Press Releases

Newark Welcomes More Than 350 New Teachers for the Start of the 2021-22 School Year

On Tuesday, August 24, 2021 Superintendent León welcomed more than 350 new teachers to the district during this year’s New Teacher Orientation. Entering his third year at the helm of New Jersey’s largest school district, Superintendent León stated “I have the most incredible job; being able to claim that I am living my dream and teachers, like you in Newark, are responsible for this reality,” he added, “You are critical because as teachers, you have the power to create the most incredible educational experience for your students and in order to unlock the genius in others, you have to first unlock the genius in yourselves”.

This year’s New Teacher Orientation consisted of a two-day program designed to set expectations and prepare new teachers for the start of the school year. On day one of the orientation, teachers were introduced to required readings, and expectations that they would soon fulfill in their roles as educators in the district. On day two, teachers visited their new schools and were able to physically view their classrooms. Upon arrival, they were introduced to the district’s 4-step ingress procedure and were allotted the time to get acquainted with their new schools.

As the district prepares for the start of the school year, all teachers will be expected to familiarize themselves with the Safe Return Plan and follow established district protocols, which include submitting negative COVID-19 test results, wear masks, ingress/egress procedures, and practice social distancing. In preparation for the return of in-person instruction, it is of the utmost importance that all protocols are executed in full – which was reinforced at the New Teacher Orientation.

First-time teacher, Ejonas Gjata said, “I feel very lucky with the school and staff that I have been placed with. Right off the bat, I sensed we shared a level of confidence in one another and there is a lot of trust and support. We also share like-minded goals and a common passion in regards to all that we hope to instill in our students.”

The sentiment was shared amongst other newcomers to the district. “To take on the task that we do as educators; I am undeniably nervous, but at the same time very excited. I feel confident that the support systems are already in place, and I have people around me to help me get through it” stated Tristan James.

Superintendent León also took the time during orientation to announce the start of his Black Men Rising Coalition initiative; a program designed to pipeline Black male educators into leadership positions within the district. While this new initiative has been long-awaited, he also mentioned the impending start of the Latino Men Rising Coalition which will soon commence with the same goal, to uplift male educators of color.

“I share in the Superintendent’s excitement in welcoming this new cohort of talented teachers, who are ready to share their knowledge with our students” said Board President Haynes.

The long awaited first day of school is Tuesday, September 7, 2021.

For more information, please contact:
Nancy J. Deering,
Communications, Acting Director
ndeering@nullnewark.apppresser.com
973-733-6265 (office)

Superintendent León and the Newark Board of Education Welcome 8 New Principals for this coming school year

Superintendent León and the Newark Board of Education are pleased to announce the appointment of 8 new Principals for the 2021–22 school year. The candidates participated in a rigorous interview process and we wanted to recognize each of them in this incredible accomplishment.

Superintendent León said, “I am excited to share the candidates who have been named new Principals for SY 2021-22.” He added, “I would also like to thank all of the School Leadership Councils who were crucial to the interview process.” “We share in the Superintendent’s excitement and welcome the new Principals to this very important leadership role in our schools with full support,” said Dawn Haynes, President of the Newark Board of Education.

Here are the new Principals:  Please click on their names for their full biography.

Arts High School - Devonne Gorman
Devonne Gorman received her Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies at DePauw University and Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Brooklyn College. After serving in the New York City Department of Education for 11 years, she came back to Newark where her career in education began. Ms. Gorman was the Vice Principal of Visual and Performing Arts at Arts High School.

Central High School – Terri Mitchell
Terri Mitchell earned her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics at New Jersey City University and Master of Arts in Administration & Supervision at Saint Peter’s College. Ms. Mitchell was the Vice Principal at Central High School. She is entering her 22nd year as a dedicated educator with the Newark Board of Education.

Chancellor Avenue School - Kashon Lopes
Kashon Lopes completed his Bachelor of Arts in English and Masters of Art in Teaching at Drew University. He served as a teacher of English Language Arts and Literacy Coach for approximately seven years.  Mr. Lopes was the Vice Principal at McKinley Elementary School.

Newark Vocational High School - Lucinda Eason
Lucinda Eason earned a Bachelor of Science in Science K-12 and a Masters of Arts in Educational Administration and Supervision from William Patterson University. Ms. Eason has more than 25 years of educational leadership experience in Curriculum Development, Instructional Pedology and Career & Technical education programs. Ms. Eason was the Vice Principal at Weequahic High School.

Science Park High School - Kcyied Zahir
Kcyied Zahir has dedicated the last 22 years of his life to the social, emotional, and educational development of the youth in and around the greater Newark metropolitan area. Mr. Zahir earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Secondary Education from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and a Master of Arts from Seton Hall. He is a proud product of the Newark Public Schools. Mr. Zahir was Dean in East Orange.

Speedway Avenue School - Ashley Jiles
Ashley Jiles completed her Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and her Masters of Arts in Education at Rutgers University, and a Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership at Montclair State University. Ms. Jiles completed her student teaching at Oliver Street School here in Newark, became a long term substitute teacher in the district, and began her career teaching Special Education at Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School. Ms. Jiles was the Vice Principal at Dr. William H. Horton School.

Michelle Obama Elementary School – LaShanda Gilliam
LaShanda Gilliam completed her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood and Masters of Arts in Reading from Montclair State University, and a Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership from Fordham University. Ms. Gilliam was Vice Principal of Vailsburg Middle School and Thirteenth Avenue School.  She is a proud product of the Newark Public Schools.

Data Science and Information Technology High School - Dr. Liana Summey
Dr. Liana Summey completed her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University.  Dr. Summey taught high school English at East Side High School and lead the school’s innovative and alternative programming for two years.  She earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Rutgers University.  She has supported the district’s vision in instructional leadership, strategic management, and student supports. Dr. Summey was Executive Assistant to the Office of the Deputy Superintendent.

Arts High’s Ingrid Cristofoletti Will Travel to Washington, D.C. for Prestigious Journalism Conference

FAIRFAX, VA (Wed Jul 07 00:00:00 GMT 2021)–

Ingrid Cristofoletti, a student at Arts High School (Newark, NJ, US), has been selected to represent Newark, NJ as a National Youth Correspondent to the 2021 Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University.

Cristofoletti joins a select group of students from all over the country for an intensive study of journalism and media. Cristofoletti was chosen based on academic accomplishments and a demonstrated interest and excellence in journalism and media studies. National Youth Correspondents participate in hands-on, experiential learning through decision-making simulations that challenge them to solve problems and explore the creative, practical, and ethical tensions inherent in journalism and media. The experiential portion of the program is complemented by speakers who are well-known leaders in the media community. Presenters include prominent journalists, CEOs of major media outlets, researchers, and recent college graduates successfully entering the field. Past speakers have included Hoda Kotb from NBC, Brian Lamb from C-SPAN, Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Carol Guzy, and Susan Goldberg from National Geographic.

With distinguished faculty, guest speakers, and direct access to elite D.C. practitioners, the Washington Journalism and Media Conference offers aspiring journalists and student leaders an unparalleled experience. The week long program, held at George Mason University’s state-of-the-art campus, will encourage and inspire young leaders from across the country who desire a unique experience focused on successful careers in this dynamic industry.

The Washington Journalism and Media Conference will be held July 18 to 23, 2021.

About George Mason University

George Mason University is setting the gold standard for the modern, public university. Its dynamic culture and innovative academic programs prepare Mason’s hard-working students for 21st century careers. Its commitment to teaching excellence combines with cutting-edge research that enriches the academic experience and is changing the world. Mason is affordable, yet offers high value. Ideally located in the National Capital region, students enjoy terrific cultural experiences and access to the most sought-after internships and employers in the country.

About the 2021 Washington Journalism and Media Conference

The Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC) is a unique student leadership conference designed to develop and encourage future leaders in the changing face of media in the 21st century. The Advisory Board includes CEOs of media outlets, distinguished journalists and renowned authors and university faculty. For more information visit us online at wjmc.gmu.edu.

Newark Public Schools Partners with Ginkgo Bioworks to Provide Pooled COVID-19 Testing

Easy, low-cost testing will help keep PK-12 classrooms open and support safety of students and teachers

[NEWARK – March 24, 2021] Today, Newark Public Schools announced a partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks Inc. (“Ginkgo”), the organism company, to provide pooled SARS-CoV-2 testing. As part of Newark’s planned return to in-person learning on April 12, the district will be implementing weekly testing of students, teachers and staff at local PK -12 schools, beginning with a pilot program at New Jersey Regional Day. Other schools in the district will begin testing when they resume hybrid in-person instruction on April 12, 2021.

As school districts across the nation work hard to reopen and stay open, regular testing remains critical to ensure the health of students, teachers and staff and create a safe environment for learning. Pooled classroom testing, which combines swabs from all consenting individuals in a classroom and runs them as a single test, is an effective way to easily test many people at once with fewer resources. Concentric by Ginkgo’s pooled testing program, which is used by schools in hundreds of communities across the country, is cost-effective and straightforward for schools to implement, as Ginkgo provides all the training and testing materials necessary as well as lab and data processing services. Students and school administrators alike have described the testing process as simple and painless.

Across the district, Newark Public Schools will engage pooled testing as one of many strategies which form a robust and multifaceted coronavirus response. These strategies include health attestations, deep cleaning, social distancing, contact tracing, handwashing, ventilation and other facility enhancements. Together, these layered prevention strategies accord with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s K-12 School Operational Strategy, and recommendations from public health officials.

Superintendent Roger León said, “We are extremely excited to participate in Ginkgo Bioworks pooled COVID-19 testing for students because it will provide an added level of confidence to parents, students, staff and the community as we return to in-person instruction." He added, "We are poised to join school districts across the country in this important endeavor to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”

“The Board is extremely excited about the partnership with Concentric by Gingko Bioworks who will provide onsite weekly COVID-19 testing of students,” said Board President Garcia. “The unanimous vote of the Board on this resolution is indicative of our ongoing unified support of the Newark Reopening Plan and we look forward to joining other school districts in this endeavor.”

The goal of Concentric by Ginkgo, the public health and biosecurity effort at Ginkgo, is to provide easy, affordable pooled testing to every school in America. The program now supports more than 350,000 students within schools in over 15 states.

“As much as we are encouraged by the rapid progress of vaccine discovery and administration, we must remain vigilant. Using testing to curb potential outbreaks is an essential supporting strategy for an eventual return to normalcy,” said Matthew McKnight, Ginkgo Bioworks’ Chief Commercial Officer. “To keep schools open, we need low-cost, widespread testing so that we can quickly and easily test every student in America, every week. Pooled testing is a key tool that schools can leverage to give students, teachers and their families the peace of mind that they can return to in-person learning safely, and we’re proud to work with Newark Public Schools to support that within their community.”

Ginkgo, which launched its pooled testing program in January, previously announced it had been selected to provide testing within other districts including Baltimore Public Schools and Massachusetts K-12 schools through a program with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS). Learn more about Concentric by Ginkgo and its ongoing COVID-19 response efforts here.

About Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.
Headquartered in Boston, Ginkgo uses the most advanced technology on the planet—biology—to grow better products. The company's cell programming platform is enabling the growth of biotechnology across diverse markets, from food to fragrance to pharmaceuticals. Ginkgo is also actively supporting a number of COVID-19 response efforts, including community testing, epidemiological tracing, vaccine development and therapeutics discovery. For more information, visit www.ginkgobioworks.com.

For More Information:
K12@nullginkgobioworks.com

Newark Board of Education
Nancy Deering, Interim Executive Director
Communications
973-733-6265

Media Contacts:
ginkgobioworks@nullmissionnorth.com
press@nullginkgobioworks.com

New Jersey Regional Day Welcomes Students to In-Person Instruction

March 10, 2021 [Newark, New Jersey] – On March 8, 2021, New Jersey Regional Day School welcomed students back to in-person instruction. The district and school are excited to have their students reporting to the building and participating in a hybrid program.

New Jersey Regional Day does an outstanding job partnering with families to provide great instruction and to address the emotional and mental health needs of students. Superintendent León said, “While we are facing the adverse effects of this pandemic, for families who love and care for children with extraordinary abilities, the effects are magnified.”

On Monday, students arrived to school. With the world looking different now than it did in years prior, students followed the district’s protocols and ingress and egress procedures. Once they entered the building, students were greeted by marked hallways indicating where to stand and which way to walk. As soon as students got to their classrooms they enjoyed seeing teachers and friends and being socially distanced together. In just a few days, families have reported emotional improvements with many students reporting better sleep than they have had in weeks.

Principal Jennifer Mitchell said, “My teachers and staff reviewed and rehearsed our detailed hybrid plan. After putting that plan into action, the staff reported feeling confident and happy to see students in person.”

The district looks forward to beginning in-person instruction in all schools on April 12, 2021.

For more information, please contact:
Newark Board of Education
Nancy Deering, Interim Executive Director
Communications
973-733-6265

Superintendent Roger León Appoints Principal to Lead the New Michelle Obama Elementary School

Congrats-principal-Michelle-Obama

[February 26, 2021] Superintendent Roger León appoints Ms. LaShanda Gilliam, Vice Principal of Thirteenth Avenue School to be the Principal of the new Michelle Obama Elementary School, set to open its doors in September 2021. The Superintendent is confident that the Michelle Obama Elementary School will profoundly redefine education in the city of Newark. The Michelle Obama Elementary School will begin at the academic level of Pre-K3 and grow a new grade level each year.

“Ms. Gilliam has done an absolutely incredible job in our school district. She understands the realities of our students and will continue to be an inspiration to students and their families.” said Superintendent León.

Raised in Newark, Ms. Gilliam attended Newark Public Schools and graduated from West Side High School. In 1995, she graduated from Montclair State University, beginning her career as a first grade teacher at Benjamin Franklin School in Newark, New Jersey. Soon thereafter, Ms. Gilliam received a Master’s degree in Reading from Montclair State University. After becoming a licensed Reading Specialist, she worked as a Resource Teacher Coordinator for the Office of Language Arts Literacy. It was during this tenure that Ms. Gilliam began to see the incredible impact she was making across the district in a variety of schools. As a result of this revelation, Ms. Gilliam decided she wanted to become a school-based instructional leader. After receiving a second Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Fordham University, she became the Vice Principal of Vailsburg Middle School in 2005. Ms. Gilliam later transferred to Thirteenth Avenue School where she has flourished for the past ten years. Her tenure at Thirteenth Avenue has been marked by quality leadership and a positive climate and culture. It has also been during this time that she has been able to help lead Thirteenth Avenue School to an increase in teacher retention and student achievement.

Ms. Gilliam said “When students are given a positive learning environment, strong and knowledgeable leadership, they undoubtedly thrive.” She added, “The Michelle Obama Elementary School will be the pillar of public service, building excellence in every student as they powerfully impact the city of Newark and the world.”

For more information, please contact:
Newark Board of Education
Nancy Deering, Interim Executive Director
Communications
973-733-6265