From the President (Winter 2018)

Lee Ann Barnhardt
NASJE President Lee Ann Barnhardt

by Lee Ann Barnhardt

Welcome to 2018! If you are like me, you have probably set and broken a few New Year’s Resolutions by now. Instead of setting resolutions for NASJE, I thought we would work toward goals—less cliché and perhaps a little less pressure.

Pablo Picasso once said, “Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act.” NASJE does have a long-term strategic plan and a mission in which I believe. Now is the time for action.

As your newly-minted president, I have a few things I would like to achieve during my few short months in office.

Goal 1 – Offer training for NASJE Mentors;
Goal 2 – Create an online version of the NASJE Fundamentals course;
Goal 3 – Have at least one NASJE member in all 50 states—as of January 1st, we have seven states to go: Alaska, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma;
Goal 5 – Plan an awesome 2018 Conference in Austin, Texas!

Beyond that, my wish for the new year is that NASJE truly becomes a resource for each of you. Whether it is designing a new curriculum, finding faculty, developing a budget, or creating a new governance structure, let NASJE work for you. Connect with other educators through the website, social media, or the NASJE Listserv. Also, take advantage of online learning opportunities offered in your regions or nationally. NASJE is here to serve you.

In addition, I encourage you to attend a national conference. As noted above, the 2018 conference is scheduled for August 26-29 in Austin. The Conference Committee is working hard to pull together a terrific agenda around a leadership theme and will issue a call for session proposals soon. We would love to showcase innovative programs from your state or your star faculty, so don’t be shy about submitting a proposal.

And, I am happy to announce that we will be meeting in Denver for the 2019 conference. Stay tuned for dates and details!

Finally, I encourage you to start the new year by finding a way to get involved with NASJE. If you would like to serve on a committee, teach a webinar, run for office, or be a mentor, please let me know. We will find a place for you to shine!