posts.

The group also heard a presentation from the NJSBA Task Force on Firearm Safety.