Board of Education

Newark surprises its 2017 Teacher of the Year

NEWARK — Walk into Brian Klasner’s classroom and odds are, you won’t find him sitting at his desk or lecturing at the front — he’ll be among his students.

On Tuesday, when a dozen school administrators, members of the media and fellow colleagues surprised Klasner to crown him Newark’s Teacher of the Year, he was sitting near the back of the room with a group of students.

“These are my parents guys,” Klasner, 29, said as he stood up to greet Schools Superintendent Christopher Cerf and his parents, Lisa and Joe Klasner.

“It’s validation of years of people telling me ‘No, you can’t do this,’ ‘No, that doesn’t work, use a textbook, don’t break the mold,'” said Klasner, a social studies teacher at East Side High. “I’ve always had these ideas and I’ve pushed as much as I could.”

Students sit in groups peering over iPads and talk about the internships they’ve landed at the East Orange Animal Hospital or as a physical education instructor. Their business cards are displayed along a wall.

“Coming from elementary school for me, it was difficult to adjust to high school,” said junior Romaine Johnson, 16. “He was always there for me and making sure I was on the right track … if it looks like if you have a bad day, he’ll say a pointed joke and just brighten your day.”

“Other teachers won’t take time out of their day to help you even with your personal issues,” said student Destiny Diaz, 16. “We’re learning in a different way.”

Diaz said the Klasner is always finding new ways to learn through technology. She looked around the room and said, “I don’t even know where the textbooks are.”

Klasner’s classroom is coated in posters of history icons like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., but also quirky images like a photo of a viral cat meme with the words “Mr. Klasner’s caring face.”

“I can never see myself sleeping in his class,” Johnson said — partly because Klasner will draw on your face with a dry-erase marker if you do, Diaz added.

Students say Klasner is always making jokes and showing funny pictures. The classroom Smart Board on Tuesday was projecting a picture of a baby elephant.

“If you’re singing a song, he’ll ask who sings it and say, ‘Let’s keep it that way,'” Johnson added.

Klasner was chosen from a pool of 22 other educators who were nominated by their principals. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, Klasner has taught for seven years and leads the school’s first Comic Book Club.

“This is a tremendous honor and a very well deserved one. We are incredibly impressed,” Superintendent Cerf said.

Klasner is an advisor for the school’s Big Picture Learning program, a national model that challenges traditional forms of schooling and lets students to take control of their learning through practical applications, such as internships.

The Big Picture academy enrolls 110 students at East Side and requires every student complete an internship.

“You don’t need a textbook to teach,” said Klasner who has taught at East Side for four years. “I also want to take them outside of the school, outside of class. Every one of my students has a business card, everyone has a resume, everyone has a cover letter, everyone has interviewed … there’s great traditional teachers, but I’ve been supported with every one of my crazy ideas.”

Source: By Karen Yi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

NPS Superintendent Christopher Cerf Speaks Out on Behalf Undocumented Newark Students

Last week, Newark Public Schools Superintendent Christopher Cerf, along with education leaders from around the country, signed a petition to support the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“While we can’t be certain at this point exactly what the new administration will do regarding DACA, what we do know for certain is how the recent election, and the rhetoric that accompanied it, has made Newark families feel,” explained Superintendent Cerf about why he felt compelled to sign this petition. “The DACA program and the DREAM Act proposal gave many immigrant families in our community a greater sense of stability and inclusion. With the election, many of these families and even some educators have expressed real fears about their future,” noted Superintendent Cerf.

He continued, “Newark is a community where one out of every three residents is born in another country, and 25 percent of students speak Spanish as a primary language at home. These students and their families contribute immeasurably to our community. I signed this petition to let all of our undocumented students and immigrant families know that we at Newark Public Schools stand with them and will do everything in our power to ensure that they continue to have access to a high-quality education here in Newark.”

See below to learn more about the education leaders who joined Superintendent Cerf in signing the petition to support the DACA program, advocacy efforts on behalf of undocumented students in Newark Public Schools, as well as workshop information the district is offering undocumented students who are leaving high school to pursue college or a career.

the 74 logoWhat John King and Other Education Leaders Who Signed Petition Want Trump to Know About DACA
“Notably missing from the president’s executive orders, however, was a repeal of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a policy created by President Barack Obama in 2012 to provide work authorization and freedom from deportation to undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. Still, amid fears the Trump administration will kill off DACA — his campaign website promised to ‘immediately terminate’ the program — more than 1,700 education leaders from across the country have signed a petition calling on the president to leave DACA alone… As the fate of hundreds of thousands of students remains up in the air, here are the reasons that some of America’s top education leaders signed the Stand for Children petition… Chris Cerf, superintendent, Newark Public Schools: ‘While we can’t be certain at this point exactly what the new administration will do regarding DACA, what we do know for certain is how the recent election, and the rhetoric that accompanied it, has made Newark families feel. The DACA program and the DREAM Act proposal gave many immigrant families in our community a greater sense of stability and inclusion. With the election, many of these families and even some educators have expressed real fears about their future. Newark is a community where one out of every three residents is born in another country, and 25 percent of students speak Spanish as a primary language at home. These students and their families contribute immeasurably to our community. I signed this petition to let them know that we at Newark Public Schools stand with them and will do everything in our power to ensure that they continue to have access to a high-quality education here in Newark.’” (The 74, 1/25/17)

njcomTeachers petition district to defy Trump, protect immigrant students
“A group of public school teachers are petitioning the Newark school district to protect immigrant children who may be targeted under the President Donald J. Trump’s proposed crackdown on illegal immigration. During Tuesday’s School Advisory Board meeting, teacher Branden Rippey presented a petition signed by more than 160 educators and community members asking the district to declare schools off limits to federal immigration authorities, refuse to share students’ personal information and take concrete steps to carry out both actions… The petition asked Newark schools to officially pledge to stand between these anti-immigration forces and the students it threatens. ‘We demand this be more than symbolic language,’ the petition read. Schools Superintendent Christopher Cerf said he had already signed a petition to protect young undocumented students who benefited from Obama’s executive action to protect them from deportation and give them work permits. ‘I will assure you that I share your perspective and this organization is not going to cooperate with that kind of conduct,’ Cerf said.” (NJ.com, 1/25/17)

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UNDOCU-Newark: A Workshop on Access to Higher Education Services for Undocumented Students & Parents
On February 4, 2017 from 9am to 1pm, Newark Public Schools, Essex County College, Rutgers Law School, UndocuJersey, and Make the Road NJ are offering a free conference for undocumented students. The workshop will talk about the college admissions and financial aid process for students regardless of immigration status. There will also be information regarding scholarship opportunities and free Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) screenings offered. (Newark Public Schools Website)

Newark Public Schools Partners with the College Board to Expand Student Access to SAT® Testing and AP® Course Work

Newark students will have access to additional college readiness assessments, and increased opportunities to participate in college-level work in high school

[Newark, NJ – June 28, 2016] – Newark Public Schools (NPS) today announced an expansive partnership with the College Board to further the district’s goal of increasing the number of students who graduate from high school and pursue a college education. Through this partnership, NPS will work with the College Board to provide expanded access to the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) and the SAT®, as well as a higher quality and quantity of Advanced Placement® (AP®) course work, an important consideration in college applications.

“Our partnership with the College Board is critically important to the future long-term academic success of our young men and women. It is time that we offer students in Newark the same opportunities that students across New Jersey have been afforded for a number of years,” said NPS Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf. “The College Board is partnering with us to ensure that students recognize and make the most of the opportunities available to them and realize their tremendous potential.”

District leadership worked with school leaders and educators across the district to gather feedback on the decision and to identify the programs, resources, and assessments that would provide students with the most value. Our partnership with the College Board is designed to increase access to valuable assessments and courses that play a key role in the college admission and success process:

  • Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)
    Beginning this fall, NPS will provide the PSAT/NMSQT to all of the district’s 10th- and 11th-grade students. The PSAT/NMSQT measures the same skills and knowledge as the SAT, so students and educators will be able to monitor progress and identify areas in need of improvement. In addition, PSAT/NMSQT results are the best predictor of a student’s likelihood to succeed in certain AP courses. And, students who take the PSAT/NMSQT can access more than $180 million in expanded scholarship opportunities.
  • SAT School Day
    NPS will participate in SAT School Day in April, providing the test to all 11th-graders at individual schools across the district. SAT School Day helps foster a college-going culture and increases access to college, especially among first-generation college-bound students. SAT School Day is especially beneficial for those students who may otherwise face barriers to standard Saturday administrations and would miss out on this important step in the college-going process.
  • Official SAT Practice Through Khan Academy®
    All students have access to free, personalized practice through Khan Academy, a leader in online education. Official SAT Practice on khanacademy.org is helping to level the playing field for all students who are interested in taking the SAT and preparing for college. Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT benefit from these tools, which help reinforce what students are learning in classrooms and focus on the content tested, not just test-taking strategies.

“The PSAT/NMSQT and SAT are assessments that provide opportunities for students to qualify for financial scholarships, as well as improve their college readiness,” said Superintendent Cerf. “We will stop administering unnecessary tests, and instead focus on providing assessments that offer valuable information to help advance our students’ educational opportunities.”

NPS and the College Board will also work together to increase the quality and quantity of the Advanced Placement courses offered across the district. The district will begin by offering NPS teachers access to AP Mentoring, a teacher-to-teacher professional development program, to ensure educators are successful in leading AP course work. Research shows that students who succeed in challenging course work, such as Advanced Placement, are more likely to graduate college on time, and have the potential to save time and money through placement and credit-granting policies.

“We are excited to partner with Newark Public Schools and the entire community of Newark,” said College Board President and CEO David Coleman. “Assessment without opportunity is a thing of the past. We are committed to partnering with the Newark Public Schools to ensure that every student has access to tests that can deliver powerful benefits, including scholarships, college admission, and course credit.”

The College Board will expand its acclaimed Access to Opportunity™ program to more Newark students. The College Board will provide high school course work information, college application fee waivers, and critical financial aid guidance to Newark students. Additionally, the College Board will work with community-based organizations, such as the Boys & Girls Club, to train them on the use of Khan Academy practice tools so students can continue their academic preparation after the normal school day.

NPS Hosts The First Annual Parent Appreciation Dinner

Parent Volunteers were honored and thanked for the academic and emotional support they provided students and community members throughout the year

ParentAppreciationDinner
Over 180 parents and students attended the Parent Appreciation dinner that recognized the hardworking parent volunteers who provide academic and emotional support to students and school community members throughout the year. NPS Executive Director of Family and Community Engagement Margarita Muniz (Left) and Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf (Right)

[Newark, NJ – June 17, 2016] – Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf of Newark Public Schools (NPS) and the Office of Family and Community Engagement hosted the first annual Parent Appreciation Dinner at the Family Support Center this past Wednesday. Over 180 parents and students attended the event that recognized the hardworking parent volunteers who provide academic and emotional support to students and school community members throughout the year.

“At NPS, we are privileged to have a community of parents who are willing to go above and beyond to donate their time and energy to support our students outside the classroom in order to ensure they are college and career ready,” said Superintendent Cerf. “Being a parent is a full time job, the extra work these individuals put in to benefit our students is something we as a community are sincerely grateful for.”

The program included a performance by Abington Avenue Latin Jazz Ensemble and remarks from Newark School Advisory Board Chairperson Antoinette Baskerville-Richardson, NPS Executive Director of Family and Community Engagement Margarita Muniz and Superintendent Cerf.

Newark Public Schools Officially Opens Oliver Street School

[Newark, NJ – June 13, 2016] – This Tuesday, Newark Public Schools (NPS) will be participating in a ribbon cutting ceremony officially welcoming students, parents and teachers to the grand opening of the new Oliver Street School in the East Ward of Newark. Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf, and state and local officials will be attending the event.

The Schools Development Authority (SDA) invested $73.6 million dollars to build the state-of-the-art school, which is the second newly constructed facility in the school district after Elliott Street School since 2010.

Media planning to attend should RSVP to Dreena Whitfield at DWhitfield@nullNPS.K12.NJ.US.

Oliver Street School Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Who:

  • Mayor Ras J. Baraka (City of Newark)
  • Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf (Newark Public Schools)
  • Councilman Augusto Amador (East Ward, City of Newark)
  • Chairperson Antoinette Baskerville-Richardson (Board of Education, City of Newark)
  • Douglas J. Petty (Principal, Elliott Street School)
  • Senator M. Teresa Ruiz (State Senator, District 29)
  • County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. (Essex County)
  • Charles McKenna (CEO, New Jersey Schools Development Authority)
  • Assistant Superintendent Roger León (Newark Public Schools)

When:

  • Tuesday, June 14, 2016
    11:00am

Where:

  • Oliver Street School
    86 Oliver Street
    Newark, NJ 07105

Newark Public Schools Celebrates its Most Effective Teachers with $1.3 Million in Merit Bonuses

Bonus Checks to Hit the Mailboxes of 190 Teachers Across the District this Week

[August 23, 2013 – Newark, New Jersey] Newark Public Schools (NPS) announced today the first merit-based bonuses in its history, issuing $1.3 million to its most effective teachers throughout the district. In total, 190 teachers will receive one of four types of bonuses, ranging from $5,000 to $12,500. Letters from Superintendent Cami Anderson, along with the checks, were issued on Friday, August 23rd.

“We are keeping a laser focus on ensuring the families of Newark have an effective teacher in every classroom,” stated Superintendent of the Newark Public Schools Cami Anderson. “We are thrilled to celebrate the success of Newark’s best and equally proud to set a new standard for our community where our best can be rewarded. Today’s announcement is a culmination of a great deal of hard work from many grassroots organizations uniting to improve our community. Together, with one voice, we are backing our hard-working teachers across the district and saying that greatness is not only something to aspire to but something that will now be rewarded.”

“Great teachers should be recognized and rewarded,” stated Newark Teacher’s Union (NTU) President Joe Delgrosso “The NTU is proud to have negotiated with the district a breakthrough contract and congratulates the 190 teachers who received their well-deserved merit bonuses.”

Today’s announcement finalizes the implementation of teacher evaluations in NPS for the 2012-13 school year and is the first series of bonuses that are due since last November’s ratification of the landmark three-year teacher’s contract, the state’s first to provide bonus pay based on classroom performance.

Elizabeth Corker, a Mount Vernon teacher who will receive one of the merit bonuses stated,“This is an honor to be among the first group of teachers who are being recognized for maintaining high standards for the benefit of our students. I am inspired by my students and will continue to expose them to the innovative and comprehensive instruction that is needed to master academic, social and emotional skills in preparation for college.”

Teachers who are paid on the Universal Salary Scale and receive a “Highly Effective” rating on the Annual Summative Evaluation, now earn a step on the salary scale for the following year and also are eligible to receive bonuses of up to $12,500.

Specifically, if a teacher who is on the Universal Scale is:

  • rated Highly Effective, s/he receives $5,000;
  • rated Highly Effective and works in a hard-to-staff subject, s/he receives an additional $2,500, for a total bonus of $7,500
  • rated Highly Effective and works in one of the lowest (25%) performing school, s/he receives an additional $5,000, for a total bonus of $10,000; and
  • rated Highly Effective and works both in a hard-to-staff subject and in one of the lowest (25%) performing schools, s/he would get all three bonuses for a total of $12,500.

The following is a breakdown of bonus payments of the 2012-13 academic year.

Bonus Type Bonus Amount Number of Teachers Total Amount
Highly Effective $5,000 102 $510,000
Highly Effective and in Hard-to-Staff Subject $7,500 41 $307,500
Highly Effective and in Lowest-Performing Schools $10,000 30 $300,000
Highly Effective and in Lowest-Performing Schools, and in Hard-to-Staff Subject $12,500 17 $212,500
Total 190 $1,330,000