NBOE Teacher Talk January 20, 2026

Message from the Office of Teaching & Learning

Dear Teachers and Instructional Staff,

Charles Dickens, in A Tale of Two Cities, vividly portrays a society in troubled times. He eloquently captures the desperation and hardship faced by many, while also highlighting the underlying hope and perseverance that sustain the human spirit. Today, we find ourselves in the presence of societal discord, navigating the complex challenge of supporting both our students and our own social-emotional wellness.

Amid these pressures, it is essential that we remain committed to ensuring a stable and secure future through a well-educated populace. The lessons we have learned from great leaders, regardless of political views, remind us that true freedom can only be achieved through a thorough and equitable education.

As we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month, let us reflect on the profound importance he placed on securing quality education for all students, while also empowering kindness in our words and actions. Dr. King once said, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education.” He also reminded us that “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

Let us carry forward this spirit of dedication, compassion, and hope in our work every day.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our students and to each other.

With gratitude,
Sylvia Esteves
Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning

Program Assessments - ECERS and TPOT

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 began 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.

American Young Voices Teacher Workshop - Grade 5 Vocal Teachers

Contact: Antonia Germanos, Office of Visual and Performing Arts
Email: agermanos@nps.k12.nj.us

Dear Grade 5 Music Educators,

American Young Voices Teacher's Manual is now available with your digital resources! This invaluable resource answers most of your program-related and logistics-related questions for the remainder of the year. It includes information regarding student choir count, your workshop (more below), and the final field trip. Remaining Lesson Plans are also available! Find them in your digital resources folder.

Teacher’s Workshop dates for 2026!

• Wednesday, February 25th - Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

Registration is now open!

District ALL CITY YOUNG ARTISTS Accepting Submissions

Contact: Antonia Germanos, Office of Visual and Performing Arts
Email: agermanos@nps.k12.nj.us

The Office of Visual and Performing Arts is NOW accepting artwork submissions for the District All City YOUNG ARTISTS Annual Visual Art Exhibition.

NBOE Visual Art Educators, submit the strongest student visual artworks aligning with the theme "JOY" to proudly represent your school in this year's adjudicated District-Wide exhibition.

Participation Guidelines Here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Qrtz-wv5_MrnO3EH66zFCn1_40QfUHfS?usp=sharing

Submission Deadline January 28, 2026

NBOE Science Fair 2026

Contact: Kathleen Tierney, Office of Science
Email: ktierney@nps.k12.nj.us

We are excited to announce that the theme for NBOE's Science Fair 2026 is Chemistry in Our Every Day Lives.

All K-8 schools should hold their own science fairs the week of March 23rd and award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in the following grade bands: K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Judges from Central Office will visit schools the week of March 30th to evaluate science fair projects for overall District winners. 

Please use this link to get more information about project requirements and rubrics:

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jvfQoPnOaatEHigEmk5bYT_r5l_k6GKJ4fdOWG_Hx7o/edit?usp=sharing

Yearlong Midterm Examination (E1) and Semester 1 (E2) Final (New)

Contact: Esther Lewars, OPPET - Student Information Services
Email: elewars@nps.k12.nj.us

Enter all yearlong midterm (E1) and semester 1 (E2) final assignments with a due date of January 28th or January 29th. No other assignments should be entered in the PowerTeacher gradebook with those dates.

Submit Dance Awards Nominations for NJ Governor’s Awards (New)

Contact: Antonia Germanos, Office of Visual and Performing Arts
Email: agermanos@nps.k12.nj.us

Attention NBOE Dance Educators,

Dance New Jersey has announced the NJ Governor’s Award Arts Education (NJGAAE) Dance Education Award.

Dance New Jersey NJGAAE will be awarded to:

• One Pre-K-12 Dance Educator
• Six-Eight High School Dance Juniors or Seniors with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0

Let's bring Arts in Action to the entire state!

Nominate your students, yourself, and your fellow dance colleagues!

Applications due Feb 13, 2026.

• Link to information: https://www.dancenewjersey.org/grants-awards

The Presidential 1776 Award

The U.S. Department of Education announced the launch of the Presidential 1776 Award, a nationwide competition recognizing exceptional student knowledge of the American founding. This award program establishes a national scholarship contest that evaluates students’ understanding of civics and the principles that shaped the United States.

Additional information can be found below:

• https://www.presidential1776award.org/
• https://www.ed.gov/media/document/presidential-1776-award-competition-rules-112802.pdf

District ALL CITY TEEN ARTS Accepting Submissions

Contact: Antonia Germanos, Office of Visual and Performing Arts
Email: agermanos@nps.k12.nj.us

The Office of Visual and Performing Arts is NOW accepting artwork submissions for the District All City TEEN ARTS Annual Visual Art Exhibition.

NBOE Visual Art Educators, submit the strongest student visual artworks aligning with the theme "JOY" to proudly represent your school in this year's adjudicated District-Wide exhibition.

Participation Guidelines Here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ru1cTTInYE0_Qq1BShKpv2FKk8KdZcNpRa5H459iPQ4/edit?usp=sharing

Submission Deadline January 28, 2026

HIB/Title IX Mid-Year Training (New)

Contact: Stacy M Pelham-Hale, Office of Student Life
Email: s1hale@nps.k12.nj.us

Greetings HIB Specialists/Title IX Coordinators,

Please SAVE THE DATE! Our mandatory Mid-Year HIB training will take place on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at Marion Bolden Center (230 Broadway, Newark NJ 07104). Creative Response to Conflict will facilitate an interactive workshop on Restorative Practices. Due to the nature of this professional development, we ask that only ONE Anti-Bullying Specialist per school attend at the designated times below. Workshop sessions are specifically organized by SLT.

• Morning Session: 8:10am-11:30am - East/Central Schools, North Schools, & Specialized Schools
• Afternoon Session: 1:00pm-3:05pm - South/West Schools & High Schools

Please click the link below to register for this event:

• https://forms.gle/H64dFd8zukq2quCR7

Cycle 2 Report Card (New)

Contact: Esther Lewars, OPPET - Student Information Services
Email: elewars@nps.k12.nj.us

All Cycle 2 grades and comments must be finalized in PowerTeacher Pro by the end of the school day on Thursday, February 5th. Report Cards will be distributed on February 12th.

Use the Report Card Timeline document to prepare for the storing of Q2 grades. All subjects should have a grade and/or comment. For subjects not assessed this cycle, include a comment that the student is not in the class this cycle. Historical grade changes require a grade change form submission. Please consult your administrator(s) with any questions.

Teachers Needed for HS Entrance Exam (New)

Contact: Lydia Alvarez, OPPET
Email: LAlvarez@nps.k12.nj.us

If you are interested in working the high school exam that will be administered on Saturday 2/7 and Saturday 2/14, please register below.  Training will be held on 1/29. Please note that the training is mandatory for all who will administer the assessment (test administrators and proctors).

REGISTRATION LINK: https://forms.gle/3jx2Yvb9qVieYQA77

NJDOE Call for Art: Autism Acceptance Virtual Art Expo 2026 (New)

Contact: Katherine P. Agurto, Office of Special Education
Email: kagurto@nps.k12.nj.us

District-wide administrators, case managers, and teachers are encouraged to support participation by identifying students or classroom projects whose original artwork reflects creativity, engagement, and inclusion aligned with the theme “Autism in Action.”

Autism leads and art teachers in self-contained Autism programs may submit artwork created through instruction, therapeutic programming, or structured classroom projects highlighting student strengths and lived experiences.

Submissions are due February 13, 2026, by 4:30 PM. Artwork will be displayed online in April as part of the NJDOE Office of Special Education Virtual Art Expo.

Submit photographed artwork (JPEG, PNG, or PDF) with title, students' first name, school district, grade level, and a brief description (max 100 words). One submission per student.

• Autism Acceptance Art Google Form
• NJDOE-Autism-2026-Virtual-Art-Show.pdf

Jersey Talent: New Jersey's Community Talent Show for Ages 8-25 (New)

Contact: Antonia Germanos, Office of Visual and Performing Arts
Email: agermanos@nps.k12.nj.us

New Jersey's community talent show for ages 8-25 returns in 2026! Jersey Talent provides a platform for youth to express themselves through art in a safe environment before a big, supportive audience at the historic State Theatre New Jersey.

Video audition submissions are NOW OPEN! Apply by completing our online form with a video link (no longer than 2 minutes) of their talent. All performances are welcome, and no previous experience is necessary to apply.

• Submit Your Audition

Applications close on February 20 at 11:59pm. Those selected for live callback auditions will be contacted by Feb. 25. 

• Click here for more information.

Questions? Contact Director Devonne De Nose from the Office of Visual and Performing Arts at d1denose@nps.k12.nj.us.

2026 ART Competition with Multiple Awards and $6K Grand Prize (New)

Contact: Antonia Germanos, Office of Visual and Performing Arts
Email: agermanos@nps.k12.nj.us

The Annual 2026 ARTEFFECT COMPETITION is open to grades 6-12 visual artists worldwide. Students choose an inspiring and diverse Unsung Hero from history as a role model, creatively interpret their story in an original artwork, and write a statement about the positive impact of their project.

• Click here to learn more.

Multiple Awards and $6K Grand Prize:

• GRAND PRIZE (6-12th grades) = $6,000
• HIGH SCHOOL (9-12th grades) = Best in Show - $3,000 & Second Place - $2,000
• MIDDLE SCHOOL (6-8th grades) = Best in Show - $2,000 & Second Place - $1,000
• SPOTLIGHT PRIZES (6-12th grades) = $1,000

2026-The-Lowell-Milken-Center-for-Unsung-Heroes.jpg

Traditional Mentor Training #3 (New)

Contact: Jennifer Rodriguez, HRS - Office of Educator Effectiveness
Email: evaluations@nps.k12.nj.us

Be advised that Mentor training #3 will take place virtually on Thursday, February 5, from 4:00-6:00 pm.

Link for the session:

• https://nboe.webex.com/meet/acraft

Register for this session by clicking HERE.

Traditional Mentor Training Dates

• 2/5/2026
• 4/16/2026
• 5/21/2026

Updated New Teacher Induction Training Dates (New)

Contact: Jennifer Rodriguez, HRS - Office of Educator Effectiveness
Email: evaluations@nps.k12.nj.us

Please note that the New Teacher Induction Training dates for February and April have been changed to ensure they do not overlap with the Parent/Teacher Conference date and Spring Recess week. Our next New Teacher Induction training will be held virtually on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. The registration link will be shared in upcoming newsletters.

New Teacher Induction Training Dates:

• 2/12/2026 -> 2/10/2026
• 3/12/2026
• 4/9/2026 -> 4/15/2026
• 5/14/2026

National School Day of Non-Violence and Peace

Contact: Rania Sawaged, Office of Student Life
Email: rsawaged@nps.k12.nj.us

In celebration of the National School Day of Non-Violence and Peace on Friday, January 30, 2026, please use the link below for activities you can use in your classroom or school to help promote awareness. All students are encouraged to join in reciting the Peace Pledge during morning announcements that day.

• Suggested Activities Link

Peace Pledge:

“On this National School Day of Non-Violence and Peace, we pledge to work towards a more peaceful world for all. We pledge to promote non-violence, respect for human rights, and understanding of different cultures and perspectives. We will combat hate, discrimination, and violence. We pledge to be active citizens in our City of Newark, and to use our voices and actions to promote peace and create a more just and equitable society. I also pledge to address the underlying issues that contribute to gun violence, such as poverty, racism, and a lack of access to mental health resources. We pledge to stand with survivors of gun violence and to honor the memory of those who have been lost. Together, we can create a future of peace and harmony for all people.”

OSE Updates and Professional Development Opportunities

Contact: Candice Wells, Office of Special Education
Email: c1wells@nps.k12.nj.us

The AMIRAH next assessment is scheduled for January. Select students with an IEP may be eligible to participate in the Paper-Based Alternate AMIRAH assessment. Students grades K to 3rd must participate. OPPET is hosting a PD session on Friday, January 9th. Please see your building principal to see if you should join the morning or afternoon session. Only students who have an IEP and are non-verbal, blind, or deaf/HH are eligible.

See additional information and resources regarding April's Autism Acceptance. NJDOE is hosting  "Autism Acceptance 3rd Annual Virtual Art Expo". Support participation by identifying individual students or classroom projects whose original artwork reflects creativity, engagement, and inclusion aligned with the theme “Autism in Action.”

See attached for additional OSE PD.

• 1-5-26 Teacher Talk

Important Information about District All City Theatre

Contact: Antonia Germanos, Office of Visual and Performing Arts
Email: agermanos@nps.k12.nj.us

Attention All NBOE Theatre Educators!

Deadlines for All City Theatre are quickly approaching. Ensure your school's Theatre program is represented, your students are prepared, and all your documents are submitted in a timely manner.

Review the All City Theatre Teacher Guidelines here:

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LY83D7tiyJkA1RF3gL2CqmGQu8FDygB3ZkTtJl46_xg/edit?usp=sharing

Allstate Long-Term Care with Whole Life

Contact: Jennifer Medina, Office of Benefit Services
Email: j1medina@nps.k12.nj.us

Allstate Long Term Care with Whole Life is a voluntary benefit that provides assistance to individuals with a chronic illness or disability over an extended period of time.

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to apply for coverage with guaranteed issue (no health questions to qualify) during this enrollment only!

This new option is voluntary. If you do not waive coverage or take no action, you will not be enrolled automatically. Only employees who take action to enroll in the Long Term Care benefit will be enrolled and receive the coverage. Visit Allstate LTC Information to get more information, schedule a call with a LTC Specialist, and instructions on how to enroll.

Attend the Newark/MSU Pipeline Information Session

Contact: Dr. Nicole Bethea, Staff Development
Email: NBethea@nps.k12.nj.us

Aspiring school/district leaders are encouraged to attend the Newark/Montclair Leadership Pipeline Program Information Session on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. At this session, participants will learn about this Master's in Educational Leadership program and the process to apply to be a member of Cohort 7 which will begin study in the fall of 2026.

Registration is required via the QR Code on the attached flyer:

• NMLPP-ELAD-v_3_2026.pdf

Virus Season Fall/Winter 2025-2026

Contact: Samuel G Carruth MD., Office of Health Services
Email: scarruth@nps.k12.nj.us

Help prevent the spread of seasonal viruses and other seasonal infective agents.

Handwashing:

• Teach and encourage proper handwashing.
• Hand washing before entering the cafeteria and frequently during the day.
• Hand sanitizers are less effective against certain viruses.
• Handwashing with soapy, warm running water for twenty (20) seconds remains an effective technique to reduce the spread of viruses.

Virus-Season-Guidelines-for-Suspected-Outbreaks.docx

Newark Accelerated Pathways Program (NAPP) Enhances Support!

Contact: Eboni Woolridge, HRS - Office of Staffing
Email: ewoolridge@nps.k12.nj.us

Newark Accelerated Pathways Program (NAPP) continues to enhance support by hosting On-Site Staff Development and Premium Pop-Up Test Events through the Engage2Learn (E2L) partnership. 

Important Dates

On-Site Staff Development - Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 3:45PM.

2026 Premium Pop-Up Test Events:

1. Saturday - February 21st
2. Saturday - April 25rd
3. Saturday - May 30th

Pathways teachers must complete the following link to register for testing events:

• https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRA_n8q9YJ8Chp6WmW73blSDE5EDNDKA-v2Jyw7Ultwfa-ew/viewform

All Career Pathways and NAPP teachers must upload their certification progress via the following link:

• https://forms.gle/erhTshEvfAbC6oQo6

America’s Field Trip Contest for Grades 3 - 12

America’s Field Trip is a nationwide contest that invites students across the country in grades 3 - 12 to be part of our nation’s 250th anniversary by sharing their perspectives on what America means to them — with the chance to earn an unforgettable field trip experience at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks.

Students are asked to submit writing or original artwork in response to the contest’s prompt: “What does America mean to you?”

For more information, visit: https://america250.org/fieldtrip/

Note: the deadline is March 30, 2026.

Newark Enrolls & Children of NBOE Staff

Contact: Rochanda Jackson, OPPET
Email: rjackson@nps.k12.nj.us

Policy code 5111, previously approved by the Board, allows District staff who do not reside in Newark to enroll their children in our schools. The application launched on November 1, 2025 and will close on January 30, 2026.

Here is the link to the Newark Enrolls application: https://newarkenrolls.org/

If you have any questions, please reach out to Rochanda Jackson, Executive Director of the Office of Policy, Planning, Evaluation, and Testing at rjackson@NPS.K12.NJ.US.

HIB/Title IX Documentation Forms: 2025-2026 SY

Contact: Stacy M Pelham-Hale, Student Support Services - Office of Student Life
Email: s1hale@nps.k12.nj.us

Click the link below to access the 2025-2026 SY HIB/Title IX Complete Documentation File Packet:

• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pjTsP-7rgLUfwhj-nbKIP5zI9H0QvzRy/view?usp=drive_link

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.

Teacher Talk is emailed every other Monday.

The submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday.