I was pleased to have met so many of you at this year’s “Light The Way” convention: a convention that I feel was one of our most successful events ever! As the new President of our association, I would like to continue with my theme of lighting the way and focus even more on the theme of building relationships during my term.

In the past year, NJAHPERD has made great strides in securing extremely important relationships with partners that share our mission. One connection in particular that I am proud of is the strong bond formed with the New Jersey Council for Administrators in Health and Physical Education (NJCAHPE). This organization has over 90 members that are directors/coordinators/supervisors in our professions. This key group of people shape our programs, motivate, support and educate. It is extremely important to NJAHPERD that we partner with them to bring our members professional development and resources for schools. If your program coordinator does not yet know about NJCAHPE, please have them contact NJCAHPE President, Cathleen Fillipello at cFilippello@brrsd.k12.nj.us. It is an important mission to me in that I serve in the capacity of the Supervisor of Health and Physical Education in South Orange-Maplewood Schools. There is nothing more important to me in that capacity than supporting teachers and assisting them with the tools they need to educate our students.

It is also important that we foster relationships in our district schools to bring NJAHPERD closer to you. To that end, your executive board is developing a speakers’ bureau to bring to you the resources necessary to bring professional development to your schools, as well as providing it at state conventions and workshops.

Last but not least, we are anticipating a comprehensive health and physical education survey that will be mandated by the NJ Department of Education this year that will give us-for the first time ever- data on what is happening in our schools in our professions in New Jersey. This survey and its results, will set the stage for NJAHPERD’s focus in the future in order to support quality programming, assist struggling districts and advocate for our disciplines at the local, regional and state level.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for continuing your professional commitment to NJAHPERD as well as to the population you serve. I am extremely excited to work hard on your behalf and to “Light the Way” to a strong future in HPERD in New Jersey. If you should have any questions or would like to contact me directly, please do not hesitate to email me at: jlobianc@somsd.k12.nj.us.