Since the COVID-19 Pandemic hit in March 2020, hundreds of teens across the country have experienced an increased level of depression, anxiety and isolation. We thank our community partner, LA Fitness for the opportunity to have our teens enjoy physical fitness sessions.
Physical Education classes and School Weight rooms/Gyms where students traditionally release stress have been restricted since March 2020. Our health and wellness sessions have been a great experience for our community teens.
Contact:
Beth Thomas
President, New Jersey Association of School Librarians (NJASL)
973-723-7727
president@nullnjasl.org
Superintendent
NJASL is thrilled to announce that Newark Board of Education's Superintendent, Roger León, is the 2020 recipient of the Administrator of the Year award. The award is presented to a New Jersey school, library or district administrator or supervisor who has developed an exemplary school library media program and made an outstanding and sustained contribution toward advancing the role of the school library media center as an agency for the improvement of education.
Mr. León was born and raised in the city of Newark, attended Newark’s public schools, taught, coached, and was a principal in this same city. As a life-long Newark resident, he remains a proud product of the Newark Board of Education, where he has dedicated 25 years of service to the children in the Newark Schools district.
Mr. León has received this annual award from NJASL in recognition of his support for school libraries in Newark. Margaret Adjoga-Otu, one of many Newark School Library Media Specialists who nominated Mr. León, wrote: “Under State Control, Roger León fought cuts to School Libraries and was able to convince the various school principals to retain their media specialists. Since León’s tenure, there has been a tremendous retention of SLMSs. Not one SMLS or School Library Program has been cut in the last 3 years.” Upon receiving this award, Mr. León reflected on his experience as a Newark Public Schools student and then as a principal and stated “I learned and, now as Superintendent, I bring with me this clear understanding that it is about learning to read and reading to learn” and in light of inevitable impacts COVID-19 will have on education that "We know that the way we will answer this digital divide is with our librarians in school."
Prior to being named Superintendent in 2018, Mr. León served as the Assistant Superintendent in the Newark Board of Education for ten years. Prior to that, he served as a K-8 teacher, principal, and as the Deputy Chief Academic Officer in charge of Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Support Services.
As a resident, student, teacher, principal, and Assistant Superintendent in Newark, Mr. León has taught thousands and mentored hundreds. He has witnessed generational progress and has inspired outstanding leaders, doctors, social activists, teachers, principals, attorneys, scientists, authors, professors, innovators, business owners, artists, and countless others who he has encouraged to remain in Newark, like he has.
Mr. León is passionate about education, passionate about Newark, and passionate about progress. This passion is what drives his support for strong school library programs in New Jersey’s largest school district.
The New Jersey Association of School Librarians (NJASL) is the only statewide organization for school librarians in New Jersey. NJASL believes that every student in every New Jersey school deserves to be taught by a State certified full-time School Library Media Specialist supported by a resource-rich school library program. School librarians are essential partners in curriculum delivery and college and career readiness. They are leaders in the integration of technology, information and digital literacies, and the professional development for school staff.
On December 28, 2020, our Nurses arrived bright and early to 110 William Street awaiting their assignments to participate in the COVID-19 vaccination process.
Dirty Soles Footwear Group in partnership with the City of Newark and Aglet announced the first, city wide sneaker design competition in September. Using carefully crafted judging criteria, representatives from Dirty Soles, Aglet and the City of Newark’s Arts and Cultural Department selected the winners and a small awards ceremony was held at Studio Sole, Newark’s first black owned sneaker shop & footwear academy on Saturday December 19, 2020.
First prize winner Aurora Amigon, a sophomore at Arts High School received $500 and a grant award to attend the “Art of Shoe Making 101” eight week course provided by Dirty Soles Foundation and made possible by a generous scholarship donation from Mr. Scott Schuester. Her design was also digitized and is currently featured in the Aglet gaming app.
The second place winner - Jose Romero, a freshman at Arts High School, along with the 3rd place winner, Angel Rivera both received scholarship awards to attend the “Art of Shoe Making 101” eight-week course made possible via funds donated by Aglet.
“Our ‘Art of Shoe Making 101’ course is intended to introduce students to the footwear industry. We cover everything from sneaker design to the process involved in manufacturing shoes so our students are able to learn about various careers in the industry as well as obtain an intro to the skills required to pursue it as a future profession or as an entrepreneur if they choose.”, commented Cory Strong, the course lead instructor.
“One of the goals is not only to offer education but to also provide hands on, pre-apprenticeship training that will be valuable job skills in the future.”, T. Strong, CEO of Dirty Soles added. “In fact, based on student performance, we were able to open the door to a paid internship interview for one of our October 2020 Graduates. These are the types of experiences we aim to continue to provide.”
All three winners from the design competition are scheduled to participate in the next “Art of Shoe Making 101” eight-week course which will begin in January 2021. They will have the option to attend in-person, via small learning pod sessions taking place at Studio Sole, Newark’s first Black Owned Sneaker Consignment and Retail shop or they may attend virtually. During the awards ceremony, each winner was also presented with a new pair of sneakers and Studio Sole merchandise.
With studies being done across the country closely monitoring the COVID-19 impact on education, the Dirty Soles Footwear Group Team say they plan to do their part to increase engagement with creatives, educating and inspiring imagination in students interested in the sneaker industry and the culture that influences it.
The Dirty Soles team consists of a conglomerate of business professionals proficient in footwear manufacturing, sales, marketing, business development, social media & influencer marketing as well as shoe design. Collectively we have established and continue to perfect what we call “the incub8tor.” This unique space is dedicated to identifying and supporting local entrepreneurs, designers, artists, culinary specialists and writers. The “ Studio Sole ” retail location in Newark was born from the incub8tor initiative and is the first black-owned sneaker consignment shop in the city. Studio Sole also dually functions as an exclusive footwear academy where students learn the inner workings of the sneaker industry in an effort to introduce them to new career opportunities. Dirty Soles Footwear Group. (DSFG)
To learn more about DSFG and how you or your organization can contribute to grants and scholarships for future enrollees of the course, please contact: strongmediamarketing@nullgmail.com.
