NJASA

 

920 West State Street • Trenton, New Jersey 08618-5328

609.599.2900 / Fax: 609.599.9359 website: https://www.njasa.net

 NJASA Director of Governmental Relations is available to discuss education-related issues.

agallagher@njasa.net     

Trenton, New Jersey, January 15, 2014...The New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA), headquartered in Trenton, has named Melanie Schulz, the Executive Director of the Joint Committee on the Public Schools, to be its new Director of Governmental Relations effective January 2, 2014. Schulz, a proven leader and effective spokesperson has been involved in New Jersey State Government for over 30 years. 

Well respected in the state and national educational communities, Schulz served as the Executive Director of the Joint Committee on the Public Schools for the past 22 years. During her tenure, she was the liaison between a host of different organizational units, groups, agencies and the Executive Branch of the New Jersey Legislature. 

NJASA represents school chief education officers and other central office and administrative personnel statewide.

“The NJASA Director of Governmental Relations position is an irresistible challenge and opportunity to influence public education at the state level during a very critical period,” said Schulz.

NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza said, “Schulz’s knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm will be an asset to NJASA and its membership. NJASA is pleased to have someone of Melanie Schulz’s stature join the Association staff.”

The newly appointed Director of Governmental Relations has been involved with many ground- breaking legislative movements in the field of education. Beginning in the early 1990’s, she was on the ground floor of the State Takeover of Schools Legislation. In her role as Executive Director, she was involved in the establishment of the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC) in 2007.

When New Jersey made the momentous decision to enact the Charter School Act in 1995-1996, Schulz was involved in every single aspect of that Act, as well as, everything that lead up to the Act.   

She collaborated on both the pilot program, as well as, the permanent program of the Interdistrict Public School Choice Legislation.

The School Construction Act, Early Childhood Education Act and the Articulation and Transfer of Credits Act were all areas that Schulz had a large hand in making a reality.

Currently, she serves on the statewide advisory board of the NJ School Aged Care Coalition, (NJSACC), the NJ Career & Technical Advisory Council (NJ CTE), the REL Midlantic’s Governing Board, and was a non-voting member representing the Joint Committee on the Public Schools for the NJ Schools Development Authority (SDA).

Previously, she was a member of the Quality New Jersey’s Board and received a Certificate in Quality Management Practices from them. Schulz was actively involved with the State Action for Education Leadership Project (SAELP) and currently serves on the NJ State Chamber of Commerce Business Coalition for Educational Excellence Board. 

During her career with the Joint Committee on Public Schools, Schulz has received numerous awards. The Center for Strategic Urban Community Leadership awarded her with the Outstanding Performance in Advocacy and Policy for Children in New Jersey Award. The State of New Jersey Department of Education honored her in 2005 with its Service Award. Last year, she was honored in Washington D.C. by The Center for Education Reform as one of the Top 52 Education Reformers in the United States.

Prior to assuming her position as Executive Director of the Joint Committee on the Public Schools, she was the Senior Legislative Aide to former Assemblyman Gerard Naples. During that period, she assisted in crafting new laws for Special Education and the school funding formula known as the Quality Education Act. (QEA)

Ms. Schulz is a life-long resident of Hamilton Twp. (Mercer County). She is the mother of 3 married children and the grandmother of 5.

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About NJASA

The New Jersey Association of School Administrators is an organization of chief education officers and school administrators who lead school districts in New Jersey’s 21 counties. The Association’s mission is to ensure a superior statewide system of education. Through ongoing professional training and education, the Association shares knowledge among its members about best practices from both educational and administrative perspectives. Its goal is to move education forward by ensuring the highest quality of instruction for all New Jersey children.

Education Brief Videos Explain Budget Considerations

What schools can offer to students is directly affected by budget. Due to the complexity of the school budget cuts and the effects that will be felt in schools across the state, the NJASA has released a series of videos to help parents and taxpayers better understand the issues, and the potential aftermath of the events and changes. Each video can be accessed on a special NJASA YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/TheNJASA or by clicking on the YouTube icon on the NJASA website, www.njasa.net.