News

The Launch of Fall ‘23 Parent University

First Avenue School organized a viewing event for the commencement of the Fall Parent University program
First Avenue School organized a viewing event for the commencement of the Fall Parent University program

The NBOE Fall Parent University commenced on Tuesday, September 12th, providing a valuable platform for parents to acquire information and strategies to support their children's academic success. Dr. Patrice Fenton from Educate, LLC led the session titled, "Creating Home Environments that Support Learning," engaging parents in learning effective strategies to support their children's learning at home. The session emphasized the importance of creating a conducive learning environment at home, and shared organizational tips, systems, and creative ideas to maintain a welcoming learning space for children and families. The workshop was impactful in motivating families to take the necessary steps to create a "just right" learning environment for their children.

Parent University will take place on Tuesdays and Wednesday throughout the Fall. Visit the Parent University calendar for specific dates and sessions.

Louise A. Spencer Celebrates Ribbon Cutting of Intergenerational Community Garden

Dena Corbin, Newark Board Member Allison James-Frison, and students exploring garden beds
Dena Corbin, Newark Board Member Allison James-Frison, and students exploring garden beds

On September 12, 2023, Louise A. Spencer Elementary School, led by Principal Karla Venezia, held a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil their new schoolyard community garden. The event was graced by the presence of esteemed guests, including Senator Teresa Ruiz (D), Newark Board of Education Superintendent Roger León, School Business Administrator Valerie Wilson, Councilwoman and President of Newark City Council LaMonica McIver, Board Member Allison James-Frison, Assistant Superintendent of the South-West Samantha Lott-Velez, Newark Board of Education Science Director Kathleen Tierney, the administrative team of Trust for Public Land, Sustainable Food Systems Program Manager of Nourishing Newark Chesha Hodge, partners from Urban Agriculture Co-Operative, Apiary in the Sky, Al-Munir, AARP, Americorps, Grace West Senior Housing, community members, families, students, and staff. The Trust for Public Land, OXO, Nourishing Newark, and Natural Ground 1 provided the necessary resources to make the outdoor learning classroom a reality.

The community garden situated at Louise A. Spencer School has significantly enriched the curriculum. The students have undergone comprehensive training and lessons on various aspects of gardening, including proper care for the garden, invasive species, pollinator gardens, healthy eating, and plant life cycles, all of which were conducted by Dena Corbin through Natural Ground 1. The students' enthusiasm, curiosity, engagement, and collaboration are evident when they work in the garden. They eagerly anticipate their first harvest, where they will have the chance to taste the fruits and vegetables and take some home to their families.

A Fresh Start: Schools Receiving Much-Designed Upgrades

District-wide upgrades have been implemented and are currently in effect
District-wide upgrades have been implemented and are currently in effect

The Office of Facilities has been actively engaged in a productive period of activity during the Spring/Summer season. The team has demonstrated unwavering dedication in updating numerous classrooms and support spaces within a tight timeframe. Through a collaborative effort involving external vendors and in-house staff, the department has successfully completed the painting of six schools at a cost of $3,353,507. This upgrade has positively impacted over 5,000 students and staff members. Additionally, the District has recently invested over $11,670,392 in new furniture since 2022, with the assistance of a group of vendors and consultants. This new furniture has provided 10,548 students and staff members with modern and functional furniture appropriate for their grade level. It is noteworthy that all of these improvements were made possible through federal grant funding.

Newark’s Energy Diamonds Sustainability Ambassadors Camp: An Unforgettable Experience

Left Photo: Students visit Princeton University Plasma Lab<br>Right Photo: Students visit PSE&G Nuclear Plant in Salem, NJ
Left Photo: Students visit Princeton University Plasma Lab
Right Photo: Students visit PSE&G Nuclear Plant in Salem, NJ

The 2nd Annual Energy Diamonds Sustainability Ambassadors Camp was held this year for female STEM students in grades 9-12 on August 7th - August 18th. The camp provided a fun and educational experience for the young ladies involved, including field trips exposing them to various forms of energy, such as nuclear, plasma, inertia, and solar. A highlight of the camp was a tour of the Tesla plant, where a design engineer taught the students about building their own battery-operated vehicle. Additionally, students participated in numerous STEM-related activities and explored further education options at Stevens Institute of Technology. The Newark Board of Education is proud to showcase the bright young minds of its students and extends special thanks to Johnson Controls and Energy Diamonds Corporation for their support in making this camp possible.

What NBOE Can Teach You About Overcoming the Teacher Shortage

New Teacher Orientation at Park Elementary School with over 500 new hires
New Teacher Orientation at Park Elementary School with over 500 new hires

As outlined in The Next Decade: 2020-30 Strategic Plan, the District's 10-year strategic plan, Human Resource Services (HRS) has been tasked with supporting Strategy 1.4, which aims to attract and recruit highly effective and qualified staff who are an excellent match for the district, develop a pipeline of candidates for hard-to-fill areas, and provide support to all employees to enable them to fulfill their role in the mission. Despite the nationwide concern regarding the teacher shortage, the Office of Recruitment & Staffing has been working diligently to ensure that all teaching vacancies are fully staffed with certified individuals.

The team has been successful in creating a different narrative for the Newark Board of Education, with one of the key drivers being the ongoing partnerships established between the District's hiring managers and their assigned recruitment and staffing partners. These partners maintain constant communication with hiring managers on a daily basis, sharing viable candidates using various recruitment platforms. Staffing partners then provide support to new hires, ensuring a smooth and efficient onboarding experience by answering questions and assisting with specific onboarding needs. As a result of these efforts, the District has successfully hired over 500 new teachers.

Several strategies have been implemented to address the issue of teacher shortage, which include, but are not restricted to:

  • “Grow Your Own” programs for viable candidates who may be interested in becoming certified teachers
  • Mass media recruitment campaign (i.e. radio and billboard campaigns)
  • Bonus incentives (i.e. $4,000 for hard-to-fill areas, $4,000 for Bilingual transfer, and $1,000 employee referral)
  • Starting salary of $62,000, plus additional earning opportunities, advancement opportunities, and competitive salary options for experienced certified teachers looking to join NBOE
  • Exceptional health benefits and additional retention incentives
  • Continuous district-wide hiring fairs and participation in career fairs in and out of state, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
  • Advancement opportunities and Leadership Pipeline programs through local university partners
  • Unmatched professional development opportunities

If you are not currently a teacher in the District and are interested in a teaching role with NBOE, please visit TEACH NEWARK to learn more!

Newark Continues to Lead the Way with PreSchool Expansion Across the District

Speedway Avenue student explores “a lens into Pre-K”
Speedway Avenue student explores “a lens into Pre-K”

The Office of Early Childhood was excited to receive the return of more than 6,000 prekindergarten students to school on Tuesday, September 5th. As part of its commitment to increasing the early childhood population, the District launched 20 new prekindergarten classrooms in eleven schools across the District. Schools include:

  1. Avon Avenue School
  2. Camden Street School
  3. George Washington Carver School
  4. Lafayette Street School
  5. Louise A. Spencer School
  6. Mount Vernon School
  7. Nelson Mandela School
  8. Peshine Avenue School
  9. Sir Isaac Newton School
  10. South Seventeenth Street School
  11. Speedway Avenue School

Substantial research has demonstrated that children who attend high-quality preschool programs are more likely to be prepared for their transition to kindergarten and achieve success throughout their academic careers. Participation in high quality prekindergarten programs has been linked to improved health, social-emotional development, and cognitive outcomes, as evidenced by studies conducted by Camilli et al. (2010), Chambers, Cheung, and Slavin (2006), Chambers et al. (2013), Coghlan et al. (2009), Kuhl (2011), and Waldfogel and Washbrook (2010). The Office of Early Childhood will continue to recognize and showcase the District's youngest learners as they embark on their educational journeys.