Message from the Office of Teaching and Learning

Dear Teachers and Instructional Staff,

Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the dedication, creativity, and passion you bring to our classrooms each day. Your tireless efforts make a profound difference in the lives of our students, and I am excited to see all that we will accomplish together in the year ahead.

As we continue our journey of excellence in Teaching and Learning, I want to remind you of the importance of two key practices that are integral to student success: utilizing Cornell Notes and building student work portfolios. Research underscores the value of these strategies. Jacobs (2008) found that Cornell Notes improve organizational skills and significantly enhance retention and understanding of material, empowering students to become active and reflective learners. Similarly, Paulson and Meyer (1991) emphasize that student portfolios are transformative tools, offering a living, growing collection of work that showcases their efforts, progress, and achievements. These practices not only enrich learning but also foster critical thinking, self-assessment, and ownership of their educational journey.

As we move forward, let us collectively recommit to these approaches, ensuring they are fully embedded in our instructional practices. Together, we can continue to nurture an environment where students thrive, achieving excellence and personal growth.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our mission. Here’s to a successful and inspiring year ahead!

Assistant Superintendent Esteves

Register for the Student Eco Citizenship Program (New)

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

Classes in grades 5-8 can participate in a FREE program that will encourage the next generation of environmental citizens. Once registered, teachers will have access to lesson resources that will guide students toward implementing a project that is a solution to an environmental issue.

Please click on the link below for more information:

• https://www.fill.foundation/panasonic/

Saturday School Attendance

Contact: Darren Watsky, Student Information Services
Email: dwatsky@nps.k12.nj.us

Teachers who are part of the school’s Saturday School program must take attendance on Saturday. Attendance is taken for the Saturday class in the very same manner that attendance is taken for Homeroom or any other class in which attendance is taken on a daily basis. Attendance MUST be taken every Saturday.

Review of School Leadership Council Activity Summary (New)

Contact: Matt Brewster, Office of Staff Development
Email: MBrewster@nps.k12.nj.us

The School Leadership Council (SLC) work began on August 7, 2024 when Dr. Saul Rubinstein and his team from the Rutgers University School of Labor & Management, along with Newark Teachers Union (NTU) President, John Abeigon, and Superintendent León presented to the District’s full administrative staff at Montclair State University. Then, on September 26, 2024, they led a virtual SLC Orientation for all Principals and followed that up with an in-person session for all Principals and their SLC Chairs the following day, September 27, 2024. Immediately following those introductory meetings, the direct professional development for the 16 SLCs in cohort 1 began. Between October 4th and December 13th, each SLC underwent two full days of professional development, one day at the Rutgers Labor Education Center in New Brunswick and another day here in Newark. 

An SLC Breakfast Networking Forum for the Principals and SLC Chairs of the 16 cohort 1 schools is scheduled for Monday, January 6, 2025.

Once the 16 schools in cohort 2 are announced, we will begin scheduling the two days of professional development for their SLCs. All of the professional development for the cohort 2 SLCs will be held here in Newark, beginning in February.

HIB/Title IX Mid-Year Training (New)

Contact: Stacy M. Pelham-Hale, Office of Student Life
Email: S1hale@nps.k12.nj.us

• Save the Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2025
• Time: 8:30am - 11:30am  
• Location: Harold Wilson (190 Muhammad Ali Ave. Newark, NJ)

HIB Specialists/Title IX Coordinators are required to attend the Mid-Year HIB/Title IX Overview Training.

Click the link to register: https://forms.gle/rT5H1yLepNA9EctE8.

National School Day of Non-Violence and Peace (New)

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

Check out the link below for some activities that you can incorporate in your classroom or school to promote awareness for the National School Day of Non-Violence and Peace on Thursday, January 30, 2025. All students are to take part in an activity during the week of January 27th, as well as in the recitation of the peace pledge on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 10 AM.

• Suggested Peace Day Activities

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.”

Special Education Resources and Updates (New)

Contact: LaPrice Weatherington, Office of Special Education
Email: lweatherington@nps.k12.nj.us

Get ready for the April 7th Annual Autism Kickoff. All schools can support students with Autism.  

See the newsletter linked below for upcoming events and resources. Also, see professional development opportunities for new special education teachers, for teachers in the Autism, ERI, and PSD program and more. PD for EdPlan and paraprofessionals is also included. 

• 1-6-25-Teacher-Talk

Free: Culturally Responsive Arts Education Workshop Series (New)

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

Arts Ed New Jersey is offering a FREE workshop to all K-12 District Educators. The Culturally Responsive Arts Education (CRAE) Workout is an eight-week curated asynchronous and synchronous experience that focuses on developing the capacity of educators and administrators to think about how culturally relevant and responsive approaches can shift curriculum, instructional content, and teaching practices to more effectively represent and validate all students’ cultures and lived experiences.

• DATES: January 20, 2025 - March 14, 2025
• FEE: FREE
• Registration Link

New Teacher Induction: January 14, 2025 from 3:30-5:30pm (New)

Contact: Dana Moore-Mishoe, HRS - Office of Educator Effectiveness
Email: evaluations@nps.k12.nj.us

Teachers new to Newark (regardless of previous years of experience) are expected to attend 6 of the 10 monthly sessions that will be offered this year. The January sessions will focus on exploring the concepts of dimensionality and phenomenon-driven instruction. This session will be led by the NBOE Office of Science. Registration, meeting link, & other sessions can be found in the schedule here.

Traditional Mentor Training # 2 - Registration Deadline January 15 (New)

Contact: Dana Moore-Mishoe, HRS - Office of Educator Effectiveness
Email: evaluations@nps.k12.nj.us

The next mentor training session is scheduled for January 16, 2025. This session is intended for 1st or 2nd year mentors, although mentors of any experience are welcome to attend. We will focus on how to provide instructional feedback so that it will be received.

• Please register here

New Hire / Hard to Staff Bonus Guidelines SY 24-25 (New)

Contact: Justine Carter, HRS - Office of Staffing
Email: InstructionalStaffing@nps.k12.nj.us

Please click here for eligibility requirements and payout guidelines. If you have ANY questions, please complete this Google Form.

Migrating from Google Classroom to Schoology Learning

Contact: Abdullah Ansari, Executive Director, Division of Information Technology
Email: aansari@NPS.K12.NJ.US

Schoology Learning is a comprehensive Learning Management System (LMS) with advanced capabilities that will facilitate personalized learning and will serve as the foundation for the District’s adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the area of Teaching and Learning. Unlike Google Classroom, Schoology natively integrates with the entire PowerSchool suite, including our newly established Data Warehouse called Connected Intelligence. Further, the integration of the PowerBuddy AI app within Schoology will provide teachers and students with an AI-based assistive technology that will transform teaching and learning. Schoology will provide a sophisticated environment for collaboration for all stakeholders including teachers, students, parents, school administrators, nurses, etc. The AI capability of Schoology will allow teachers to rapidly create lesson plans and assessments which will save them a significant amount of time. Students can use the AI capability to have a personal tutor at their disposal at any time of the day. The advanced analytics associated with Schoology will facilitate data-driven decision making which plays a pivotal role in contemporary educational settings. Other features such as the ability to grade students’ work in Schoology and have it automatically sync with PowerSchool is a major improvement over Google Classroom. Schoology also integrates with the Google Workspace including Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, etc. so users will not lose any of those functionalities when they migrate to Schoology. The ability to provide access in multiple languages, including Spanish, is also a major advantage over Google Classroom.

In short, Google Classroom is a basic LMS with limited functionality that does not have the sophistication and the rich feature set required in a contemporary instructional setting. Further, as the District migrates to an AI-enabled technology paradigm, implementation of a contemporary LMS such as Schoology in place of the legacy Google Classroom is a crucial first step in establishing an AI-based Ecosystem that the District strives to achieve.

We are currently at Technology, Data Science & Information Technology, Hawkins, Speedway, and Roberto Clemente, and assisting teachers to successfully roll-out this change in a methodical way. We will be eventually coming to all other schools in the District in due time and will post updates in Teacher Talk.

Cycle 2 Progress Reports: Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Contact: Darren Watsky, Student Information Services
Email: dwatsky@nps.k12.nj.us

The Q2 progress reports will be delivered on Tuesday, January 7. In PowerTeacher Pro, update each student’s Q2 final grade with a comment. Comments should include the student’s current level of achievement, and the teacher should have data to support the statement. Comments are limited to 1000 characters due to space limitations. To view all comments entered, select:

Reports » Final Grade Report » Select Classes » Select Comments » Run Report

Grant Program - Apply to Teach STEM Classes In Nonpublic Schools

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

The Department of Education has a grant program that remunerates public school teachers to teach Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) classes in nonpublic schools during hours in which the teacher has no conflicting public school duties. 

For more information on eligibility requirements and how to apply, please click on the link below:

• https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/STEMFY26 

The survey must be completed by January 15, 2025.

Trauma Informed Care/Healing Centered Arts Models Peer Learning Community

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

ATTENTION: Arts Ed Newark (AEN) is offering 6 FREE virtual sessions focusing on Trauma Informed Care/Healing Centered Arts Models Peer Learning Community to anyone who has completed the AEN Healing Centered & the Arts Training Series.

AEN is offering a stipend to participants who attend all 6 sessions. 

See flyer attached:

• Trauma-Informed-Care-Healing-Centered-arts-models-Peer-Learning-Community.pdf

Adult Education Teaching Opportunities Open!

Contact: Andre Hollis, Adult Education
Email: a1hollis@nps.k12.nj.us

The Newark Public Schools Adult Education Department is currently accepting applications from certified, internal teachers for its adult education program. Classes are held at schools across all wards of the city and in local public libraries. Schedules and locations vary depending on the classes offered.

For more details about the program, please visit https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/adult-education/

To apply, please click this link and apply to JobID: 1832

High School Entrance Exam

Contact: Lydia Alvarez, Office of Policy, Planning, Evaluation, and Testing (OPPET)
Email: Lalvarez@nps.k12.nj.us

We are looking for certified teachers and staff members.

It's that time of year when we invite staff members to sign up to assist with the High School Entrance Exam.

This year, the first administration is scheduled for February 15, and the second for February 22.

Student Loan Forgiveness Applications

Contact: Ivette Toledo, Human Resource Services
Email: itoledo@nps.k12.nj.us

We encourage you to take advantage of the financial relief opportunities that are available to you. By actively researching various student loan forgiveness programs, you can find options that best suit your needs.

Our dedicated Records Verification team is ready to assist you with any employer verification forms required for your application. However, you must research these programs and submit your documents on time. Your proactive approach will significantly improve your chances of success.

HIB/Title IX Q&A Hour: Every First Friday

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

Please join our HIB/Title IX Monthly Q&A Hour! We’ll be meeting every First Friday to provide an open space for questions, discussion, and guidance. This is a valuable opportunity to ensure we’re all aligned on best practices and have the support we need to address our students' needs. Our goal is to make these sessions collaborative and impactful, so come prepared with any cases, questions, or concerns you may want to address.

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 2, 2024 and will close on February 7, 2025. 

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.

NBOE and MSU Leadership Pipeline Program for Fall 2025

Contact: Matt Brewster, Staff Development
Email: MBrewster@nps.k12.nj.us

If you have been contemplating becoming a supervisor or school administrator, now is the perfect time to take action. Join us for a virtual information session on February 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM to learn how the Newark/MSU Leadership Pipeline Program is designed to provide educators with the skills, knowledge, and credentials needed to acquire a leadership role in the District.

• Earn your Master of Arts in Educational Leadership in addition to Supervisor and Principal certifications
• Reduction in tuition prices

Click here to register!

Certifications Yearly Reminders

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

The Certification Team is hosting Virtual Office Hours and Certification Trainings throughout the 2024-2025 school year.  

Register for the Virtual Office Hours and the Trainings by using the following link: https://forms.gle/J9EmbPxAgG3eiM

Please check NJEdCert to ensure that your Instructional, Educational Services, and Administrator certificates (if applicable) are accurate and up to date.

Contact the Certifications team if you are awaiting the issuance of a Provisional or Standard license.

The Certifications Team can be reached via email at certifications@nps.k12.nj.us.

Connecting with NBOE HRS through Employee Self Service (ESS) and NBOEHRS.com

Contact: Randy Schrader, Employee Services
Email: mjwilliams@nps.k12.nj.us

Employee Services would like to encourage all staff to become familiar with the two online tools:

1. NBOEHRS.com: 24/7 source of information Benefits, Pension, Payroll, and much more.  

Employee Self Service (ESS): to complete numerous HR activities, including View Paycheck, update Direct Deposit or W-4, confirm and update Personal Information, and Submit Retirement and Resignation.

Culture & Climate Annual Calendar SY24-25

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

Review the Culture & Climate Calendar SY 2024-2025. This calendar is suggested to be utilized as a guide and reference when planning for required/suggested activities, service/community projects, and additional school events throughout the school year.

To streamline the artifact collection process, each month, the principal will designate one person from your school to be in charge of uploading pictures and artifacts to the relevant slide assigned to your school.

Please reference the due dates and directions.

Teacher Talk is emailed every other Monday.

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