Press Releases

Newark Celebrates Grand Opening of the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology

[Newark, NJ, September 29, 2021] Today, Superintendent León hosted the ceremony for the official opening of a second new school in Newark for the 2021-22 school year - the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology (NSDSIT). The school’s vision and mission is to provide students with industry-standard skills and prepare them for critical skills in the emerging, ever-evolving fields of technology and computer science. The school starts with an inaugural freshman class and will grow one grade level every year.

Superintendent León shared, “The opening of this school symbolizes the unveiling of what is defined in the 10-Year Strategic Plan, “The Next Decade 2020-30”. He added, “Courses like Data Science and Cybersecurity embody our understanding that preparing for a better tomorrow is what we do today; it is our responsibility for this school, in this city, right now.”

At today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, Board Vice-President Flohisha Johnson welcomed students to their new home and shared ten points of success. One of which was “The best approach to success of anything, is a straight line”.

In close alignment with the Newark Board of Education, the Microsoft Corporation will be the school’s educational partner and is committed to preparing students to be technology leaders by leveraging their commitment to education and empowering every student to achieve in the technological fields. This partnership will engage Microsoft’s professional and organizational capacities by providing curricular support, professional development for educators, and inclusive online environments through Microsoft platforms. Throughout this partnership, students will have the opportunity to earn industry-standard certifications that supplement the academic program and prepare them for an array of careers in the data science and information technology fields.

“We are in an exciting time of change,” said Renata Ruiz, the Modern Workplace Specialist at Microsoft. “With such a tremendous shift in culture comes a pivotal moment in education. Our educational mission is to empower every student on the planet to achieve more.”

Keeping in line with the school’s approach to cybersecurity – NSDSIT has also entered into a business partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The partnership will leverage its expertise to expose students to critical and unique career opportunities in administration, law enforcement, and technology. Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s - New Jersey Division Gibson said, “We have a long-standing relationship with the Newark Board of Education and look forward to this new relationship at the NSDSIT. This is a great opportunity to work with the students to show them how their education in data science and information technology will be applicable in a variety of career paths within DEA and other law enforcement components. This partnership is also a great way to forge a trusting relationship between students and law enforcement, and we will work to get the next generation of students excited about making a difference in this world and help them to achieve their goals.”

“Our partnership with the Microsoft Corporation and the DEA is an exciting component of our strategy to prepare our young people for the careers of the future, living up to our mission of preparing technology leaders who are change agents for all communities,” stated Dr. Liana Summey, Principal of the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology.

In addition to NSDSIT’s Microsoft and the DEA partnerships, the school’s mentoring program will be supported by the Montclair State University Alumni Chapter of Groove Phi Groove Fraternity.

Joining Superintendent León and Principal Summey were Board Vice-Presidents Johnson and Santana, Board Members Anderson and Council, Dr. Brown of the Mayor’s Office, Deputy Johnson, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ortiz, members of Groove Phi Groove Fraternity, and others.

For more information about the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology, please refer to: https://newark.apppresser.com/data-science/

The New Michelle Obama Elementary School Opens Its Doors in Newark For the 2021-22 School Year

Community, Leadership, and Wellness

[Newark, NJ, September 28, 2021] Today marks yet another historic day for the Newark Board of Education as Superintendent Roger León officially opens the doors of the Michelle Obama Elementary School, named in honor of the former First Lady.

The school services students in pre-kindergarten to second grade and will grow one grade every year until it reaches the eighth grade. While the school’s theme is “Community, Leadership, and Wellness”, students will also be immersed in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social-Emotional Awareness, and Science. The science curriculum is guided by Project Lead the Way's “PLTW Launch”. Project Lead the Way is the nation’s leading STEM institution, and the inclusion of PLTW Launch interdisciplinary modules bring learning to life for students. The program empowers students to adopt a design-thinking mindset through compelling activities, projects, and problems, that build upon each other and relate to the world around them. As students engage in hands-on activities in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, they become creative and collaborative problem solvers ready to take on any challenge.

By opening this new elementary school, Superintendent León is honoring his commitment to give parents more school choices. Students attending the Michelle Obama Elementary School will automatically be admitted to University High School, one of the district’s magnet schools, which is aligned with the priorities outlined in The Next Decade: 2020-30. “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.

Principal LaShanda Gilliam, leader of the new school echoes in the excitement, sharing “Being Principal of a school named after First Lady Michelle Obama, sets daily reminders for me on what needs to be at my core to lead and succeed.”

Board President Dawn Haynes said, “As an individual who focuses on creating healthy habits, I am excited that our students are introduced to content like Yoga, which will enhance their ability to manage stress as they grow into adulthood”.

Among the school’s partnerships is AeroFarms, a sustainable indoor agriculture company based in Newark. “We are excited to be partnering with the Michelle Obama Elementary School to bring indoor vertical farming to the next generation of young leaders and learners. Students get to engage in healthy eating because they grow the greens they harvest, further fueling their curiosity and spirit of discovery with hyperlocal food production. First Lady Obama visited one of our school farms as part of her National Garden Tour in 2016 and it is an honor to continue her legacy of childhood nutrition and health and wellness education here in Newark” said David Rosenberg, Co-Founder and CEO of AeroFarms.

In the words of Michelle Obama, “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving the community and world better than you found it” and the staff at Michelle Obama Elementary School is ready to lead and succeed.

Joining Superintendent León and Principal Gilliam today were Board Vice-President Johnson, Board Member Gonzalez, Mayor Baraka, Senator Ruiz, Councilwoman McIver, Nurse Emenaka, Mr. Ginsberg of AeroFarms, Deputy Johnson, Chief of Staff Nazario, and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Harrington.

For more information about Michelle Obama Elementary, please refer to: https://newark.apppresser.com/obama/.

Four High Schools in Newark Win the GreatSchools College Success Award – Gold

csa_gold_award_badge
Bard Early College High School - Logo
Science Park High School - Logo
Technology High School - Logo

[Newark, NJ, September 27, 2021] We are extremely proud to announce that GreatSchools, the leading national non-profit that empowers parents to unlock educational opportunities for their children, recognizes and celebrates public high schools across the country that excel in helping students enroll and succeed in college.

In 2021, 1,838 high schools from 25 states won the annual College Success Award. And to celebrate schools with a multiyear track record of postsecondary success, GreatSchools added an additional elevated level of distinction, the College Success Award – Gold.

As outlined in the District’s strategic plan, The Next Decade 2020-30, this award is made possible because of the collective accountability for what we do in service of preparing students for excellence. “We are extremely proud to have 3 of New Jersey’s 116 high schools receiving this distinctive honor: Bard, Science Park, and Technology High Schools. We also want to congratulate Payne Tech, the fourth school in Newark to receive this honor” said Superintendent Roger León.

Board President, Dawn Haynes said, “I am excited and proud that three of our high schools received the honor and I look forward to seeing more of our schools on the GreatSchools awards list in the coming years.”

The Aftermath of Hurricane Ida in Newark Public Schools

Newark, NJ – September 10, 2021:  The district suffered catastrophic damage during Hurricane Ida that required major cleanup and restoration action to be taken. 

As a result, a district-wide emergency was declared to the state of New Jersey.  Here is some of the damage we suffered:

  • A fire
  • A fallen tree at the entry of a school
  • 33 flooded buildings (including 11 boilers)
  • 14 basements
  • 21 other areas such as gymnasiums, libraries, wings of schools, and classrooms)
  • one of our two data information system servers rendered inoperable
  • In three schools, the gymnasium floors buckled because of water infiltration and will need to be replaced.

Our cost estimate thus far is $5 Million, which does not include replacement of instructional supplies, equipment, and building systems, remediation, structural repairs, and the installation of the three new gymnasium floors. 

To immediately combat these issues, equipment for the removal of water was rented or purchased, and an aggressive strategy to prevent the growth of mold and mildew was implemented with purchased technical services.  We implemented contingency plans as a temporary strategy to address academic programming needs throughout our schools as a result of the impact of the storm.  While the majority of the facilities were ready to receive children prior to the storm, every school required additional attention after the storm in preparation for Tuesday’s successful first day of school. 

“We applaud the entire facilities department, all of the trades staff, every custodial team across the 65 schools, executive staff, principals, school administrators, teachers, and staff for their valiant efforts,” said Superintendent León.  In many instances, they were at work from the start of the storm to the early dawn of the next day, and over this past weekend.  “They put the district’s needs above their own and those of their families and even their own homes,” said Board President Dawn Haynes.  They did not want to let anyone down, especially the children, and they did not.  While always putting the health and safety of children and staff first, they saw the return to in-person instruction as the only viable alternative over everything.   

Just like other school districts, we should not have been able to open, but we did.  We opened on day one because of our incredible staff.  We are also grateful for the support we received from the Mayor Baraka and the city of Newark, Senator Ruiz, county and local officials, as well as, the invaluable assistance provided by Manny DaSilva of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.

#WeAreNBOE

Newark Welcomes Students Back to In-Person Instruction

[Newark, NJ – September 7, 2021] Today, September 7, 2021, marks the highly anticipated first day of school and return to in-person instruction for all students that makeup the 65 schools in the district and the staff is poised, excited, and ready to receive them.

As he has done in years past, Superintendent León kicked off the new school year with a district-wide Convocation, where he shares the state of the district, reviews multiple measures of data, and celebrates accomplishments.

During the Convocation, he also charged staff with the Give Me 5 Campaign, where each employee is assigned 5 students and makes courtesy calls to their homes, reminding families of the first day of school and motivating them to start the school year strong.
Students return to new and exciting curricula such as music and theater, integrated Language Arts Literacy and Science Units of Study, and phonics for our younger learners. High school students can look forward to courses in Advanced Manufacturing, Cinematography and Film Video Production, Culinary Arts, Engineering, Teacher Education, Law Studies, Entrepreneurial Studies, Cosmetology, and Biomedical Science to name a few.

While Superintendent León acknowledges, “The last eighteen months have been like no other”, he reassures students, parents, teachers and staff alike, that “This will be another banner school year.”

School Board President Haynes said, “We are pleased that our students will be able to see their friends and teachers in-person and learn in an environment that has been cleaned and sanitized in preparation for their safe return.”

All school buildings will continue to be contactless sites and all staff and students will follow the district’s well established ingress procedures and school egress procedures, which includes wearing masks.

The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation and Newark Public Schools Announce its Partnership to Launch Financial Literacy Program

Malcolm Jenkins and The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation plant roots in Newark, NJ to help eliminate the racial wealth gap by opening savings accounts for 250 incoming freshmen

 

Newark, NJ — August 31, 2021 — 2x Super Bowl Champion and 3x Pro-Bowl New Orleans Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins and The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation (TMJF) today announced in partnership with Newark Public Schools (NPS), a new Financial Literacy Program that provides savings accounts for students across three high schools in Newark, NJ.

TMJF - FLP in the Newark Public Schools (NPS) is a four-year commitment of up to $40,000 that is NPS’ response to enhancing the education and student activities and building families and therefore communities, economically.  The goals of TMJF – FLP are aligned with NPS’ mission to deliver an academically rigorous and culturally responsive instructional program that prepares every student for success and builds knowledge, strengthens character, cultivates ingenuity, and fosters leadership. Additionally, TMJF – FLP is aligned with the Core Values of NPS’ Vision Statement to build a new educational ecosystem that provides a world-class education for every child in Newark.

The implementation of the new Financial Literacy Program in collaboration with NPS brings The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation one step closer in its mission to empower youth and set them on the path to financial freedom. Utilizing the Black-owned family banking and financial literacy platform, Goalsetter, they will open savings accounts with an initial deposit of $40 for the 250 incoming freshmen enrolled at the newest schools to begin operations in the District:

  • The Global Studies School —The curriculum fosters fluency in a second language, immersion in a foreign culture and the exchange of ideas via advanced technology.  It has three internal academies: Diplomacy, International Business and the Humanities that facilitate the application of a global studies education to life-long career choices.
  • Data Science & Information Technology School — Prepares the next generation of research scientists and information technology professionals with the expertise to bring about organizational and technological change in all aspects of their community.
  • Fashion & Design School — Educates and inspires students to explore their academic and creative potential through the lens of fashion and design. The school leverages the design process across the curriculum and afford students space to imagine, problem solve, and collaborate in preparation for future success.

In April, TMJF first announced its financial freedom initiative to help close the racial wealth gap by opening 1,000 savings accounts for students in the communities it serves. Studies show, by 2053 African Americans are projected to have a negative net worth in the United States. The Latinx communities are only 20 years behind.  By establishing savings accounts in their names, youth are six times more likely to go to college and four times more likely to own stocks when they are young adults.  NPS is the second education partner to join TMJF as they move towards their goal of opening more student savings accounts across Philadelphia, Ohio, New Orleans, and New Jersey.

The Foundation chose to partner with the NPS because of its aligned emphasis on mentorship, career preparation, college and its commitment to putting students first. There is a significant opportunity to make a measurable impact on the futures of youth as the NPS is the largest and one of the oldest school systems in New Jersey.

“This is truly a groundbreaking moment and we are grateful to Malcolm Jenkins, his mother, and his foundation, said Superintendent León.  “This is the right step toward moving financial literacy in the classroom to the next level.”

TMJF has included in its long-term commitment with the NBOE, a build-out of its Digital Education Academy to help NPS students discover their passi­­on and pathways through exposure to a wide variety of potential careers for both college-bound and non-college bound students. The Academy will offer a multitude of disciplines including filmmaking, design, digital marketing, coding, advertising, music, fashion and much more through culturally relevant learning experiences.

“Growing up in New Jersey, I have a special place in my heart for this state and the City of Newark. I want to see our youth reach their full potential. Financial literacy is an important part of The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation’s initiatives and we are proud to lay down roots here in Newark. I am grateful for the support of NPS Superintendent León and the Board of Education in our mission to close the racial wealth gap,” said Jenkins, Chairman and Founder, The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation.

Since 2012, The Foundation has worked in under-resourced communities to increase graduation rates, as well as college eligibility and enrollment through its Project REWARDS program in partnership with College Track. TMJF annually rewards students in pursuit of higher learning with The Malcolm Jenkins Scholars. More than $175,000 in scholarships have been awarded to date, providing these scholars with financial assistance for costly expenses to attend colleges and universities such as books, supplies and other fees. In addition to the grants, TMJF has funded out-of-state college tours, career exposure events, job networking workshops and support college freshmen with final exam study baskets.

About The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation

Founded in 2010, The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation (TMJF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity with a mission to effect positive change in the lives of youth, particularly those in underserved communities. The Foundation is dedicated to youth development programs and initiatives that provide innovative learning opportunities, resources, and experiences that will help them succeed in life and become productive and contributing members of their community. For more information, visit: http://www.themalcolmjenkinsfoundation.org/

About Newark Public Schools Board of Education

The Newark School District is the largest and one of the oldest school systems in New Jersey. Its origin dates back to 1676. Barringer High School, in Newark’s North Ward, is the third oldest public high school in the nation. The racial and ethnic diversity of the city provides a rich educational experience for pre-kindergarten to secondary school students. The district continues to revise its services to meet the changing needs of students.

MEDIA CONTACTS

The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation, Rachel Ribeiro, rachelr@null8degreespr.com

Newark Public Schools Board of Education, Nancy Deering, ndeering@nullnewark.apppresser.com