About Us

OUR HISTORY

1919

NJAHPER was established in 1919 following the NJ State Legislature mandate requiring that all children in New Jersey in grades K-12 pass 150 minutes of physical education every year in school to graduate. Dance was added as a division in 1982 transitioning us from NJAHPER to NJAHPERD.

Randall D. Warden, superintendent of schools for Newark Public Schools was the very first president of NJAHPER. The association was fortunate to have a president every year following Warden and functioned through two world wars. NJAHPERD provided a vehicle for the gathering of professionals to discuss what was happening in the schools and to share information. These dedicated professionals provided visionary leadership by establishing goals that included: affordable membership at the grassroots level to give people a voice in the association, providing professional development, advocating for the prioritization of children's health in schools, and implementing Title IX and VI.

We have come a long way from meeting in people's homes and restaurants to having our own headquarters in Ocean, NJ. In 2019, NJAHPERD celebrated its 100th anniversary. The many voices of our past have built the foundational structure that provides direction as we continue to grow. We look forward to what the next 100 years of NJAHPERD will bring.

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Meet the Leaders

NJAHPERD Leadership team consists of the Executive Division that includes the Executive Director, Business Manager/Treasurer, President, President-Elect, and the Past President. The Executive Board includes the Executive Division, VP's, VP-Elects, Members-at-Large, Committee Chairs, and various Liaisons.

Executive Division

Immediate Past President

Dawn Francavilla

School/work Title:  Health & Physical Education Teacher

School: Cedar Hill Prep School

District:  Franklin Township

County:  Somerset

President

Barbara J. Brady

School/work Title:
Health & Physical Education Teacher and Dance Director

School: Linden High School

District:
Linden Public Schools
County: Union

President-Elect

Bruce Peragallo

School/work Title: Director of Athletics

School: St. Rose High School

District: Belmar

County: Monmouth

Executive Director

Carol Ciotto

School/work Title:
Interim Assistant Dean of Accreditation and Partnerships

School: Central CT State University

Business Manager/ Treasurer

Ellen Benham

School/work Title:
Retired Health and Physical Education Coordinator/Adjunct Faculty, Physical Education and Human Performance

School: Central CT State University

Executive Board

Dawn Schultz
VP, Dance
School/work Title: Dance Teacher

School: Township of Ocean Intermediate School

District: Ocean Township School District

County: Monmouth
Danielle Volyand Kushner 
VP- Elect, Dance
School/work Title: Dance and Physical Education Teacher

School: Dwight Morrow High School

District: Englewood Public Schools 
 
County: Bergen County
Sara Kozlowski
VP Health
School/work Title: Health Education Teacher

School: Bragg School

District: Chester School District

County: Morris
Christopher Corsale
VP-Elect Health
School/work Title: Health & Physical Education Teacher

School: Churchill Junior High School

District: East Brunswick Public Schools

County: Middlesex
Lauren Tyndorf
VP of Physical Education
School/work Title: Inclusion Facilitator

New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education (NJCIE)
Meghan Earley
VP-Elect, Physical Education
School/work Title: Health and Physical Education Teacher

School: Stillwater Township Elementary School

District: Stillwater

County: Sussex County
Ian Doyle
VP, Physical Activity
School/work Title:
K-5 Health & Physical Education Teacher

School: Fort Dix Elementary School

District: Pemberton Twp School District

County: Burlington
Suzette de Araujo
VP-Elect, Physical Activity
School/work Title:
Orange Avenue School/Health and Physical Education Teacher 

School: Orange Avenue School

District: Cranford

County: Union
Michele Fisher
Parliamentarian
School/work Title: Associate Professor

School: Montclair State University

County: Essex County
Christine Baccarella 
Member-at-Large
School/work Title:
Retired Physical Education Teacher
School: Bayonne School District
County: Hudson County
Diane Glover
Member-at-Large
School/work Title: Retired Adapted Physical Education Teacher

School: Mercer Elementary 

District: Mercer County Special Services School District

County: Mercer
Mark Friedrich
Social Media Coordinator
School/work Title:
Adventure Educator & H&PE Teacher

School: Millburn High School

District: Millburn Two. Public Schools

County: Essex County
Steve Wehrle
Advocacy Chair
School/work Title:
Health and Physical Education Teacher

School: Broad Street Elementary School

District: Greenwich Twp School District

County: Gloucester
Colleen McCurry
Chair of the Awards Committee
School/work Title: PE/Health Teacher

School: Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School

District: Wyckoff

County: Bergen
Brad Cohen
Co-Chair Driver Education Committee
School/work Title: Driver Education Teacher/Health and Physical Education Teacher

School: Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy

District: Elizabeth

County: Union
Jill Fackelman
Co-Chair Driver Education Committee
School/work Title: Driver/Health and Physical Education Teacher/Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)
School: Indian Hills High School
District: Ramapo-Indian Hills Regional H.S.
County: Bergen
Eric Eder 
Chair Lake Conference
School/work Title: PE/ Health Teacher

School: Nishuane Elementary School 

District: Montclair

County: Essex County 
Lennie Parham
NJDOE Liaison
School/work Title: NJDOE Comprehensive Health & Physical Education Coordinator
Rich Burton
NJCAHPE Liaison
School/work Title: District Supervisor of Health, Physical Education, and Art
School:
Ramapo-Indian Hills Regional H.S.
District: 
Ramapo-Indian Hills Regional H.S.
County: Bergen
Arvin Arjona
NJEA Liaison
School/work Title: Dance Educator

School: Millburn High School

District: Millburn School District

County: Essex
Laurie Cancalosi
Retiree Network Liaison
School/work Title:
Retired HPE District Director

District: Long Branch Public Schools

County: Monmouth
Staci Drewson
SHAPE Eastern District Liaison
School/work Title: Monmouth University / Chair & Associate Professor of the Health and Physical Education Department
School: Monmouth University
District: N/A

County: Monmouth
Justin Schleider
EDI Liaison
School/work Title: Health Teacher, Grades 4-6
School: Lawrence Township Public School
District: Lawrence
County: Mercer County
Jon Dula
Assistant Future Professionals Advisor
School: Indian Hills High School


District: Ramapo-Indian Hills Regional High School District


County: Bergen