Marie Bilik, NJSBA Executive Director, to Retire

After five years of service as the Executive Director of the New Jersey School Boards Association, Marie S. Bilik will retire from the position, effective Dec. 31. The NJSBA Board of Directors accepted her retirement notice at its May 18 meeting.
Bilik joined the staff of NJSBA in 1993 as a county program coordinator. Over the years, she has worked as a field service representative, the membership advocacy coordinator, the director of field services and, since 2007, the executive director.
Before working at NJSBA, Bilik's service to public education started as a school board member in Green Township, Sussex County. She has also served as town council member and mayor of Green Township.

As executive director, Bilik has managed the day-to-day operations of a 70-member staff that serves more than 4,800 school board members in 587 local districts, as well as 65 charter schools.
Impressive Accomplishments "Marie's accomplishments over the past five years are impressive," said John Bulina, NJSBA President. "She has guided the Association through the state's economic crisis, the creation of a new state school-funding formula, the implementation of a 2-percent tax levy cap, November school board elections, and proposed reforms in areas such as tenure and teacher evaluation.
"Throughout the entire time, she has kept a sharp focus on improving the academic achievement of children in all of New Jersey's public schools," Bulina added.
Under Bilik's direction, NJSBA established the Educational Leadership Foundation of New Jersey (ELFNJ), an independent non-profit that advances public education governance through training, research and attaining grants to further professional development. Bilik also presided over a complete renovation of NJSBA's 50-year old headquarters building, which will allow NJSBA staff to serve school board members for decades to come.
Bilik was appointed by Gov. Chris Christie in September to serve on the Evaluation Pilot Advisory Committee, a group of 21 education stakeholders that is advising the state as it develops a new teacher evaluation process.
Years of Service "Marie's service to NJSBA and public education in New Jersey has spanned more than a quarter century," said Raymond R. Wiss, NJSBA's Immediate Past President. "Although she will not be retiring for another seven months, I want to express my gratitude to her for her leadership, for the insight that she has provided to our Association's officers, and for her sincere concern for the schoolchildren of New Jersey.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to partner with her in guiding our Association," said Wiss, who just concluded his two-year term as NJSBA president.

Going forward, NJSBA will implement a transition plan as it establishes a search committee to find a replacement for Bilik.