Message from the Office of Teaching & LearningDear Teachers and Instructional Staff, Learning together is one of the most powerful ways we grow, not only as educators but as a united community committed to a common mission: to strategically elevate student achievement across our District. When we collaborate, share ideas, and support one another, we create an environment where innovation thrives and every student has the opportunity to succeed. As we prepare for our Staff Development Day on October 22, 2025, I want to celebrate the passion and dedication you bring to your work each day. The Office of Teaching and Learning has designed a variety of engaging, content-focused professional development sessions that will equip you with practical strategies and fresh ideas to enhance your classroom practice. These opportunities are essential as we work together to meet the diverse needs of our students and foster a culture of excellence. I am excited to witness the energy and collaboration that will emerge from this day, confident that it will have a lasting, positive impact on our schools. As Andrew Carnegie said, “Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” Please know that I look forward to reading your feedback following the Staff Development Day. Your insights are invaluable as we strive to continuously improve our practices and meet your expectations. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to excellence in education. Wishing you a productive and inspiring Staff Development Day! Warm regards,
Sylvia Esteves
Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning |
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Program Assessments - ECERS and TPOT (New)Contact: Victoria Dampare, Office of Early Childhood
Email: vdampare@nps.k12.nj.us The Office of Early Childhood would like to inform you that the Preschool Teacher Coach and PIRS assigned to your school will be conducting Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scales (ECERS) and Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool (TPOT) program quality and environmental assessments in your Pre-Kindergarten classrooms. These assessments will begin on Monday, October 20, 2025 and continue through Friday, March 13, 2026. If you have any questions, please reach out to the supervisor assigned to your location. |
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Math Fluency NightsContact: Amanda Grossi, Office of Mathematics
Email: AGrossi@NPS.K12.NJ.US  Invite families to an exciting evening of math activities hosted by Newark Public Schools Office of Mathematics! This event empowers parents and guardians with proven strategies to boost their children’s math fluency. Each student receives a personalized card highlighting target skills to practice at home. It is a wonderful opportunity for families to connect, build confidence, and strengthen key math skills together!
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Call for Proposals - Special Education Conference, February 25, 2026 (New)Contact: Candice Wells, Office of Special Education
Email: c1wells@nps.k12.nj.us  The Office of Special Education is excited to announce our 4th Annual Special Education Conference themed “Stronger Together: Embracing Teams, Transforming Teachers” being held on February 25, 2026 at Newark Vocational High School.
This year’s conference is centered on equipping educators, administrators, and child study teams with the tools and strategies needed to better serve students with disabilities. We believe the power of collaboration and innovation will help propel the District to increasing outcomes for students with exceptionalities. We are inviting staff to submit proposals or presentation topics that showcase effective practices, teamwork, and transformative teaching in special education. Possible topics can include but not be limited to; inclusive environments, family engagement, special education programming, differentiation, Universal Design for Learning, behavior and social-emotional supports, social stories, and instructional strategies. Presentation Details: We encourage teachers, CST members, related service providers, and administrators to share their expertise and celebrate the great work happening across our schools. Together, we are stronger—embracing teams and transforming teaching for all learners. Thank you for your continued dedication and collaboration. |
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Monthly Q&A Session for HIB Specialists/Title IX Coordinators (New)Contact: Stacy M Pelham- Hale, Office of Student Life
Email: s1hale@nps.k12.nj.us  I’m excited to invite you to the return of our Monthly HIB/Title IX Q&A Sessions!
Our first session will be on Friday October 24, 2025, 10:00am-11:00am Webex Meeting link:
https://nboe.webex.com/meet/s1hale
Meeting number: 2631 178 3345 We will be meeting every First Friday (unless otherwise noted) to provide an open space for questions, discussion, and guidance. This is a valuable opportunity to ensure all Anti-Bullying Specialists are aligned with the best practices to address our students' needs. Here’s what we’ll cover: - Referrals: How to determine the appropriate referrals for students in need of support.
- Documentation: Navigating online fillable forms to ensure accurate and complete reporting.
- Bullying vs. Conflict: Clarifying distinctions to make accurate assessments.
- Title IX Determinations: Understanding criteria and ensuring compliant and fair outcomes.
- Open Forum: Bring any additional questions or topics you’d like to discuss!
Our goal is to make these sessions collaborative and impactful, so come prepared with any cases, questions, or concerns you may want to address. Looking forward to working together to support our schools and students effectively. See you there! |
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Register for the NASA TechRise Student Challenge (New)Contact: Kathleen Tierney, Office of Science
Email: ktierney@nps.k12.nj.us  Students in grades 6-12 have the opportunity to design an experiment to test on a suborbital flight. Student teams are tasked with developing a science or technology experiment idea for either a suborbital spaceship or a high altitude balloon. Winning teams will be awarded start up materials and technical support to actually build their proposed experiment.
- Proposals are due on November 3, 2025.
Please reference the link below for challenge details: https://www.futureengineers.org/nasatechrise |
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UPDATED Contact Information for the Office of Educator Effectiveness (New)Contact: Adalis Alvarez-Craft, HRS - Office of Educator Effectiveness
Email: evaluations@nps.k12.nj.us Be advised that the Office of Educator Effectiveness has an updated phone number and extensions. - Adalis Alvarez-Craft, Director
- Matthew Madeira, Supervisor
- Angel Nieves, Senior Research Assistant
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CommonLit & Newsela PDContact: Michael Padilla, Office of Instructional Technology
Email: m4padilla@nps.k12.nj.us  The Office of Instructional Technology is excited to announce that we have District-wide access to CommonLit (grades 3–12) and Newsela (grades K–12).
CommonLit offers thousands of high-quality reading passages, lessons, and data tools designed to help teachers improve student reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Our subscription also includes access to CommonLit’s Assessment Series, which allows teachers to administer specialized benchmark assessments throughout the year.  Newsela provides news and nonfiction articles adapted to multiple reading levels, enabling teachers to offer engaging, differentiated support for students. It supports literacy and subject-area learning by aligning articles with standards and integrating assessment tools.
If you would like to learn more about either of these valuable programs, please fill out this form and contact Michael Padilla at m4padilla@nps.k12.nj.us with any questions.
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Join The Gen Green InitiativeContact: Kathleen Tierney, Office of Science
Email: ktierney@nps.k12.nj.us  Newark's Office of Sustainability is having the city's first youth participatory budgeting initiative focused on climate and sustainability. This program puts the power of change directly into the hands of Newark's young people, allowing them to propose, vote on, and implement real-world projects that will create a healthier, greener community. If you and your students are interested in proposing a green community project in Newark, please reference the Gen Green Concept Paper for more information.
Gen-Green-Concept-Paper.pdf |
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Art Contest: 2026 AKC - NYC Meet the BreedsContact: Antonia Germanos, Office of Visual and Performing Arts
Email: agermanos@nps.k12.nj.us  Calling all teachers and parents of young artists!
American Kennel Club Public Education is hosting an art contest for students in grades K-12 in the NYC area! Art is due December 23, 2025, for the 2026 NYC Meet the Breeds Art Contest! Visit the American Kennel Club Public Education Contest Website for more information on how to submit: https://www.akc.org/public-education/akc-meet-the-breeds-art-contest/?sc_src=email_2486832&sc_lid=153182121&sc_uid=yDydhPcUhl&sc_llid=588&sc_eh=0545434560f810381 - The theme for the art contest is "400 Years of Dogs in NYC," celebrating New York City's 400th anniversary.
- Open to students in grades K-12.
- A winner will be selected from each category and will receive a prize (Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)
- Winning art will be displayed at the AKC Museum of the Dog in NYC!
- All finalists will receive two free tickets to the MTB NYC event.
- Entries are due by December 23, 2025.
Contact publiced@akc.org for more details! |
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October Culture & Climate ArtifactsContact: Rania Sawaged, Office of Student Life
Email: rsawaged@nps.k12.nj.us Please use the October Suggested Activities document to promote awareness for: - College Spirit Day (10/3)
- Week of Respect (10/6-10/10)
- World Mental Health Day (10/10)
- New Jersey School Violence Awareness Week (10/20-10/24)
- Red Ribbon Week (10/23-10/31)
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Office of Special Education Resources and UpdatesContact: LaPrice Weatherington, Office of Special Education
Email: lweatherington@nps.k12.nj.us OSE continues to provide professional development for Long Term Substitutes serving in the role of a Special Education Teacher. The OSE Long Term Substitute PD Part 1 is available on October 23rd from 5 pm to 6:30 pm. Part 1 of the OSE Long Substitute PD addresses roles and responsibilities when providing instruction to students with an IEP. Attendees will also gain an understanding of what an IEP looks like and the expectations for staff to provide PLAAFP and student data for upcoming IEP meetings. Long Term Substitutes for Special Education will be compensated. See the OSE link within the attached. Additional OSE PD Opportunities are also included. |
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Traditional Mentor Training Dates and RegistrationContact: Adalis Alvarez-Craft, HRS - Office of Educator Effectiveness
Email: evaluations@nps.k12.nj.us Our mentor training sessions are designed to equip mentors with the skills, strategies, and resources they need to support and guide others effectively. Participants will deepen their understanding of mentorship, strengthen their communication and coaching techniques, and build confidence in fostering growth and development. Session #1 will be held virtually from 4:00-6:00 pm: https://nboe.webex.com/meet/acraft - Register for this session by clicking HERE.
Traditional Mentor Training: - 10/23/2025
- 12/4/2025
- 2/5/2026
- 4/16/2026
- 5/21/2026
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Viewing Timecard and Accruals through UKG ReadyContact: Randy Schrader, HRS - Office of Payroll
Email: Payrollcs@nps.k12.nj.us The Payroll and Employee Services Teams have created UKG Ready “How To” guides. By clicking the link below, you can access a Google Drive with guides for viewing your timecard and accruals. Additional guides will be added in the coming weeks and months. |
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Certifications RemindersContact: Eboni Woolridge, HRS - Instructional Staffing and Certification
Email: ewoolridge@nps.k12.nj.us  Register for the Virtual Office Hours with the Certification Team by using the following link: https://forms.gle/J9EmbPxAgG3eiMNb6
Please check NJEdCert to ensure all Instructional, Educational Services, and/or Administrator certificates are accurate and up to date. Contact the Certifications team if you are awaiting the issuance of a Provisional or Standard license or if your license(s) have been issued. It is important that all certifications are reflected in your personnel record.
The Certifications Team can be reached via email at certifications@nps.k12.nj.us. |
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SEL/Mental Health Programming and InitiativesContact: Samantha Parreiral, Office of Student Life
Email: sparreiral@nps.k12.nj.us The attachment below contains Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Mental Health programming and initiatives offered by the Office of Student Life for the 2025-2026 school year: |
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HIB Workshop Trainings / Artifacts Due DateContact: Stacy M Pelham-Hale, Office of Student Life
Email: s1hale@nps.k12.nj.us To: All Anti-Bullying Specialists  Kindly adhere to the following deadline for uploading and submitting all required training and program artifacts. Please click the links below to access all HIB PowerPoint Trainings and the HIB Trainings/Artifacts Google Form.
HIB Parent, Student, Staff Trainings:
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Title IX Student and Staff Trainings Due DateContact: Stacy M Pelham-Hale, Office of Student Life
Email: s1hale@nps.k12.nj.us  To: ALL HIB/Title IX Coordinators
Kindly adhere to the following deadline for uploading and submitting all required Title IX trainings and program artifacts. Please click the links below to access all Title IX Student/Parent Powerpoint Trainings and the Title IX Trainings Artifact Google Form. Title IX Parent and Student Trainings: |
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Rethink Student Self-Check InContact: Jessica Silva-Olmo, Office of Student Life
Email: jsilva@nps.k12.nj.us All 3rd-12th grade students will take a Fall 2025 SEL Self-Assessment in RethinkEd by October 31, 2025. This standard, District-wide, student self-assessment will provide an opportunity for teachers, administrators, and the Office of Student Life to measure what supports students are currently in need of. Thereafter, schools can utilize the Rethink platform to assign lessons to students in order to best support their SEL needs. Students can access the assessment simply by logging onto RethinkEd through Clever and automatically see the prompt for the assessment. Please ensure that students complete this in order to capture all students' SEL strengths and/or challenges. |
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Culture & Climate Calendar SY 2025 - 2026Contact: Rania Sawaged, Student Support Services - Office of Student Life
Email: rsawaged@nps.k12.nj.us Please review the Culture & Climate Calendar for the 2025–2026 school year. This calendar is intended to serve as a guide when planning required and suggested activities, service/community projects, and other school events throughout the year.
To support a more streamlined artifact collection process, the principal will designate one staff member each month to be responsible for uploading photos and artifacts to your school's assigned slide. Please refer to the Culture & Climate Mandatory Artifacts for guidance. |
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HIB/Title IX Documentation Forms: 2025-2026 SYContact: Stacy M Pelham-Hale, Student Support Services - Office of Student Life
Email: s1hale@nps.k12.nj.us 
We are pleased to announce the release of updated online fillable forms for Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) and Title IX documentation for the 2025–2026 school year. The comprehensive documentation packet contains all required forms and resources to support HIB and Title IX investigations, including the following: - The Necessary Tools for HIB/Title IX Investigations
- Student Safety Data System (SSDS) forms 2025-2026
- HIB Complaint forms 2025-2026
- Title IX reporting forms
- HIB/Title IX Summary of Support Services Provided
Please be sure to complete the entire investigation packet when submitting forms for all HIB and Title IX matters. These materials are designed to facilitate thorough, consistent, and compliant documentation throughout the investigative process. Click the link below to access the 2025-2026 SY HIB/Title IX Complete Documentation File Packet: |
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 | Teacher Talk is emailed every other Monday. The submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. |
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Contact Us To support and encourage highly effective instruction, Teacher Talk synthesizes information and resources that will help NPS teachers meet the expectations of the framework for effective teaching. Please open the form with Firefox or Chrome in order to add attachments.
You may submit items for inclusion in the Teacher Talk newsletter via this form:
https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/departments/communications/teacher-talk-form/ The weekly submission deadline is Wednesday by 5:00 p.m. before Monday distribution. |
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The Homework Hotline is off to a great start with over 30 calls in the past 3 weeks.
The Benefits Team is thrilled to announce the release of the 
The purpose of this newsletter is to share important benefit information, including the following and much more: