Message from the Office of Teaching & LearningDear Teachers and Instructional Staff,  Happy Read Across America Week!
This week, we join schools nationwide in celebrating the power of reading and the written word. Reading opens doors to new worlds, sparks imagination, and fosters a lifelong love of learning. As Dr. Seuss said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Research shows that independent reading improves fluency, comprehension, and motivation. By encouraging students to choose books that interest them, we help build their confidence and stamina as readers. I am honored to be a Guest Reader at several schools this week and look forward to sharing the joy of storytelling with our students. Let’s make this week memorable by inspiring all readers, teachers and students alike, to explore, dream, and grow. To close, here is a poem by Emily Dickinson that celebrates the transformative power of reading: There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll.
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!
Thank you for your dedication to nurturing a vibrant culture of literacy. With gratitude, Assistant Superintendent Sylvia Esteves |
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Early Childhood Teachers
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Program Assessments - ECERS and TPOTContact: 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. |
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Elementary School Teachers
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New Gifted & Talented Teacher Resource Site (New)Contact: Norma Ramos, Gifted & Talented
Email: nramos@nps.k12.nj.us The Office of Gifted & Talented is excited to share a new, centralized Teacher Resource Site designed to support educators at every step of the G&T process. This one-stop resource provides: - A clear overview of the Gifted & Talented identification process
- Easy access to nomination forms
- Guidance and information about the CogAT screener
- Instructional resources to support advanced and high‑potential learners
Whether you are nominating a student, learning more about gifted identification, or looking for classroom resources, this site brings everything together in one convenient location. Please click the link below to explore the new Gifted & Talented Teacher Resource Site and bookmark it for future reference: |
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Dates to Remember (New)Contact: Kenneth Montalbano, Office of the Superintendent
Email: KMontalbano@NPS.K12.NJ.US Please review the following Dates to Remember to be aware of District-wide events and competitions, some which are coming in the months leading to the end of this school year. |
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The Next Decade: 2020-30 Strategic Plan (New)Contact: Paula Perrone, Office of the Superintendent
Email: pperrone@nps.k12.nj.us Please see below for review of important links. The Next Decade: 2020-30 |
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Guidance for Schools on Student Use of Internet-Enabled Devices (New)Contact: Paula Perrone, Office of the Superintendent
Email: pperrone@nps.k12.nj.us  Please review the NJ Department of Education Guidance for Schools on Student Use of Internet-Enabled Devices. A committee (comprised of teachers, students, parents, and principals) will be formed in the coming months to provide policy recommendations to the Superintendent. The Superintendent selected Silvia Pereira to serve as co-chairpersons with Dr. Perrone.
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College Spirit Day - April 1, 2026 (New) Contact: Paula Perrone, Office of the Superintendent
Email: pperrone@nps.k12.nj.us
The NBOE Class of 2027 College Fair is Wednesday, April 1, 2026, and we are celebrating with a District-wide College Spirit Day!
All staff are encouraged to wear their favorite college or university gear to fill our schools with college pride! |
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Calling All NBOE Women Leaders (New)Contact: Shamere Williams, Office of the Deputy Superintendent
Email: s21williams@nps.k12.nj.us You are cordially invited to attend the 5th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference: Writing Your Story, Chapter II. The event will take place in-person on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Newark Vocational High School from 8:30am to 2:30pm. Breakfast will open at 8:00am. Please note, space is limited and the deadline to complete the registration form is Friday, March 6, 2026. For your convenience, parking is available onsite at Newark Vocational High School. Additional parking will be made available at American History High School. Registration: https://forms.gle/w4QnoMquErwBVi5J6 |
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 Ramadan 2026 (New)
Contact: Nancy Deering, Board Relations
Email: ndeering@nps.k12.nj.us Please join us for the Student and Employee Iftar on Thursday, March 5th at Weequahic High School. |
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Cycle 3 Progress Reports - Tuesday, March 10, 2026 (New)Contact: Esther Lewars, OPPET - Student Information Services
Email: elewars@nps.k12.nj.us The Q3 progress reports will be delivered on Tuesday, March 10th. In PowerTeacher Pro, update each student’s Q3 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. |
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OSE Updates and Workshops (New)Contact: LaPrice Weatherington, Office of Special Education
Email: lweatherington@nps.k12.nj.us The New Jersey Department of Education is offering free professional development from March 2, 2026 to March 13, 2026. Please see the NJDOE’s Winter Learning Institute to check out workshops from Inclusive Practices, Behavior Support, Case Management & Compliance, Family Engagement, Early Childhood & Pre-School and Secondary Transition and Postsecondary Preparation. Teachers should confirm with their building principals for permission to attend so that coverage can be arranged. See the attached for the full monthly workshops presented by the Office of Special Education. |
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Transfer Period! (New)Contact: Justine Carter, HRS - Office of Staffing
Email: j1carter@nps.k12.nj.us If you are interested in transferring to one of our AMAZING schools, please visit Frontline between March 23rd and April 2nd to apply. Hiring managers will review, and if your transfer is approved by all parties, notifications will be provided by HRS. **Check out the fantastic opportunities at the elementary and high school level by reviewing the following links: NBOE High School Profiles or NBOE Elementary School Profiles. For more information about our academies at the high school level, please visit: https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/academies/ ** |
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New Teacher Induction March In-Person Training (New)Contact: Jennifer Rodriguez, HRS - Office of Educator Effectiveness
Email: evaluations@nps.k12.nj.us The New Teacher Induction training scheduled for the month of March will be on March 19th and will be in-person at Harold Wilson. We ask that all new teachers register to attend by Friday, March 13. Please share this information with other teachers to ensure successful attendance and participation. If there are any questions, contact the Office of Educator Effectiveness at evaluations@NPS.K12.NJ.US. New Date: Thursday, March 19
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: Harold Wilson
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/uwqKWgjyF5sVpTn48 (register by March 13) |
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All Teachers
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See the Summer Program 2026 TimelinesContact: Julianne Bello, Office of Extended Learning Time
Email: jbello@nps.k12.nj.us  Please see the following timelines for Summer 2026:
- Parents, families and schools notified of mandatory registration - February 9, 2026
- Staff job announcements posted - rolling basis until March 2, 2026
- Program brochure and application launch - April 2, 2026
- Program registration ends - May 15, 2026
- Parent/Student notification of enrollment - June 5, 2026
- Summer Staff Orientation and Organization Days - June 24 and 25, 2026
- Summer Program Dates - July 6 to August 7, 2026
More information can be found at: https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/summerprograms/ |
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Summer Quest Interest Meeting
Contact: Julianne Bello, Office of Extended Learning Time
Email: jbello@nps.k12.nj.us Winter may be in full swing, but the Office of Extended Learning is already setting the stage for an unforgettable 2026 Summer Quest program! Summer Quest provides recreation and enrichment activities from 1-6 pm for students currently in grades K-7 at various elementary locations from July 6 to August 7, 2026. Teachers are needed to lead sports, recreation, visual and performing arts, book club, games, CTE explorations, STEM, and other activities! Curious to learn more? We will be holding an information/interest session soon. Please fill out the Summer 2026 Quest Interest Form to receive an invitation! |
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Homework HotlineContact: Michael Padilla, Office of Instructional Technology
Email: m4padilla@nps.k12.nj.us  The Homework Hotline tutoring resource is available to all NPS students. This valuable service provides free, accessible, academic support outside of the classroom, helping students strengthen their understanding of challenging concepts and build confidence in their learning.
Teachers across the District are encouraged to have students utilize the Homework Hotline for: - Assistance with homework and study questions
- Remediation for students with academic struggles in danger of failing
Informing and encouraging your students to utilize this resource can make a significant difference in student engagement and success. Together, we can ensure that every NPS student has the support they need to thrive academically. |
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5th Annual OSL ConferenceContact: Rania Sawaged, Student Support Services
Email: rsawaged@nps.k12.nj.us On Tuesday, March 3rd, the Office of Student Life will host our 5th Annual Conference at Saint Elizabeth University. Attendance is required for all school counselors and social worker 2s. Please reach out if you have any questions. |
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March 2nd is SEL Day- Kicking off SEL WEEK!Contact: La Tonya D. White, Office of Student Life
Email: LDWhite@nps.k12.nj.us  Let's Celebrate SEL Week Across NBOE!
The #SELDay theme for 2026 is…Skills for Community, Skills for Career. SEL Day is a movement highlighting the power of social-emotional learning to support students’ academic recovery, mental health, and overall well-being. The heart of SEL Day is simple: celebrate and share the incredible SEL work happening in your classrooms and schools, on SEL Day and every day. During SEL Week (March 2–6), we want to amplify these efforts and make #SELday trend across social media platforms. |
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Professional Development for StaffContact: Olawunmi Ojoye, Office of Federal Programs and Grants
Email: OOjoye@nps.k12.nj.us  In March, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan NJ will facilitate 3 virtual afterschool professional development sessions on Sex Education to provide strategies necessary for supportive and inclusive learning environments. Click below to register through Grow:
Please see the attached flyer for more information: Supplemental Pay will be offered for those who attend the sessions. All sessions will be from 3:30-5:00pm. |
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FREE Professional Development Opportunities for all StaffContact: Olawunmi Ojoye, Office of Federal Programs and Grants
Email: OOjoye@nps.k12.nj.us 
Thanks to CDC DASH Grant funds, the NBOE has partnered with Family Connections to offer free, confidential, safe, affirming support and services for ALL youth, families, and school staff. For more details, please click on the flyers below. Please reach out to Family Connections representative - JP Pedoto at jpedoto@familyconnectionsnj.org to discuss supports and services available for your school. |
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Summer School SeasonContact: Dr. Claire S. Emmanuel, HRS - Office of Recruitment
Email: cemmanuel@nps.k12.nj.us 
We are excited to begin our summer season and wanted to share some thoughts: - An application is needed for all summer roles.
- Select desired programs in one application.
- The summer postings are for internal candidates
- Select: “Yes, I am a current employee of NBOE”
Note: All postings will close by May 15, 2026 |
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4K-Transfer Bilingual/Bicultural BonusContact: Dr. Claire S. Emmanuel, HRS - Office of Recruitment
Email: cemmanuel@nps.k12.nj.us  This unique opportunity is exclusively available to current eligible teachers willing to become Bilingual/Bicultural certification. Are you eligible? See eligibility requirements here.
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Referral Bonus - Get 1K or More!Contact: Dr. Claire S. Emmanuel, HRS - Office of Recruitment
Email: cemmanuel@nps.k12.nj.us  Know of a great teacher? Refer them to NBOE and get paid. If they are hired and meet our requirements, you will receive a $1,000 bonus! The more you refer, the more you receive!
See guidelines here! |
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Hack Against HateContact: Michael Padilla, Office of Instructional Technology
Email: m4padilla@nps.k12.nj.us  Science Park Girls Who Code invites Newark Public School students to Hack Against Hate on Saturday, March 28th! We are hosting a Computer Science Fair that will showcase programs that promote diversity and inclusivity. We invite students of all coding levels to create and submit entries. Everyone is invited to register and attend even if they do not submit an entry. We will have a "Learn to Code" workshop for beginners!
For more information, please visit the link: |
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 Gut Health Starts With Cylinder!
Contact: Jennifer Medina, Office of Benefit Services
Email: j1medina@nps.k12.nj.us Gas? Bloating? Constipation? Cylinder has you covered! Cylinder is a virtual, digestive health program that’s covered at 100%—no co-pays or out-of-pocket fees if you are enrolled in one of the District's health plans. Cylinder includes custom care plans, virtual appointments with Registered Dietitians and Health Coaches, and tools like meal plans and a gut microbiome analysis. Sign up now at https://go.cylinderhealth.com/NBOE/. |
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2026 ART Competition with Multiple Awards and $6K Grand PrizeContact: 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. 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 |
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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. |
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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 
Click the link below to access the 2025-2026 SY HIB/Title IX Complete Documentation File Packet: 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. |
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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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