Department of Agriculture | Agricultural Education | New Jersey Association of Agricultural Educators

The New Jersey Association of Agricultural Educators (NJAAE) is an organization of persons interested in agricultural education. NJAAE exists to assume and maintain an active state leadership in the promotion and furtherance of agricultural education and to provide an opportunity for members to cooperatively address problems affecting agricultural education on a state level. In addition, NJAAE provides professional improvement opportunities for its members, supports the FFA agricultural education student organization, and cooperates with the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) in furthering the cause of agricultural education.

2025-2026 Leadership Team
Membership
Award Programs
Meetings

2025-2026 Leadership Team

Patty Smith President Warren Hills Regional High School smithp@warrenhills.org	Kylie Naylor Vice President Middlesex County Magnet Schools-East Brunswick naylork@mcmsnj.nj.net	Owen Donnelly Secretary North Warren Regional High School odonnelly@northwarren.org
Renee Stillwell Treasurer/NJ FFA Alumni & Supporters Representative Hunterdon County ESEA r stillwell@hcvsd.org	Dan Delcher Northern Region Vice President/State Advocacy Leader Essex County Schools of Technology-West Caldwell Tech ddelcher@essextech.org	Liam Ryan Central Region Vice President Piscataway Magnet School ryanl@mcmsnj.net
Annaliese Castellini Southern Region Vice President Vineland High School acastellini@vineland.org	Deanna Miller Past President Woodstown High School miller.d@woodstown.org	Dale Cruzan III NJ FFA Executive Board Representative Allentown High School cruzand@ufrsd.net
Robin C. McLean CTEANJ Representative Northern Burlington County Regional Middle School rmclean@nburlington.com		Erin Noble State Program Leader for Food, Agriculture & Natural Resources Education New Jersey Department of Agriculture erin.noble@ag.nj.gov

Membership

Why Join?

As a New Jersey agricultural educator, you have the opportunity to serve and be supported key Agricultural Education and Career and Technical Education professional organizations at the state and national level. Whether you are a new teacher, mid-career, or in your golden teaching years, membership is an important investment in yourself and your program, as well as the future of the profession. Come build your career alongside colleagues and industry professionals who are here to support you.

Who Can Join?

Anyone interested in agricultural education is eligible to join NJAAE:

Active Members — Open to all persons professionally associated with Agricultural Education at any level as teachers, directors, administrators, and teacher-educators upon payment of dues and subscription to the NJAAE constitution.
Retired Members - Anyone qualified to be an active or associate member who has retired from the profession — Life active members who retire will automatically be moved to Retired Life membership without any additional payment
Associate Members — Open to all persons working in the ag field, but not teaching, as well as advisory committee members, advisors, state supervisory staff, school directors, and interested in supporting agricultural education.
Student Members— Open to any full-time student in an approved college program who is preparing for careers related to an agricultural education. Student Teachers are also eligible to become members.

"I am an agricultural educator by choice and not by chance."

Membership Options & Benefits:

New Jersey Association of Agricultural Educators Membership

$70 - Active Membership

$40 - Associate Membership

$5 - Student Membership

NJAAE Membership Benefits:

As a professional association for agricultural educators, NJAAE provides benefits to assist members with professional growth—both tangible and intangible benefits to help members become more effective and efficient as agricultural educators. Some membership benefits include:

Legislative advocacy for profession
Technical and pedagogical in-service education
Leadership and personal development
Awards and recognition programs
Travel opportunities
Mechanism for influencing the future direction of the profession
Idea exchange forum
News updates
Instructional materials and resources
Camaraderie and friendship

National Association of Agricultural Educators Membership

https://www.naae.org/members/membership/join-renew/

$65 - Active Membership

$35 - Associate Membership

$35 - Retired Membership

$10 - Student Membership

$780 - Active Lifetime Membership (one time payment)

$420 - Associate Lifetime Membership (one time payment)

$120 - Retired Lifetime Membership (one time payment)

NAAE Membership Benefits:

$100,000 Professional Liability Insurance Plan
Access to Low Cost Liability Insurance Upgrades, Identity Theft Insurance, Health Insurance, and Life Insurance Plans
Discount on National Science Teacher Association (NSTA) Membership
Hotel Discounts with Choice Hotels International
Discounts on National Conferences
Access to NAAE Webinars

Career and Technical Education Association of New Jersey Membership

$20 - Professional Member

*New Jersey is a unified state; therefore, members must hold state and national ACTE membership simultaneously

CTEANJ Membership Benefits:

Industry tours, resources and connections
Advocacy and Public Relations for Career and Technical Education
Scholarships for students
Voting on key issues and officers to represent the organization

Association for Career and Technical Education Membership

https://www.acteonline.org/membership/

$80 - Professional Membership

$31 - Retired Membership

FREE - Student Membership

*New Jersey is a unified state; therefore, members must hold state and national ACTE membership simultaneously

ACTE Membership Benefits:

Techniques Magazine subscription
Discounts on National Conferences
Access to ACTE Webinars, Online Courses, and Online Resource Centers
National awards and recognition programs
Travel Opportunities
$25,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance Plan (Ability to increase to $50,000 max. with annual membership renewal)

Award Programs

NJAAE aligns state-level awards with those offered through NAAE and ACTE. Awards programs recognize the accomplishments of our talented and dedicated members. These awards serve to inspire, motivate and give well-deserved recognition for extraordinatry contributions to agricultural education and CTE. There are awards for agricultural educators in every stage of their careers as well as for those who make significant contributions to support teachers, agricultural education, and CTE.

NAAE State Applications are due: May 1
ACTE State Applications are due: February 1

NAAE Awards Program

https://www.naae.org/professional-development/naae-awards-scholarships/membership-excellence-awards/

Membership Excellence Awards

Impact Awards

ACTE Awards Program

https://www.acteonline.org/professional-development/acte-awards/

ACTE Excellence Awards

ACTE Impact Awards

- - ACTE Business-Education Partnership Award
  - ACTE Champion for CTE Award

List of Award Winners

2025 NATIONAL Tiffany Morey, Buena Regional High School: NAAE XLR8 eXcellence in Leadership for Retention Professional Development Program *STATE*	2024 NATIONAL Patricia Smith, Warren Hills Regional High School: NAAE Region VI Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award Jacque & Cyndee Roszel, Allentown High School (retired): NAAE Region VI Lifetime Achievement Award *STATE*	2023 NATIONAL Renee Stillwell, Hunterdon County Environmental Sustainability and Engineering Academy: NAAE Teachers Turn the Key *STATE* Kimberly Bartholomew, Camden County Technical School: New Jersey Outstanding Teacher Daniel Delcher, Essex County Schools of Technology: New Jersey Outstanding Secondary Program Robin McLean, Northern Burlington County Regional Middle School: New Jersey Ideas Unlimited Award Amaryllis Olivio, Essex County Schools of Technology: New Jersey Outstanding Early Career Teacher Jacque & Cyndee Roszel, Allentown High School (retired): New Jersey Lifetime Achievement Award	2022 NATIONAL Dale Cruzan, Allentown High School: NAAE XLR8 Program Deanna Miller, Woodstown High School: NAAE Region VI Outstanding Early Career Teacher Kylie Naylor, Middlesex County Magnet Schools-East Brunswick: NAAE Teachers Turn the Key John Neyhart, Monmouth County Career Center (Retired): NAAE Region VI Lifetime Achievement Award Warren Hills Regional High School: CASE Model School Award *STATE* Dan Delcher, Essex County Schools of Technology: New Jersey Ideas Unlimited Award
2021 NATIONAL Patricia Smith, Warren Hills Regional High School: NAAE Teacehrs Turn the Key	2020 NATIONAL Kristina Guttadora, Monmonth County Career Center: ACTE Region I Teacher of the Year Keely DiTizio, Salem County Technical School: CASE Innovation Award	2019 NATIONAL Jenny Allen, Newton High School: ACTE Region I New Teacher of the Year Daniel Delcher, Essex County Technical Schools: NAAE XLR8 Program Matthew DiTizio, Salem County Technical School: NAAE Teachers Turn the Key Robin McLean, Northern Burlington County Regional Middle School: NAAE Region VI Teacher Mentor Award	2018 NATIONAL Deanna Miller, Woodstown High School: ACTE Region I New Teacher of the Year Jenny Allen, Newton High School: NAAE Teachers Turn the Key NJAAE: 10% Plus Award
2017 NATIONAL Keely DiTizio, Salem County Technical School: ACTE Region I New Teacher of the Year Deanna Miller, Woodstown High School: NAAE Teachers Turn the Key	2016 NATIONAL Keely Ditizio, Salem County Technical School: NAAE Teachers Turn the Key	2015 NATIONAL Laura Pinhas, Sussex County Technical School: NAAE Teachers Turn the Key Frank Yesalavich, Essex County Technical Schools (Retired): NAAE Region VI Lifetime Achievement	2014
2013 NATIONAL Robin McLean, Northern Burlington County Regional Middle School: ACTE Teacher of the Year Winner Jennifeur Wilson, North Warren Regional High School: NAAE XLR8 Program	2012 NATIONAL Dale Cruzan, Allentown High School: NAAE Teachers Turn the Key Tiffany Morey, Essex County Technical Schools: NAAE Teachers Turn the Key NJAAE: 10% Plus Award	2011 NATIONAL Cape May County Technical High School: NAAE Region VI Outstanding Middle/Secondary Ag Ed Program Award Amanda Hayes, Hackettstown High School: NAAE Teachers Turn the Key	2010
2009 NATIONAL NJAAE: State Association Award - Professional	2008 NATIONAL Erin Noble, Allentown High School: NAAE Region VI Outstanding Young Member Award	2007 NATIONAL Kristina Guttadora, Freehold Township High School: NAAE Region VI Outstanding Young Member Award County College of Morris: NAAE Region VI Outstanding Postsecondary/Adult Ag. Ed Program Award Harry Schneiber, Belvidere High School (Retired): NAAE Region VI Lifetime Achievement Award Nancy Trivette, New Jersey Office of Ag Education: NAAE REgion Vi Outstanding Service Citation Award Katherine McKee, Hackettstown High School: NAAE Teachers Turn the Key Amy Kline, Hunterdon County Polytech: NAAE Teachers Turn the Key NJAAE: State Association Award - Professional	2006 NATIONAL Charles Kuperus, New Jersey Department of Agriculture: NAAE Region Vi Outstanding Cooperation Award Erin Noble, Allentown High School: NAAE Teachers Turn the Key Carrie Schlechter, North Warren Regional High School: NAAE Region VI Outstanding Young Member NJAAE: 10% Plus Award, State Association Award - Professional
2005 NATIONAL Kristina Guttadora, Freehold Township High School: NAAE Teachers Turn the Key Cyndee Roszel, Allentown High School: NAAE Region VI Teacher Mentor NJAAE: 10% Plus Award, Largest Percentage Membership Increase, State Association Award - Active	2004	2003	2002 NATIONAL Robin McLean, Penns Grove High School: NAAE Region VI Outstanding Young Member

Meetings

2025-2026 Meeting Schedule

Friday, September 26, 2025 (4:00 pm following Fall Ag Ed Conference - EcoComplex, Bordentown, NJ)

Agenda

Minutes from August 2025

Tuesday, November 11, 2025 (5:00 pm Google Meets)

Agenda

Minutes from September 2025

Tuesday, January 20, 2026 (5:00 pm Google Meets)

Agenda

Minutes from November 2025

Tuesday, March 3, 2026 (5:00 pm Google Meets)

Agenda

Minutes from January 2026

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 (6:00 pm at the NJ State FFA Convention - Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ)

Agenda

Minutes from March 2026

July/August 2026 (TBD)

Agenda

Minutes from May 2026