Press Releases

Ironbound Academy Elementary School Set to Open in September 2022

[November 19, 2021, Newark, NJ] The Newark Board of Education is set to open a new school in September 2022. The new school, formerly Ironbound Catholic Academy, will now be known as Ironbound Academy Elementary School. The school will open with grades Kindergarten through Fourth grades and grow one additional grade thereafter. At the Ironbound Academy, students will be grounded with a strong foundation in the academic and social core in order to develop lasting intellect, character, spirit, and responsibility. Keeping in line with the district’s ten-year strategic plan, The Next Decade: 2020-30, this new school will provide another high-quality option to students. Ironbound Academy Elementary School will also offer a rigorous STEM curriculum starting as early as Kindergarten.

Adding the ninth new school under his administration and in response to the surge in student enrollment of nearly 700 students, Superintendent León continues to deliver on his promise to the students and families of Newark by providing them with more options to guide their educational choice and values. “We are excited that we can implement strategies that give families more choices and in doing so, open schools with innovative programming,” stated Superintendent León.

“The opening of this new school will respond to a greater demand for district schools in our growing City,” said President Dawn Haynes. She added, “Our parents want more options for their children, and we are doing just that.”

In addition to opening new schools, the district has expanded 6 elementary schools (Roberto Clemente, Elliott, Franklin, Harriet Tubman, Salome Urena, and South Street Schools), introduced 6 new STEM middle school programs with renovated science labs (Avon, Chancellor, Ivy, Lincoln, Mount Vernon, and Peshine elementary schools), and opened 3 new technology labs (Hawkins, Horton, and Hawthorne Avenue Schools).

Last year, the district opened 3 new schools; Newark School of Fashion & Design (Powered by Parsons), Newark School of Data Science & Information Technology steered by Microsoft, and the third Michelle Obama Elementary School in the United States.

The Newark Board of Education continues to strive in establishing and providing new and exciting opportunities for our students to succeed. Students are expected to excel within their individual programs, allowing them to dream and become the very best versions of themselves.

For more information about Ironbound Academy, visit https://newark.apppresser.com/ironbound/

To apply to any Newark Board of Education school, visit NewarkEnrolls.org.

Students from Newark’s JFK School Tapped for the Inaugural Sled Hockey Program

[Newark, NJ – November 16, 2021] In partnership with the City of Newark’s Recreation Department, USA Hockey, the New Jersey Devils and Hockey In NJ (Newark), students from John F. Kennedy School will participate in the first ever Sled Hockey Program in Newark.

JFK is a middle-secondary special education school that offers specialized curriculum for students with multiple disabilities and moderate cognitive involvement.

Sled Hockey provides opportunities for many types of disabilities for recreation/competitions at the local level all the way to the Paralympics. Players sit in specially designed sleds that sit on top of two hockey skate blades.

Each child will receive a donated sled and a full set of equipment this Saturday, November 20th at the 11th annual USA Hockey Sled Classic, presented by the NHL at the Ice Vault Arena in Wayne, New Jersey.

Superintendent Roger León said, “We are excited at this unique opportunity in establishing our very own NBOE Sled Hockey Program at JFK because this sets the stage to one day celebrate our very own Paralympian.”

JFK students, along with other students from the community who want to play, will be part of the Newark Board of Education’s (NBOE) Inaugural Sled Hockey Program, where they will practice at the James/Gibson Ice Hockey Rink in Newark, NJ.

“As the principal of JFK, I am so excited about this opportunity of a lifetime for our students, they will be able to live our school motto and show the world that there are No Limits to What We Can Do” remarked Jill Summers.

Pat Council of Newark’s Recreation, Cultural Affairs, and Senior Services shares in the superintendent’s excitement, “The City is always excited to partner with the Newark Board of Education on initiatives that are inclusive to all communities that we serve and look forward to the partnership with JFK and the students they serve”

“The addition of Sled Hockey in Hockey in NJ’s (Newark) programming led by Dennis Ruppe and Keith Veltre proves once again that hockey is making great inroads in providing equity and access that allows more kids to participate.” stated Dan Brennan of Director of USA Hockey Sled National Teams.

For more information, please contact:

Nancy J. Deering
Board Relations, Director
Communications, Acting Director
973-733-6265 (office)

Howard University Partners with Newark’s University High School Offering Dual Enrollment Program

[Newark, NJ - November 3, 2021] In a partnership that marks the first of its kind, Newark Public Schools by way of University High School, partners with Howard University and the National Education Equity Lab to offer high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take courses offered by the university to earn college credits. The course titled Principals of Criminal Justice serves as a means to provide an introduction to the criminal justice system and a foundation for future study. In the course, students will be able to explore the key concepts of the criminal justice system and be encouraged to think critically about issues emerging in the 21st century media. They will also be able to debate current topics relevant to the principles of criminal justice while considering the range of policies currently in place.

“Priority 2 of The Next Decade 2020-30 outlines the importance of executing curricula for college and career programs with fidelity. This renowned partnership does that,” said Superintendent León. “We are excited about this partnership and the opportunity it provides our students” he added.

The program is designed for students who are curious about law, sociology, or social justice. Students who join the program will be eligible to earn high school credit along with college credit from the university as dual credit. The course will be taught by Professor, Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad; known as an innovative educator who utilizes radical ways of engaging students in higher education. As a unique educator working strategically to change the landscape of higher education, Newark Public Schools is thrilled to have our students participate in this historic opportunity.

Keeping in line with University High School’s core values of “R.I.S.E.” which translates to Responsibility, Integrity, Service, and Excellence – the program provides its scholars with the tools necessary to carry out these calls to action. “To be the first high school in the city of Newark offering a dual enrollment opportunity with a Historically Black College or University, the Howard University, is extremely significant,” said Principal Genique Flournoy-Hamilton. “Not only does it provide our scholars with the experience of taking a college course while in high school, but it also reaffirms the importance of their value and expands their perspective about opportunities that exist at this great institution and other HBCU's where their experiences are acknowledged and validated by those who are serving as their professors. HBCU's have been known to have more success graduating scholars of similar demographic as those enrolled at University High School so we hope that more of our scholars see HBCU's as a viable college choice through their enrollment in this course and program.”

Participating students will meet during their regular class period and will be overseen by a Co-Teacher who will act in a facilitation and coaching role. To further support students, Co-Teachers will be invited to participate in regular check-ins where they will share information and engage in conversations with other teachers across the country to discuss challenges, highlights, and best practices. Lee Snowden, Instructor, and Co-Teacher on behalf of University High School stated “The collaboration with the historic Howard University and University High School will impact this great community of Newark for generations to come. I am ever so fortunate to work with such a cadre of esteemed scholars as well as stellar Howard University faculty.”

“This course has allowed me to unpack and understand the different layers within our criminal justice system. It makes me feel good to be knowledgeable about laws so I can protect my own rights. What I love most about this course is that I am attending a Historically Black University. I find it very empowering to see black people so informed about the law.” stated University senior, Hallia Robinson. Her sentiments for the program were echoed by fellow classmate Amir Chase, who said “This course is an eye-opener for me and most classmates not just for social justice but for the college life as well. I’m influenced by what we’re learning and can’t wait to get to learn more throughout the year!”

As the district continues to implement best practices to elevate students and their chosen career paths, this opportunity marks a historic partnership. As a Historically Black College & University, Howard has a long-standing history of producing exceptional scholars that turn into exceptional professionals in the in the workforce. The Newark Board of Education is hopeful that this will constitute as the start of a very long and plentiful partnership between the two institutions.

Reebok Awards 24 Newark Public Schools With PE Grants of $2000 Each

[Newark, NJ] November 1, 2021 - Superintendent León and the Newark Board of Education are proud to announce that 24 schools within the district have been awarded a $2000 PE Grant by way of Reebok and their Build Our Kids Success initiative. The schools will receive funds totaling $48,000 to purchase equipment and incentives for their Physical Education program this school year. Build Our Kids Success, also known as BOKS serves as a physical activity program initiative designed to get kids active while establishing lifelong commitments to health and fitness. Their mission – to make physical activity and play a part of every child’s day.

Through the BOKS program, physical education educators are provided lesson plans, training, and the support needed to get kids moving for up to 45 minutes a day. By conducting research, BOKS was able to determine that 81% of adolescents do not participate in enough physical activity. As a nod to the continuous work that Newark Public Schools has been doing to further support the introduction of healthy living to students in grades PK – 8, the district has instilled these very values into one of the new schools, featured on the list – Michelle Obama Elementary School.

The elementary school, slated to grow a grade every year, just opened its doors this September with a focus on Community, Leadership, and Wellness. “We are ecstatic to introduce our youngest learners to transformative learning, deliberately focused on the knowledge and skills needed to help them grow into transformational leaders” stated Superintendent León.

The recipient schools of the grant are 22 elementary, one middle, and one specialized school spanned across the district with 9 schools in the East/Central Ward, 8 in the North Ward, 5 in the South/West Ward along with Science Park High Middle School, and NJ Regional Day School.

With much gratitude to Reeboks and their BOKS initiative, the district is very proud of this and aims to continuously support and instill the values of healthy living within our curriculum.

NBOE Partners with St. James Health to Provide Immunization Vaccines

The Newark Board of Education in partnership with St. James Health is providing vaccination clinics for the week of October 12th at select Newark Public Schools. Open to children ages 3-18, the clinic will provide access to routine immunization vaccines that students are required to have to enroll in school. Parents must attend the immunization clinic and should come prepared with any insurance available, vaccination records, and ID if available.

The first clinic was held today at East Side High School and carrying on through the rest of the week coming to a close on Friday, October 15th, 2021. Additional days may be scheduled if necessary. Clinic locations consist of West Side High School, Barringer High School, and Malcolm X Shabazz High School. All clinics will begin at 7:45 am and continue throughout the day as needed. Vaccines being offered include but are not limited to Meningococcal, Varicella, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Hepatitis. Forms have been developed and distributed to students and families, ensuring that St. James can provide the appropriate numbers of vaccines at each site.

Newark School of Fashion and Design Officially Opens Its Doors at a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Newark School of Fashion and Design Powered by Parsons School of Design Represents a Groundbreaking Model of Collaboration Between Higher Ed Institutions and Public School Districts

Newark School of Fashion & Design Ribbon Cutting Ceremony from Newark Board of Education on Vimeo.

[Newark, NJ – October 5, 2021] Newark School of Fashion and Design powered by Parsons School of Design (NSFD) officially opened its doors during a ribbon cutting ceremony held on September 30, 2021, in Newark, New Jersey, marking the last of the three new schools the district has opened in the 2021-22 school year.

The new school will start the year with an inaugural freshmen class and will grow one grade level every year, launching a groundbreaking model of collaboration between institutions of higher education and public school districts. NSFD has developed a number of partnerships such as: The Misa Hylton Fashion Academy, Dirty Soles, the world-renowned fashion label Gucci, and is powered by the highly esteemed Parsons School of Design; which is bringing its interdisciplinary curriculum to the students in communities that have traditionally been underrepresented in these creative disciplines. These incredible partnerships represent the driving force to increase students’ access to world-class design education and prepare them for careers in design and fashion.

"Today at NSFD, we up the anti - that it is about academic excellence, that it is about innovation, that we tap into the genius of our students and allow their greatness to shine like diamonds" stated Superintendent León. "We are great in the city of Newark, we look great in the city of Newark, and we have style because we are Newark," he added.

Newark Public Schools is committed to making investments in creating high school career pathways for their students. One way they are doing this is through the new high school’s curriculum, which aims to help its students unlock the power of fashion and design to spark systemic societal change.

“NSFD represents a unique opportunity to bring the best of the best in design education to Newark Public Schools high school students and to introduce them to an exceptional quality of training and resources,” said Sakina Pitts, Principal of NSFD. “We are thrilled to afford our students unmatched opportunities to imagine, problem solve, and collaborate in preparation for successful futures in the fashion and design worlds.”

“Inspired by the transformative potential of design education for over a century, Parsons is dedicated to ensuring that the next generation of designers truly reflects our society,” said Rachel Schreiber, Executive Dean of Parsons School of Design. “At NSFD, tomorrow’s creative leaders will engage in real-world learning. They will develop as critical thinkers and change-makers capable of addressing the most urgent issues of our time, and prepared to contribute to the world of fashion deeply informed by equity, inclusion, and social justice.”

Board Member Flohisha Johnson spoke at the ceremony, remembering how the community has been a major foundation in presenting the opportunities that students will be afforded at NSFD, she said "This first class will go on to do such great things, I can feel it in my spirit - to have the foundation set from the very beginning tells me this."

NSFD partner, Misa Hylton of the Misa Hylton Fashion Academy echoed in similar sentiments "I've had the pleasure of working with this inaugural class and it goes without saying, they are gifted. They walk with so much potential" she concluded. "You are the future of fashion."

Joining Superintendent León and Principal Pitts were Mayor Baraka, Senator Ruiz, Board Vice-President Johnson, Board Members Anderson, Council and Gonzalez, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ortiz, Chief of Staff Nazario, Misa Hylton and team, members of Dirty Soles, Gucci, Parsons School of Design, and many, many more.