| Airing Schedule |
NJTV | Thirteen | FIOS1 |
| Saturday, October 20, 2018 |
6:00 am
5:30 pm |
8:30 am | 6:00 am
11:30 am |
| Sunday, October 21, 2018 |
8:00 am | 11:30 pm | |
| Monday, October 22, 2018 |
6:30 am | ||
| Friday, October 26, 2018 |
4:30 pm | ||
| Check your local listings for channel information. |
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Toni Yates interviews Roger Leon, the first Hispanic superintendent of Newark Public Schools. As seen on ABC Channel 7.
[NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC)] Roger Leon is the first Hispanic superintendent of Newark Public Schools.
Leon knows plenty about Newark Public Schools – he was a student, a teacher and now he’s the boss.
He is also the first superintendent in the driver’s seat after the state released its 20-plus year control over the district.
Newark, the largest school district in New Jersey, has been one of the state’s most challenged with low test scores and absenteeism. Those are two of the main issues Leon has taken on to turn around.
[Newark, NJ – October 5, 2018] Newark Superintendent of Schools Roger León announced today that he will launch his Breakfast with the Superintendent series on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The first breakfast, which is for South Ward students and parents only, will be held at the Belmont Runyon School from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Superintendent León said, “It is important for there to be clear lines of communication between parents, students and the school district – which is the reason why I created Breakfast with the Superintendent.” The Superintendent continued, “The purpose of the breakfast is for me to hear directly from the parents and students about their ideas on how we can work together to ensure academic success for our student scholars and provide the best school experience possible. The breakfast will also provide a forum for both the parents and students to be clear about the district’s goals and expectations for their child.”
The Superintendent indicated there are a number of topics he plans to discuss at the breakfast including attendance, academic achievement, curriculum, graduation, extracurricular activities and more. The breakfast meetings will be held in each of the city’s wards; North, East, Central and West, in addition to the South Ward meeting being held next week.
The breakfast meeting is free and open to students and parents in the respective ward, only. RSVP is not required to attend the breakfast.
The Superintendent said, “In order for our students to be their best, we must be our best. The breakfast provides an open door for each parent to engage with me and the district to ensure their student has the best academic experience possible and has the tools to be their best in everything they do.”
The Belmont Runyon School is located on 1 Belmont Runyon Way in Newark.
[Newark, NJ – October 5, 2018] Newark Superintendent of Schools Roger León announced that students should prepare for standardized testing that will take place on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. Students in Grades 9 – 12 will take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and students in Grade 8 will take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT 8) on that day. All testing will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the students’ homeroom class.
Superintendent León said, “The PSAT 8 establishes a baseline on the skills and knowledge that matter most for college and career success, as early as 8th grade.” Additionally, the PSAT 8 gives each student personalized feedback about their academic strengths and growth areas, helping each student to prepare now for their future success.”
The Superintendent said, the results of the PSAT 8 will also help teachers have an early opportunity to measure and follow student performance, ensure students are on target to achieve college and career readiness, pinpoint areas for development, and identify students who have the potential to be successful in Advanced Placement courses in high school.
The PSAT 8 is the first test in the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) Suite of Assessments. The Superintendent waived the $16 fee for student testing. He said, as a result of this test, each student will be given access to multiple online resources that provide free personalized SAT preparation, as well as college and career planning tools. Student performance on the PSAT will provide greater access to scholarship opportunities and the SAT in high school will open doors to many colleges.
“My goal is for our students to be the best in Essex County, New Jersey and the country,” Superintendent León added.
Superintendent León said, “Last night, we recognized students who have excelled on the PARCC exam, who have set the bar high for achievement and set the stage of what is possible for other students.” The Superintendent continued, “The 42 students recognized represent the NPS mantra, ‘Where Passion Meets Progress’ – their passion for education and learning is worth recognizing and celebrating with the Newark Board of Education, their families, schools and the community.”
A total of 42 students from 16 schools, who were joined by parents and family members, were heralded at the 2018 Perfect Scorers Banquet and further recognized by the Newark Board of Education later in the evening at the Board meeting. Student honors were presented in English Language Arts, Mathematics and Algebra.
The students hail from:
“We are honoring these students because they are examples of all that is possible,” said Board Chairperson Josephine C. Garcia. “We are very proud of their accomplishments and wish them and all of our students continued success.”
[Newark, NJ – Sept. 19, 2018] Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Newark Public Schools Superintendent Roger León, Newark City of Learning Collaborative (NCLC) Executive Director Reginald Lewis, Essex County Schools of Technology Superintendent Dr. James Pedersen, KIPP New Jersey Chief External Officer Ben Cope, and St. Benedict’s Prep Dean of Seniors and College Placement Didier Jean-Baptiste announced at a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 19, the launch of public conversations throughout the city of Newark to increase the number of Newark residents with college and other post-secondary certificates by 25 percent by 2025.
NCLC is an initiative created to help build Newark’s college-going culture by ensuring that all Newarkers have the tools and resources needed to matriculate at and graduate from college. Accordingly, the citywide public conversations will address topics and issues derived from Post-Secondary Outcomes of Newark High School Graduates, a report produced by NCLC in collaboration with the Rutgers University-Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration that examines what college-going looks like for nearly 13,500 of Newark’s recent graduates. Covering approximately 85 percent of all Newark high school students who graduated between 2011 and 2016, the report examines college enrollment, persistence, and completion rates.
“The good news is that we know more Newark students are enrolling in college, but we also know that far too few are persisting to degree completion,” says NCLC Executive Director Reginald Lewis. “We hope that this report will serve as a resource to better understand the experiences of recent high school graduates.”
“As both a 22-year Newark Public Schools educator and mayor, one of my life’s greatest priorities has been to provide our youth with opportunities to advance their education after graduating from high school. The City is advancing this priority by collaborating with major partners to increase the number of Newark residents with college degrees and post-secondary certificates by 25 percent by 2025. To do so, we will talk to and listen to our residents and get their input, ideas, and concerns, in making this goal a reality. It will be attained, and our residents will be both the power behind it and the ultimate beneficiaries,” Mayor Baraka said.
At the press conference, representatives from all sectors of the K-12 spectrum (e.g., traditional public, charter, vocational technical, and private schools) also reaffirmed their unprecedented partnership and manifested their continued commitment to strengthen the high-school-to-college transition for all Newark students by signing a Statement of Commitment.
“The NCLC, City of Newark and Newark Board of Education are taking a monumental step in charting a new course for our beloved city,” said Superintendent León. “Through these community conversations, we are giving voice to the people who will help determine how soon we will become a national leader in the number of residents who are college graduates. León continued, “I am a proponent of engaging the community on all issues pertaining to them – that is why this exercise is integral to the success of our students and city. We will significantly shift the trajectory upward and provide a roadmap that will profoundly impact Newark and change it forever.”
“The cross-sector collaboration was one of the highlights of the project and enabled us to examine college-going for a wide range of Newark high school graduates. One of our goals was really to put schools in conversation – not competition – with one another to learn and share best practices throughout the community,” remarked the report’s co-author Dr. Kristi Donaldson.
The first two rounds of public discussions will take place in October as follows:
| East Ward Roundtable Tuesday, October 2, 2018 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. East Side High School 238 Van Buren Street Newark, NJ 07105 |
West Ward Roundtable Wednesday, October 17, 2018 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Jehovah-Jireh Praise & Worship Church Center 505 South 15th Street Newark, NJ 07103 |
Click here to download a pdf of Post-Secondary Outcomes of Newark High School Graduates.
Click here for more information about NCLC.