Press Releases

Newark High School of Architecture & Interior Design Groundbreaking Ceremony

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[Newark, NJ – May 25, 2022] The Newark Board of Education, in partnership with 155 Jefferson, LLC, celebrated the groundbreaking of the Newark High School of Architecture & Interior Design, bringing the total of new schools opened to nine since Mr. Roger León was appointed to lead the largest school district in New Jersey.

As part of the high school redesign strategy to transform schools in Newark, the Newark High School of Architecture & Interior Design will start with the 9th grade and add one grade each year until the school reaches the 12th grade in 2026.

Students enrolled in the Newark High School of Architecture & Interior Design will choose from Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design, Electronics, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning, Plumbing, and Real Estate. While the core content courses will prepare students for post-secondary education, the curriculum will also integrate architecture and the trades taught by certified teachers, into class activities reinforcing the learning in their majors.

The school will also be equipped with state-of-the-art labs dedicated to hands-on learning and technical skill development. Space will be allocated for project-based activities, and there will be a two-story construction lab where students can construct building sections, based on plans developed by the architecture students, learning how all trades must be coordinated when planning and constructing a building.

“The district’s ten-year strategic plan calls for preparing every student for a successful future. Graduates from the Newark High School of Architecture & Interior Design will leave the school with the skills that will make them immediately employable while also being prepared for further personal and professional advancement,” stated Superintendent Leόn.

“I want to thank the Superintendent for having the foresight and the wisdom to continue adding to the repertoire of schools that we have. Because, as the city grows, we need good schools. We have to make school engaging, and interesting, and relevant, and purposeful for our children so that they become attached to it,” said Mayor Ras Baraka.

Board President Haynes stated, “I am appreciative of this moment and this opportunity to let everyone know how our city is moving forward with our school district and how all high school students have access to meaningful trades and skills. I am sure that this is just the start of an amazing generation of architects and interior designers.”

Melanie Campbell, Vice-President of Summit Assets, LLC and trained opera performer, sang the national anthem, and spoke on behalf of the Group, “Developing an architectural high school in the city of Newark has always been a dream of our development team. What an amazing feeling to develop a high school where students in Newark will have an architectural background, then move on to change the world and Newark.”

Dr. Raymond Lindgren, Project Lead said, “The Newark High School of Architecture & Interior Design will build great students who in turn will build a better future for our community, the city of Newark, and our world.”

For more information: newark.apppresser.com/nsaid.

First Lady Tammy Murphy Tours NBOE’s First Ever Silver Certified Sustainable Jersey School – First Avenue

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Newark, NJ – May 13, 2022 - New Jersey’s First Lady Tammy Murphy has long been a staunch supporter of climate change and because of her advocacy and leadership, New Jersey became the first state in the nation to incorporate climate change across K-12 learning standards. This year, Governor Murphy earmarked $5 million in the FY2023 budget to support the implementation of those standards by providing grants to schools for technical assistance, professional development opportunities, instructional materials, and evaluation strategies.

Today, First Lady Tammy Murphy visited First Avenue School and toured the school’s Mini Green Fair, as a precursor to the school’s inaugural Green Fair scheduled for June 2022.   She witnessed lessons of sustainability come to life through instruction.  She was greeted by First Avenue’s Students Sustainability Ambassadors who showcased their projects in a variety of focus areas.  This included energy, waste, climate change, and health and wellness. Pre-kindergarten students used recyclable materials to make flowers and bugs; first graders discussed how to turn disposable household items into something new and useable; second graders created wind turbines that turn wind into energy; middle school students made paper, just to name a few.

“First Avenue School is the first school in Newark to achieve Silver Certification in Sustainability,” states Superintendent Roger Leon. “All of the others schools are well on their way to embracing and achieving Bronze Certification status.”  “These students are truly, Energy Diamond Sustainability Ambassadors.  Our future is bright” said Rodney L. Williams, Director of NBOE Sustainability.

Board President Haynes said, “I am amazed that our students are learning how to save the planet at such a young age.”

Newark’s Arts High School Celebrates its Gates Scholar Ms. Crystal Caldwell

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The Newark Board of Education is extremely proud to announce that Ms. Crystal Caldwell of Arts High School has been selected as a Gates Scholar and member of The Gates Scholarship Class of 2022.  The Gates Scholarship represents the very pinnacle of academic achievement, service, and commitment.

This year, 37,000 applicants from across the nation, participated in a rigorous application process, vying to become one of 300 scholarship recipients. The prestigious scholarship pays for all undergraduate expenses and offers access to a network of fellow scholars and other distinguished individuals and leaders.

Although Newark Public Schools have been impacted by disruptions and unexpected challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Educators, administrators, and staff remained diligent in their work to keep students driven, focused, and on track. Superintendent Roger León said, “We have worked really hard to continue educating our students at the highest level through COVID-19 and virtual learning. Crystal, receiving this scholarship is an example of our hard work paying off”.

Board President Dawn Haynes said, “Crystal worked hard, especially during her time in high school and her efforts deserve an award of this magnitude”.

Crystal is a Visual Arts major at Arts High School and she will be attending Lehigh University in the fall where she will be majoring in Engineering and minoring in Fine Arts - she offers some advice for future Gates Scholarship applicants, “All I did was listen to my teachers, do my homework, and participate in lots of extra-curricular activities. If I can do it, so can you”.

Crystal’s sister, Ms. Ashley Drake exclaimed, “Words cannot describe how proud and happy I am for Crystal.  I’ve witnessed how adversity has made her strong. She is an amazing student who is deserving of this amazing opportunity. I know that our father is smiling down on her”.

Mayor Baraka and Saint Elizabeth University President Crosby Announce Students Selected for Guaranteed Education Pilot Program That Will Provide Them With Opportunity to Obtain a Debt-Free College Education

Students will have tuition and housing expenses covered for all four years

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Newark, NJ – May 9, 2022 – At a City Hall press event today, Mayor Ras J. Baraka joined with Saint Elizabeth University (SEU) President Gary B. Crosby, Ph.D.; members of the Newark Municipal Council; Newark Board of Education Superintendent Roger León; New Jersey Deputy Secretary of Higher Education Kathleen Comanto, to introduce the Newark students selected for the Guaranteed Education Pilot Program. Through this program, the City of Newark’s Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery and The Brick City Peace Collective, in partnership with Saint Elizabeth University, will support 40 at-risk students by providing a debt-free four-year college education through a $1 million grant from the City of Newark, led by Mayor Baraka.

Following the event, the students and families were taken to Saint Elizabeth’s University in Morristown for a campus tour and lunch with President Crosby and his staff.

“With fewer than 16 percent of Newarkers having a Bachelor’s Degree and the majority of Black and Brown students financing their education through debt, it’s critical that more opportunities are created for students to go to college without crippling burdens of student loans,” said Mayor Baraka. “We are starting with 40 of our at-risk Newark students for this program and we will continue to make it a priority to help close the wealth and education gap.”

“Saint Elizabeth University is excited to welcome these students and their families through this outstanding partnership with the City of Newark and Mayor Baraka. This institution is committed to working closely with our students, providing them with the tools they need to succeed both academically and personally. Following SEU’s long-standing mission, our goal is to not only provide these 40 students with engaging educational programs, but to inspire them to effect positive change in their community,” said President Crosby.

“We are excited about this incredible scholarship opportunity, the Guaranteed Education Program, provided to our high school seniors through the generosity of the City of Newark and Saint Elizabeth University. Our students realize their dreams are real and do come true, and that is all beginning today with this amazing announcement,” said Superintendent León.

“Through the $1 million grant led by Mayor Baraka and the St. Elizabeth University’s Educational Opportunity Fund program, this ‘Guaranteed Education’ opportunity will produce 40 change makers: Doctors, lawyers, social workers, teachers, accountants and perhaps the future Governor of New Jersey. The possibilities are limitless and I am honored to bear witness to the beginning of your meteoric rise…You are from Newark – you’re made of all of the best possible things. Dream big and don’t settle. Our world will be changed for the better because of you,” said Deputy Secretary Comanto.

To be eligible, students must be a Newark resident, have a cumulative grade point average between 1.8 and 2.5, and must choose an academic focus in social work, psychology, education or nursing. This program is for at-risk students who have an incarcerated parent, have a parent who was recently released from incarceration within the past two years, has lost a parent or sibling to violence, is a victim of violence, or who is a first generation college student.

The City of Newark will sponsor the cost of the four-year program for the selected students. The grant represents “last dollar” funding that takes into account individual student’s federal, state and institutional financial assistance. The pilot will be administered through Saint Elizabeth University’s Educational Opportunity Fund program, with the students beginning their college journey at SEU this June.

“Today is a great day for the City of Newark, Saint Elizabeth University, and all EOF campus programs statewide. These 40 individuals will not only have access to higher education without the burden of college debt, but they will also receive the high-quality support and educational experiences intended to assist them to persist to graduation and to prepare them with the knowledge, skills, abilities, and values which are necessary to compete in both a regional and global multicultural workplace,” said David Hill, Director of EOF at Saint Elizabeth University.

To see the livestream of the event, click here.

About Saint Elizabeth University

Saint Elizabeth University, founded by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth in 1899, is a community of learning in the Catholic liberal arts tradition. SEU is ranked number one in New Jersey by U.S. News & World Reports for “Top Performers for Social Mobility – Northeast Region” and was recently ranked third in the state for earnings outcomes for students three years after graduation by NJEEDS. SEU has more than 40 undergraduate majors and minors, 14 master’s degree, and two doctoral programs. Visit us at steu.edu.

NEWARK
For more information on the City of Newark, please visit our website at www.newarknj.gov

Two Newark High Schools Have a Multiyear Track Record for Making the U.S. News 2022 “Best High Schools in NJ” List

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On Tuesday, April 26, 2022, U.S. News & World Report released their latest rankings of the best public high schools in America.  More than 400 high schools from New Jersey made the list and two of them are from Newark, New Jersey; Science Park High School ranked #27 and Technology High School ranked #38, have a multiyear track record of success in making the U.S. Best Schools List.

Superintendent León shared, “This is an incredible honor and I congratulate the students and their families, and the administrators and teachers at each school for their dedication and hard work, especially during a pandemic.  We look forward to seeing more of our schools on The Best High Schools in America list.”

U.S. News & World Report system uses a scale of college readiness, reading and math performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rates.

#27: Science Park High School is a magnet school located in the Central Ward that prepares students for careers in science, mathematics, and technology. Principal Kcyied Zahir said, “Our rigorous curriculum is punctuated by college-level coursework driven by interdisciplinary study, research, ethical leadership, global perspective, and service. We are proud of what our staff and students have accomplished.” The SAT scores remain some of the highest in the country and the school’s curriculum is highly specialized.

#38: Technology High School is a magnet high school located in Newark’s North Ward with a vision of developing global leaders by providing them with tools to succeed in a world driven by technology. “We develop global leaders by providing them with the tools to succeed in a world driven by technology,” said Principal Edwin Reyes. “This recognition is evidence of what can happen when you have dedicated students and staff.”

Board President Dawn Haynes echoed the Superintendent’s sentiment, “I am excited and proud that two of our high schools received this honor.  They set the bar high and we are confident that more will be added in the future.”

Newark Board of Education Held a White Coat Ceremony for Students Inducted into the PLTW Medical Detectives Program

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Earlier this month, Mount Vernon Elementary School held a White Coat Ceremony to induct eight new students into their Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Medical Detectives Program.  The eight new inductees were welcomed into the program by an elite group of students from Cohort 1, who received their white lab coats February 10, 2022.

The White Coat Ceremony is a rites of passage initiative designed to inspire middle school students to pursue STEM career paths. The vision of the White Coat Ceremony was uniquely designed for the six South-West PLTW schools under the leadership of Assistant Superintendent Samantha Lott-Velez who said “Our schools will continue to put programs in place that give our students opportunity to engage in experiences that nurture their interests and expose them to career paths.”

PLTW programs are currently in Peshine Avenue, Lincoln, Chancellor Avenue, Avon Avenue, Ivy Hill, and Mount Vernon Elementary Schools. To date, there have been 143 participants across these six schools. Superintendent León stated “The district’s investment in PLTW at the middle school level is a long-term investment that will yield great returns in the future.” In all programs, “...students play the role of real-life medical detectives as they collect and analyze medical data to diagnose diseases. They solve medical mysteries through hands-on projects and labs, measure and interpret vital signs, examine nervous system structure and function, and investigate disease outbreaks,” he added.

As students received the lab coat and pin, Principal Camille Findley-Browne remarked how incredibly proud she is of all of the students that have persevered through this rigorous college-preparatory program.  And Director of Science Kathleen Tierney praised the PLTW teacher saying, “Mr. Shane Brown could not have been a better choice.  He has done a great job in retaining the largest number of students in this inaugural program for students interested in STEM.”

Students were inspired by special guest, Dr. Roger Mitchell, Jr., who became the youngest Chief Medical Examiner in the country in 2011 in Newark, New Jersey.   Dr. Mitchell shared his personal and professional journey with students.  A proud graduate of Howard University and New Jersey Medical School, Dr. Mitchell encouraged the students to “dream big”...”have determination”...”be dedicated”...and understand “...delayed gratification.” He also told students that he looked forward to seeing Newark’s PLTW students as colleagues in the future.