About

Membership

Jan 30 2015
NJSSSA Meeting January 30, 2015

The New Jersey Supervisors Association membership includes social studies supervisors with a wide variety of responsibilities and titles from a broad cross-section of school districts across New Jersey. We have K-12 social studies supervisors from large urban districts of 25,000+ students in more than 40 schools, 9-12 supervisors in regional high schools with 2,500+ students coming from five different school districts, and K-5 supervisors from small rural school districts of less than 500 students total. Many NJSSSA members wear several hats at once. We have principals and assistant principals who manage their buildings and social studies departments. We have supervisors who lead social studies departments as well as World Language, Business, Humanities, ESL, testing, and Gifted and Talented Programs.

Every NJSSSA meeting starts with a round of introductions with an award going to the member managing the most responsibilities in their district. Winners of this coveted distinction usually have at least four titles beyond “Social Studies Supervisor”.

Online Discussion Forum

Most of the members of the NJSSSA first learn about the organization from other Social Studies Supervisors and educators who have already benefited from the NJSSSA’s active online discussion group. Social studies education in 2022 is more active, engaged, and contentious than at any other time in recent memory. Supervisors are charged with designing course sequences, writing curricula, and choosing resources consistent with new standards and mandates in New Jersey. The NJSSSA online forum allows members to ask questions and share ideas with other professionals engaged in the same work. Questions and calls for assistance in the online forum address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, AAPI-Inclusive Curriculum, and meeting the Middle School Civics mandate. There are active discussions and strategies for meeting QSAC reviews, as well as resources for the Amistad Commission, and the NJ Commission on Holocaust Education.

Annual Meetings

In addition to selected regional meetings, the NJSSSA hosts three statewide conferences a year, devoting time and energy in each meeting to share approaches to state initiatives, reviewing the latest instructional resources, and exploring state and national standards.  These social studies professionals from across the state routinely collaborate on instructional strategies, assessments, and resources to promote effective and meaningful Social Studies education within NJ State Standards and educational mandates.

May 20, 2022

NJSSSA Board of Directors 2022-2023

  • North
    • Mark Ferreri, Ridgewood Public Schools
    • Steve Maher, School District of the Chathams
  • Central
    • Cindy Assini, Hillsborough Township School District 
    • Nicole Sanyigo, Neptune Township School District 
  • South
    • Vincent Gravina, Woodbury City Public Schools
    • Oscar Diaz, Freehold Regional High School District
  • At Large
    • Melissa dos Santos, Jersey City Public Schools
    • Joe Orlak, Pascack Valley Regional High School District
    • Melissa Hodgson, Montgomery Township School District
    • Aldo Deodino, Totowa Public Schools
  • Past Presidents
    • Michael Catelli, President, Somerset Hills School District
    • Keith Dennison, Past President, Warren Hills Regional School District
  • Emeritus Presidents
    • Bob O’Dell, Past President, NJ Center for Civic Education
    • Noel Baxter, Past President, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District
    • Kristin Fox, Past President, Bernards Township School District

NJSSSA Officers

  • President: Nicole Sanyigo – Neptune Township School District
  • Vice President: Aldo Deodino – Totowa Public Schools
  • Secretary: Cindy Assini, Hillsborough Township School District 
  • Treasurer: Steven Maher, School District of the Chathams

Educators interested in membership in the association or access to the professional network should contact Steven Maher at smaher@chatham-nj.org