Kathryn A. Whalen, Esq., SHRM-CP
Director of Legal
Kathy Whalen has been employed by the NJSBA since mid-2023, and currently serves as Director of Legal. Kathy graduated from Vassar College in 2001, and from the University of Colorado (at Boulder) School of Law in 2004. While living in Colorado, Kathy worked as a criminal defense attorney, and represented plaintiffs in connection with personal injury matters. Upon relocating to her native New Jersey, Kathy worked for a union-side labor law firm, and represented private and public sector labor unions and/or their members in arbitration, federal court, state court, and in administrative proceedings. Kathy then transitioned to a new role representing school districts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in the areas of special education, school law, and labor and employment law.

Prior to joining the NJSBA family, Kathy worked at the New Jersey Department of Education for nearly a decade in various roles, including as the Director of the School Ethics Commission, and as the New Jersey Department of Education’s ethics liaison officer, and equal opportunity/affirmative action officer.

Caitlin Pletcher, Esq.
Legal Counsel
Caitlin Pletcher serves as Legal Counsel in the Legal and Labor Relations Department. In this position, Caitlin delivers presentations/trainings to NJSBA members, prepares articles on legal topics, researches resolutions submitted for consideration at the Delegate Assembly, and is in the rotation as the “Attorney of the Day.” Caitlin is also part of an ongoing webinar series, “Coffee Talk with Kathy and Caitlin,” where she and Kathy Whalen provide timely updates about the most recent legal decisions posted by the Acting Commissioner of Education and the School Ethics Commission concerning education law.

Prior to joining NJSBA, Caitlin was in private practice, where she represented boards of education and regularly advised administrators and board members on various issues (student/staff discipline, board governance, enrollment/residency, special education, OPMA, OPRA, etc.). Caitlin also worked at the New Jersey Department of Education, where she assisted the 21 County Offices of Education with inquiries from school districts, drafted proposed regulations and amendments, and analyzed requests that required the Commissioner’s approval.