Press Releases

The Newark Board of Education Will Hire Retired Teachers and Create a Pathway for New Teachers

The Newark Board of Education (NBOE) is poised to take advantage of new legislation that allows them to hire retired teachers and offer a new pathway to issue a limited certificate of eligibility to those who meet the established criteria.

“As we continue to identify creative ways to place certified individuals in our classrooms, we are excited about the ability to hire retired teachers and to provide a pathway for new teachers to get certified,” said Superintendent Roger León.

On February 24, 2022, the New Jersey State Department of Treasury’s Division of Pensions and Benefits released a Notice to Certifying Officers regarding the implementation of P.L.2021, c.408 (Chapter 408). Chapter 408 provides local educational agencies (LEA), including school districts, charter schools, renaissance school projects, and Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities (APSSD), to temporarily hire teachers and professional staff members providing special services who have retired from the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) without re-enrollment in the TPAF for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.

On April 1, 2022, the NBOE’s application for Chapter 408 was approved.  Since then, more than 40 retired teachers have expressed interest in being hired to teach in Newark.   The district is currently working to pair these individuals with Principals.  All qualified individuals interested in applying for Chapter 408, the NBOE Retiree Teacher, can access the application at  Retiree Teacher (Job ID: 1049).

In addition to Chapter 408, the district has submitted an application to the State Department of Education requesting to be a part of Chapter 224, which Governor Murphy signed into law on September 24, 2021, as P.L.2021, c.224 (Chapter 224). This five-year pilot program allows the issuance of a limited certificate of eligibility (CE) and a limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing (CEAS) in an instructional area for candidates who meet specific requirements.  We are extremely excited about the prospect of the Limited CE/CEAS pilot program being approved to implement another viable pathway for candidates to become certified teachers in our schools.

With the proper support, professional development, and mentoring in place, the district believes this candidate pool will yield effective teachers and help to reduce the teacher shortage.

Board President Dawn Haynes said, “I could not be more pleased about these two programs and I am confident that they will further increase our pool of qualified applicants, which will help fill many of our critical need teaching positions as outlined in the applications.”

Novartis Establishes an Accelerated Learning Program for Students at Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology

Novartis is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world that uses innovative science and technology to address some of society’s most challenging health care issues.  They have established the Novartis Newark Data Science Acceleration Fund (NNDSAF) to prepare students of the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology to acquire knowledge and skills to compete globally.

Starting this summer with the class of 2025, the NNDSAF will provide 50 students in each future graduating class with an opportunity to participate in a 5-week summer accelerated learning program.  The summer course content includes Information Technology and Microsoft Imagine Academy fundamentals which lead toward industry-valued certifications.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have partners like Novartis, who are aligned with our vision to provide our students with access to knowledge and resources that prepare them to compete in the global digital arena,” said Superintendent León.

Overall, this program would impact approximately 250 students over a five-year period.

The additional summer sessions will be a key strategy to allow students to access additional courses and prepare themselves for these certification programs.

The Novartis Newark partnership lends itself to opportunities that are mutually beneficial to students and Novartis employees.  The Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology will welcome Novartis associates who will provide workshops either during the summer or school year on topics that show the intersection between data science and public health.  Other opportunities include field trips to the Novartis data centers, laboratories, and executive offices.  By allowing students to have hands-on experiences, the idea of pursuing a degree in the field of data science becomes a reality.

“We are deeply excited about our partnership with Novartis and their support of our vision and mission to prepare our young people for the technology careers of the future,” stated Dr. Liana Summey, Principal of the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology.  “This summer acceleration program is key to our commitment to inspiring the technology leaders and change agents of tomorrow.”

As a culminating event, there will be an end-of-summer showcase at the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology.  It would be an event where Novartis employees are invited to engage with students about their profession so students are exposed to the many different areas of computer science.

Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School Unveils New Verizon Innovative Learning Lab

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On March 24, 2022, Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School unveiled a new Verizon Innovative Learning Lab, created by Verizon with Heart of America and Arizona State University. The ribbon-cutting ceremony revealed a new state-of-the-art lab featuring emerging technology that will equip students and teachers with access to augmented and virtual reality, coding & circuits, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence. As part of the Verizon Innovative Learning program, students will be introduced to a technology-infused curriculum to enhance the learning experience, allowing them to do more and succeed in today’s digital economy.

Attendees were greeted by the junior honor society, who personally escorted each guest to the lab, the school’s cheerleaders, and Vice Principals. It was evident that the students and staff at Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School had been awaiting this very moment.

“This is intentional,” shared Superintendent León. “It is with purpose and intentionality that the digital divide is being eliminated. The world needs the children from the city of Newark to get it together and the way that we’re doing that is by providing them with essential resources and access.” The Superintendent then went on to thank the school’s partners, highlighting that “We would not be here today, if not for you. The work that you are doing is integral and important, not just to this school but in our city.”

“This all began as a dream,” stated Principal Hamlet Marte. “The lab itself tailors each piece of technology to meet the needs of our students. In this lab, students are allowed to explore their creative selves and there are no language barriers here. I can't wait to see you making it to places that no one has ever been. I can't wait to see your names on monuments.”
Students and educators, as part of the Lab program, are encouraged to explore Verizon Innovative Learning HQ, a recently-launched next-gen online education portal that provides free access to immersive learning experiences, available to all educators nationwide. Through this work, and Citizen Verizon - the company’s responsible business plan - Verizon advances its commitment to providing 10 million youths with digital skills training by 2030.

The continuation of the ceremony featured remarks from partner affiliates such as Alex Servello, Verizon Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Mark Bochieri, Verizon Manager, State Government Affairs, and Vice Principal of the Middle School, Lynette Dortrait. In her speech, she shared “Our kids now have access to state of the art resources and tools that will foster their creative curiosity. Allow them to innovate, create critical thinking and problem solve in a beautiful space.”

The involvement of students throughout the morning festivities allowed all who attended to see how this initiative will be benefiting students directly. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, students gave everyone a tour of their new lab, demonstrating the new gadgets along with all of the knowledge that they’ve acquired since the lab’s development. Mia Maldonado, Horton’s Student Government President said “On behalf of the students we want to say thank you. Thank you for this opportunity that you've given us to expand our horizons. We promise to utilize this daily and to maximize every opportunity.”

Michelle Obama Elementary School Hosts “Powerful Women In Politics” Breakfast for Women’s History Month

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Today, March 23, 2022, Michelle Obama Elementary School hosted their first-ever “Powerful Women in Politics” Breakfast in honor of Women’s History Month. The morning featured visits from First Lady of New Jersey, Tammy Murphy, the youngest Commissioner of Somerset County, Sara Sooy, and Dr. Crystal Davis, the Founding Member of Morris County’s National Black Caucus. The guests of honor paid a visit to their designated classroom, where they held Q&A’s with the students and engaged with some of the teachers. Joined by Superintendent Roger León and Board Members; President, Dawn Haynes and Vice-President Flohisha Johnson, the guests of honor were then treated to breakfast and sweets following their time with the students.

Superintendent León commemorated the event stating, “To say that we’re grateful that you’re here would be an understatement - First Lady, your leadership is very powerful. You embody the concept of Women in Politics.” He then followed up by adding “Dr. Davis, congratulations to you and the great work that you have done and we thank you for your time.” And lastly, “Commissioner Sooy, thank you so much. As a Latina, you have assumed such an impactful leadership role, it just embodies and is indicative of the greatness you have within you.”

Students were presented with the opportunity to ask questions of each guest and learn a little about the women they had been studying over the last month. Tammy Murphy, the First Lady of New Jersey has done a great deal of work as a champion for education. With initiatives such as the “K-12 Climate Change Education” and her infamous tradition of “Tammy’s Tremendous Tuesday Tales” on social media, her work in uplifting education is one to admire. “We love our teachers, you spend more time with our children than we do and we deeply appreciate everything you do.” She shared. “We know the last two years have been challenging and we thank you.”

The concept of the event was thought of and planned by Principal of Michelle Obama Elementary School, LaShanda Gilliam in relation to one of the school’s core values, Leadership along with recognition of Women’s History Month. “We believe recognizing our female political leaders is important and necessary.” She shared. “With that in mind, classrooms in K-2 have adopted a Woman in Politics to study the entire month of March. Our students have learned a great deal about the backgrounds of these amazing women.”

Before the morning’s end, guests were treated to a presentation of all that the students and staff have achieved in the short amount of time since the school officially opened its doors in September. This included a timeline of each event and activity that students, staff and parents have participated in - building a community within the school and its surrounding areas. “Michelle Obama Elementary School is only in their first year of operations and the school’s administration, led by Principal Gilliam has done a phenomenal job of upholding their core values in everything they do with these children.” shared Board President, Dawn Haynes. “Events such as this one and all that they’ve done thus far are a true testament to the ways in which our schools are really leveraging their communities, providing resources and experiences for our students. It’s great to see.”

Michelle Obama Elementary School has also celebrated: Healthy Heart Week, Black Lives Matter Week, National Day of Giving, Read Across America Week, and more.

Superintendent León Hosts Event To Kick-off Men of Color “Rising Coalition” Professional Development Program

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Superintendent León hosted the first-ever Black Men Rising Coalition + Latino Men Rising Coalition development event at the Dr. Marion A. Bolden Student Center on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm. The event hosted in commemoration of Women’s History Month, intended to highlight influential women who are committed to ensuring there are sufficient numbers of men of color that are well prepared to be leaders within the district.

The Black Men Rising and Latino Men Rising Coalition initiatives, were both introduced in 2021 as new programs - created by Superintendent León to guide and support male teachers of color as they navigate the path to leadership. The initiative was publicized via district-wide newsletters that go out to Principals and Teachers, respectively. All who were nominated or interested in applying, were required to provide a recommendation from their current Principal while also already demonstrating leadership potential within their respective schools. With statistics currently at 8% and 5% of the teaching pool (3,000 teachers) consisting of males of color – this program has provided candidates an opportunity to apply to a rigorous master's program and acquire formal and informal leadership roles that lead to participation in the Superintendent’s Leadership Pipeline.

“The merging of BMRC + LMRC was a critical next step in the all too important task of identifying and preparing male leaders of color for our schools.” shared Superintendent Roger León. “The gentlemen in attendance have already written to me about the intentionality of this work and in particular the significance of the support they felt from the influential women leaders who volunteered their time to engage them as they tackled real world problems of practice. The collaboration and partnerships evidenced by this event will resonate in the district for years to come.”

The event was the first gathering of its kind - a combined meeting of the two cohorts with 14 candidates, a total of seven individuals representing each subgroup. Participants and Speakers included: Honorable Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, Nicole Butler and Tiffany Jackson of the Prudential Foundation, Alejandra Ceja of the Panasonic Foundation, Aisha Glover of Audible, Michellene Davis, Esq. of the National Medical Fellowships, and Anzella K. Nelms of the Newark Board of Education.

Program candidates were engaged in a roundtable setup that allowed the speakers to coach the candidates as they grappled with critical issues facing the district. During each round, candidates were given a challenge that they needed to unpack on educational leadership and the role of men in color. Their perspectives, strategies, and ideas about the issues presented were then shared with the full group and documented for future exploration.

Avon Avenue Elementary School Honors Alum, “The Godfather of Funk” George Clinton, With Band Room Named After Him

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On Thursday, March 17th at 9:30 am, Newark Public Schools in partnership with The City of Newark held a “funky” celebration in honor of “The Godfather of Funk”: George Clinton ahead of his birthday concert at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Hosted at his alma mater Avon Avenue Elementary School, a renamed band room in Clinton’s name was unveiled as a culmination of the festivities. Bestowed with the title of “Godfather Ram of Funk” by Principal of Avon, Charity Haygood - the celebration began with a proclamation read to Mr. Clinton by Superintendent Roger León and was followed by words from Mayor of Newark, Ras J. Baraka, Dave Rodriguez, Executive Vice-President of NJPAC and Jennifer Tsukayama, Vice-President of Arts Education, NJPAC.

“In honoring Mr. George Clinton, we not only honor him as the man and legend that he is, but we honor him as a student, one of ours,” said Superintendent Roger León. “Can you imagine? He started everything he is and has accomplished here, as a student of Avon Avenue Elementary School.”

Clinton was welcomed at the entrance of his alma mater by rows of students from Grades K -2 lining the walls with streamers and music and applause, he was also guided into the cafetorium by a parade of students donning hula hoops, a nod to Clinton’s history. Students were encouraged to dress in their “funkiest” clothes in honor of the musical icon, known for his out-of-this-world attire and costumes – while Clinton and guests were treated to a concert of his hits performed by the students. Clinton quickly joined, encouraging guests and participants to “get funky” with him. The school’s orchestra performed the song “Flashlight” while Clinton clapped and danced in his seat.

Students were invited to participate in a Q&A with Clinton as they asked him about his inspirations, humble beginnings, and favorite past-times. Clinton shared that the start of the Parliament happened on Avon’s playground as a result of being inspired by musical superstars Frankie Lymon, and The Teenagers. While staring out at the crowd of students, Clinton stated “It’s so crazy to me now, thinking back – looking at the students here, how small I was when The Parliament began. We were so young.” As a former student of the school, Clinton reminisced about how his teachers heard him and his bandmates sing and play, and encouraged them to continue on, which led to their overall start.

“We produce skilled leaders who positively impact their community and the world,” said Principal Haygood.  “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for returning and inspiring our scholars to be the best that they can be.”

The morning’s events came to an end with the unveiling of the school’s new band room, dedicated to Clinton, titled “The George Clinton Band Room” which featured a mural of the iconic musician and rows of new instruments from pianos to drums, guitars and more, some of them – donated by Clinton, himself. The City of Newark is home to many of the “giants” we look up to today, and Newark Public Schools stands as part of their foundations. To recognize Mr. Clinton through the school that helped shape him, in front of the students that he is now assisting in shaping through his generous donations; Newark Public Schools in line with the Newark Board of Education is overjoyed to be able to bestow this honor today.

Avon Avenue Elementary is one of many Newark Public Schools currently unveiling new additions within their facilities. With renovations happening over the last two years, our schools have been able to benefit from updated and restructured additions, providing our students with more opportunities to explore and engage in developmental activities. With a newly remodeled gym, two years in the making, the creation of a STEM lab, and now, a renewed band room, the students and staff at Avon Avenue are on a direct path to success.