NJEA leaders have responded to Governor Phil Murphy's recent State of the State address, expressing support for his educational initiatives and fiscal policies. NJEA President Sean M. Spiller, Vice President Steve Beatty, and Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson released a statement after the address.
"As he enters the final year of his governorship, Gov. Phil Murphy has made it clear that he plans to sprint to the finish line," they stated. The officers acknowledged Murphy's efforts in education, environment protection, democracy support, and affordability improvements for New Jersey families.
The statement highlighted Murphy's commitment to expanding full-day kindergarten across all districts and increasing pre-K availability as significant steps towards strengthening future economic prospects through education. "Dollars invested today in education – especially early education – are repaid many times over in a stronger future economy," they emphasized.
Concerns about cellphone usage in classrooms were also addressed by Governor Murphy during his speech. The NJEA leaders agreed with this concern and urged the New Jersey Department of Education to collaborate with parents and educators on appropriate policies tailored to individual school needs. "Shared input and community buy-in will help ensure the success of those policies better than any one-size-fits-all ban imposed from above."
Murphy's dedication to pension funding was commended by NJEA officials as well. They recognized him as "the first governor in this century to achieve full funding" and saw it as a step toward fiscal responsibility that could enhance New Jersey’s ability to attract skilled professionals.
Looking ahead, NJEA expressed eagerness to work with both Governor Murphy and the Legislature on these initiatives throughout 2025 while supporting their endorsed candidate Sean Spiller for governor.
