Page 5 - 40thAnniversaryNJPSA

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NJPSA

1981

After deliberating for nearly a year, the constitution committee that had been formed to create the New Jersey Principals and
Supervisors Association completed its work. The constitution required a rotation of officers to ensure equal representation of
administrators at both the elementary and secondary levels. Its first president was Ron Watson, then the principal of West
Windsor-Plainsboro High School.

During those early years, Henry Miller and a rotating set of staff members crisscrossed the state meeting with members and local
associations to listen to their needs and to urge them to join the new NJPSA. As membership grew, the need for services did too.
Legal services were expanded. A communications department was created to help the NJPSA get its message out to members
and to stakeholders. A government relations department was added to advocate on behalf of the interests of school leaders on
issues from preserving tenure for school building and non-confidential administrators, to advocating for greater funding for New
Jersey’s public schools, protecting members’ pension rights, and advocating for workable core curriculum standards. And in
1985 the NJPSA created the FEA – the Foundation for Educational Administration – as the vehicle through which professional
development would be provided for New Jersey’s school leaders.

In 1991, Henry Miller retired. In the 10 years since he had become Executive Director of the NJPSA, he helped to build the
organization from the ground up. Under his leadership and the leadership of the boards of directors during this time, membership
grew dramatically, as did the influence and reach of the NJPSA.

HENRY MILLER

Executive Director 1981 - 1991