NJEA honored award-winning educational support professionals (ESPs) and their advocates at the ESP and Health and Safety Conference on Feb. 7. The conference was held Feb. 6-8, 2026. NJEA ESP of the Year Angela Feliciano was honored and addressed the audience. The NJEA Career Achievement award was conferred upon Lois Yukna, the president of the Middlesex County Education Association and the 2017 NJEA ESP of the Year. The Friend of ESP award was presented to Bob Antonelli, who recently retired from his position as the NJEA Field Representative for ESPs.
Feliciano honored as NJEA ESP of the Year
Angela Feliciano, also known as Ms. Angie, is an instructional assistant at the Riletta Twyne Cream Early Childhood Center in Camden. She was featured in the February issue of the NJEA Review. Feliciano spoke at the conference and received her ESP of the Year ring and award, along with a proclamation from the New Jersey Legislature honoring her service.
Lois Yukna receives NJEA Career Achievement Award
Lois Yukna has been a member of the Woodbridge Township Education Association for nearly four decades. For many years, Yukna served as an attendance officer in Woodbridge Public Schools. For the past 14 years, she has served as the president of the Middlesex County Education Association.
As an advocate, Yukna has worn many hats over the course of her long career. She has served as an officer, grievance chair, negotiations chair and association representative in her local association. At the county level, she has held nearly every office as well as served on numerous county committees. At the state level, Yukna has served on several committees, as well as the Delegate Assembly and Executive Committee. At the national level, she has lobbied Capitol Hill and served as NEA New Jersey State Director, NEA ESP at Large Director and president of the National Council for Education Support Professionals.
Throughout her career, Yukna has been an extraordinary advocate for ESP members.
Bob Antonelli recognized as NJEA Friend of ESP
Bob Antonelli worked for more than 20 years advocating for ESP members’ rights. He began his career in education as a history teacher and vice president of the Vineland Education Association before serving as a member of the executive board for the Cumberland County Council of Education Associations. After joining NJEA staff as a lobbyist in the Government Relations Division, Antonelli built relationships with legislators to secure better laws for public education and helped educate NJEA members about pending legislation and how to take action to protect themselves and their students.
After transferring to the Organizational Development Division, he focused entirely on advocating for ESP members, spending countless hours fighting against privatization across the state. He helped save hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs by organizing ESP members to stand up for themselves and helping them fight subcontracting.
