Page 29 - 40thAnniversaryNJPSA

What are your favorite memories What makes you most proud of

of leading NJPSA? this organization?

I have so many wonderful memories; it is difficult to I am most proud when a member says we made a difference
choose one. My memories center around the life-long in their professional life.
relationships that I have established with staff, with members,
and with the larger educational community. Each person What do you want to say about
that I have had the pleasure to work with has touched my
life in some way. Trips with senior staff and Board members the members?
to Washington or to national conferences were joy-filled
opportunities. The members ARE the association. They are the reason
we exist. Their leadership has a huge impact on the staff
I also cherish the times I would meet members at meetings and students with whom they interact on a daily basis.
or while I was presenting a professional learning session. They are strong, resilient, innovative, and motivated by a
I loved talking to them and encouraging them to become strong desire that every student succeeds. The Association
more involved in the association. After all, that is how I became needs their leadership. The Association needs them to be
involved beyond just joining. As a principal, a colleague invited actively engaged with us as we strive to support their work.
me to join the Elementary Education Committee, and I was NJPSA has the ability to influence decisions that can impact
hooked. I realized that I could do more for our profession and all school leaders, but it can only do so if the leaders lend
by doing so, I became a stronger leader. And so when one of their voices, their support, their time, and their talent to the
those members I encouraged to get more involved joined a collective work of the Association. The members themselves
committee or became a Council member, I knew they would have always been and will continue to be what makes NJPSA
reach out to others and the cycle of strong leadership would great.
continue to grow our association.

PAT WRIGHT

Executive Director 2012 - 2021