Workshop 2022: Facing the Future Together

The countdown to Workshop 2022 is on. After two tumultuous years that have tested all of us personally and professionally, the New Jersey School Boards Association is thrilled to be back in-person for Workshop 2022 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. 

Without question, it has been a challenging two years. We are so thankful to those who have stuck by us and attended the last two virtual Workshops. As the pandemic eases its grip, NJSBA is steadfast and laser-focused on its mission to operate as the premiere training organization, advocacy center and provider of resources for board members. We are so excited to see everyone in person and feel the energy of the bustling convention floor.

NJSBA’s annual flagship conference, Workshop, will offer more than 250 training opportunities starting Monday, Oct. 24 going through Wednesday, Oct. 26. Jointly sponsored by NJSBA, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators and the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials, Workshop is an ideal opportunity for board members and other school leaders to refresh their knowledge about vital topics in education and to learn valuable strategies for improving the quality and efficiency of their local district.

The conference will offer an abundance of information on best practices, free programming and resources and successful public/private collaborations. Workshop group registration covers 25 team members, which may include the school board, business administrator, superintendent, facilities managers, curriculum professionals, IT staff and other district professionals. So, whatever your interest — technology, cost savings, shared services, sustainability, alternative revenue opportunities, teacher evaluations, student achievement or something else — you’re sure to find it at Workshop 2022.

The Exhibit Floor will be open Tuesday, Oct. 25 and Wednesday, Oct. 26. Read on for some highlights of Workshop 2022.

Workshop 2022 Keynote Speakers

Student Representative, Lauren Knopp Since 1976, the New Jersey Association of Student Councils has elected the student representative to the New Jersey State Board of Education. The term of office for the student representative, as defined by the State Board of Education, is from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. Therefore, when NJASC elects its state officers in January, the incoming student representative works with the current student representative (from the prior NJASC board) until formally being inducted onto the State Board of Education in July.

Each month, the student representative reports to the State Board of Education on a topic of interest to students and also offers feedback to other State Board members on a variety of issues that affect students throughout the Garden State. The student representative to the New Jersey State Board of Education for the 2022-2023 year is Lauren Knopp of Ocean City High School. 

NJSBA is pleased to welcome Lauren Knopp, who will provide a student’s perspective, to Workshop. 

New Jersey Acting Commissioner of Education Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan On Oct. 20, 2020, Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan was nominated by Gov. Phil Murphy to serve as acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education. A Cedar Grove resident, she began her career in education as a substitute teacher in Essex County and taught in the East Orange Public Schools before she launched the Marion P. Thomas Charter School in Newark. She served as an assistant principal and principal in the South Orange-Maplewood School District, and as an assistant superintendent in both Irvington Public Schools and Newark Public Schools. Most recently, Allen-McMillan served the New Jersey Department of Education as the interim executive county superintendent for Morris County. A former student of New Jersey public schools, she is a passionate educator and an inspirational public speaker.

Allen-McMillan will be discussing timely issues in education. 

Training at Workshop 

The main focus of Workshop will always be the training. There are several program formats that appeal to different learning styles. Whether you enjoy listening to expert speakers in a large group setting, want short informational sessions that focus on specific topics, or prefer being part of a small group participating in hands-on activities, Workshop 2022 has every option for you to learn at your pace.

Action Labs Action Labs are structured to not only teach attendees best practices, but also to provide the opportunity to put those theories into practice. These 90-minute sessions will be offered to provide attendees with in-depth learning and engaging activities. They are held in the convention center’s small group rooms, and attendance is limited to 48 participants to allow for an interactive, hands-on session. Seating is available 30 minutes before the session starts, on a first-come basis. Board members can earn one NJSBA Board Member Academy credit for each Action Lab they attend.

This year’s Action Labs address a wide range of topics, including leadership, board governance, school finance, superintendent search and labor relations, health and wellness, strategic planning, the chief school administrator evaluation process, teamwork and student achievement.

Collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Education Workshop will feature a training collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Education. NJDOE staff members will be presenting programs on several topics that are especially timely and useful to school leaders. Topics include focusing support on the cycle of teaching and learning, using data to increase student learning and school security and safety.

Group Sessions Group Sessions are 60 minutes in length, take place in a lecture hall setting and often feature a panel of experts or multiple presenters. Among this year’s Group Sessions are programs within the following tracks: technology, student achievement/learning, finance, alternative funding, governmental relations, curriculum, legal, policy, shared services, school safety, leadership, board governance, anti-bullying and professional development.

Learning Labs Special sessions will be offered at various Learning Labs throughout the Exhibit Floor. Learning Labs introduce a topic of study and offer participants the chance to decide if they want to dive deeper into training. These sessions are 30 minutes long, content-focused and not as formal as the Group Sessions or Special Sessions. The Learning Lab setting will offer a wide variety of topics and give participants the opportunity to learn and ask questions in a casual setting.

Mandated Training Workshop 2022 will once again offer the opportunity for school board members and charter school trustees in their first, second and third years of office, as well as members in the first year of a reappointed/re-elected term, to fulfill their state-mandated training requirements. These in-person sessions will provide the type of interactive training that adds richness to the board member-trainer conversation. Visit workshop.www.njsba.org to see when the Governance I, II, III and IV programs will be offered. Board members who attend mandated training at Workshop must be registered. Board members are also welcome to take their 2023 mandated training at Workshop, in advance of the 2023 calendar year.

Professional Development Credit Workshop 2022 will offer board members the opportunity to earn NJSBA Academy credits toward board member certifications. In addition, NJSBA has been authorized to issue Qualified Purchasing Agent credits for school business administrators and professional development credits for certified educational facilities managers. Check the Workshop mobile app for a listing of specific programs that satisfy certification requirements.

Programming that meets the qualifications for these credits and certifications will be noted in the Workshop 2022 app.

Exhibit Floor Features 

Exhibit Hall The Exhibit Hall at the convention center will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday. With more than 300 exhibitors, the hall provides an easy forum for learning about the latest in educational products and services.
NJSBA Services Area: One-Stop Shop for Savings How much can your district save by using NJSBA services? Stop by the NJSBA Services area to talk with an NJSBA staff member on how your district can save thousands of dollars a year with the help of NJSBA. Learn about the products, services and cost-savings opportunities for your district that comes with membership in NJSBA. The NJSBA Services area is also the destination for Workshop ribbons and giveaways.

Student Film Showcase The NJSBA is once again teaming up with the Garden State Film Festival and the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, the statewide agency that oversees filmmaking and TV production in the state, to present the Workshop 2022 Film Showcase. The showcase, which will be set up as a classic movie theater environment with a big screen and popcorn machine, will take place on the Exhibit Floor on Oct. 25 and 26. Students will participate in a live, moderated question-and-answer session following the screening of their film. 

County Café While in the Exhibit Hall, make sure to visit the CDI County Café, a welcome oasis on the floor, where attendees can take a break from the hustle and bustle of the conference. Relax, grab a cup of coffee and a cookie, and network with the other board members and with the NJSBA staff, state officers and the county association officers.

Advanced Technology at the Atlantic City Convention Center Workshop 2022 will have a multi-carrier distributed antenna system that will ensure quality, high-speed mobile device coverage for all Workshop attendees. This will include the convention center’s atrium, Exhibit Floor, 45 meeting rooms and ballroom facilities.

Arts at Workshop To emphasize the importance of arts education, and to provide Workshop participants with top-notch entertainment, NJSBA will once again showcase some of the finest student performers in the state. The performance schedule will be listed in the Workshop mobile app and will be heard throughout the Exhibit Floor during Workshop. Be sure to stop by the NJSBA Art Gallery, as many pieces will be on display throughout the conference for attendees to enjoy. 

Atlantic City Convention Center Workshop 2022 will take place in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold, environmentally friendly state-of-the-art Atlantic City Convention Center. With 45 meeting rooms and nearly 120,000 square feet of space, Workshop will be comfortably housed for three days. The site occupies nearly 31 acres, making it one of the East Coast’s largest convention centers. Visitors entering the building are welcomed by a 90-foot-high skylit atrium lobby complete with a lobby concierge, sculptures and art. Artist Jonathan Borofsky created the five flying fish sculptures suspended above the atrium floor. Twenty-seven cast stone sculptures, created by Thomas Van Dyke of Prospect Park and cast by American Trim Stone of Haskell, are inset into the atrium walls and represent local sea life, such as starfish, crabs and seahorses.

Our membership’s well-being is our top priority. We highly encourage all who attended in person to continue to monitor their health before attending Workshop 2022 and upon arriving home. 

Workshop 2022 Workshop is the annual premier event that brings the education community together for training and networking. It has been two years since the last in-person Workshop. Whether you are a veteran board member, newly elected, or a district official looking for top-notch training, Workshop is the conference for you. Workshop 2022 will provide board members, charter school trustees and school administrators with the learning opportunities and resources to help their students and districts thrive in the years ahead. To learn more about the conference, including housing and registration information, visit the Workshop website at workshop.www.njsba.org.