Dr. William H. Horton

Newark Superintendent of Schools Roger León Announces and Recognizes NPS Students Who Received a Perfect Score on the PARCC Exam

Banquet Held for Students and Families – Students Honored at Board Meeting

[Newark, NJ – September 26, 2018] Newark’s Superintendent of Schools Roger León recognized the 42 students who obtained perfect scores on the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) Exam.  The students were recognized at the 2018 Perfect Scorers Banquet and featured at the September Board of Education public meeting.

Superintendent León said, “Last night, we recognized students who have excelled on the PARCC exam, who have set the bar high for achievement and set the stage of what is possible for other students.” The Superintendent continued, “The 42 students recognized represent the NPS mantra, ‘Where Passion Meets Progress’ – their passion for education and learning is worth recognizing and celebrating with the Newark Board of Education, their families, schools and the community.”

A total of 42 students from 16 schools, who were joined by parents and family members, were heralded at the 2018 Perfect Scorers Banquet and further recognized by the Newark Board of Education later in the evening at the Board meeting. Student honors were presented in English Language Arts, Mathematics and Algebra.

The students hail from:

  • Ann Street School
  • Arts High School
  • William H. Horton School
  • East Side High School
  • First Avenue School
  • Harriet Tubman
  • Lafayette Street School
  • Mount Vernon School
  • Oliver Street School
  • Park Elementary School
  • Rafael Hernandez
  • Ridge Street School
  • Roberto Clemente School
  • Science Park High School
  • Speedway Avenue School
  • Technology High School

“We are honoring these students because they are examples of all that is possible,” said Board Chairperson Josephine C. Garcia. “We are very proud of their accomplishments and wish them and all of our students continued success.”

NPS Hosts Their 1st TriMATHlon More than 600 Students Participate in 4-Day Math Adventure

Trimathlon Logo

[NEWARK, NJ – June 1, 2018] Newark Public Schools hosted their first TriMATHlon, a four day program of math exploration for students, hosted by the Math Department. The TriMATHlon engaged more than 600 students in three areas; “Making a Math Game,” “Creating a Prediction Station” and creating a “Game of 24 Championship.”

“The Math Department of NPS has created a day of learning and excitement, centered on inspiring students to develop a love of math,” said Interim Superintendent Robert Gregory. “I commend them for developing a creative way to raise the level of engagement for students in math by developing games and using problem solving methods to address their respective projects.”

Each school participated in the three projects:

Event 1: Make a Math Game
Students created an interactive math game that incorporated the major work of the respective grade. Games included but were not limited to carnival type games, board games, escape rooms, developing apps and more.

Event 1 Winners:

  • 1st Place: BRICK Peshine Academy
  • 2nd Place: Elliott Street School
  • 3rd Place: Ann Street School

Event 2: Prediction Station
Students completed an investigation and created a mathematical model based on a given phenomena.

Event 2 Winners:

  • 1st Place: North 10th Street School
  • 2nd Place: Speedway Academies
  • 3rd Place: Dr. William H. Horton School

Event 3: Game of 24 Championship
Students competed in an arithmetical card game in which the objective was to find a way to manipulate four integers so that the end result is 24.

Event 3 Winners:

  • 1st Place: Elliott Street School
  • 2nd Place: Wilson Avenue School
  • 3rd Place: Branch Brook School

Nicholas Romagnolo, Director of The Math Department said, “I had a great time developing and executing the TriMATHlon, along with my team and volunteers. We want to open the door for students to understand math and its use to solve problems and to use in their daily lives. I look forward to using what we learned from our first TriMATHlon to engage students further in their journey into Math.”

In Pursuit of 100 Excellent Schools, NPS Appoints Eight New Renew School Principals

June 19, 2014 (Newark, NJ) – Reaffirming its commitment towards realizing 100 excellent schools across the district, Newark Public Schools (NPS) today announced the appointment of eight principals to lead the 2014-2015 Renew Schools cohort. Renew Schools – created in line with extensive research identifying the common characteristics of successful schools – provide a wide-range of additional academic and social-emotional supports in order to ensure the needs of each individual child are met. This cohort of seasoned school leaders, with over seventy years of combined experience as educators and demonstrable capacity to improve school outcomes, is uniquely prepared to move these eight schools in a bold new direction in order to achieve academic success for all of their students. This cohort joins ten other Renew Schools for a total of eighteen Renew Schools across the district.
The five qualities successful schools with high levels of student achievement share are great school leaders; excellent teachers; a clear vision and mission; a safe building with flexible resources; and engagement with students and families. With a great principal at the helm of these new Renew Schools, the other four characteristics can come into place.
“The most critical goal of the Renew Schools strategy is to create the conditions necessary for success,” said Superintendent Cami Anderson. “With strong leaders at the helms of these schools, tightened accountability measures, and the ability to recruit, train, and retain the best talent, we can chart a course for enhanced learning environments and thus outcomes for our students.”
In Newark’s Renew Schools, principals will select their staffs through a city-wide hiring process that will ensure the right teachers are in the schools that make the most of their specialized skills. These schools will offer social and emotional supports that ensure students are ready and able to learn, including serving three healthy, organic meals daily, launching a school-wide mentoring program, offering families Adult Education classes in the evenings and on weekends, in literacy, math, and English. Renew Schools also make significant investments to create 21st century learning environments including updating their building’s wiring and internet access capabilities, and upgrading their computer labs with software aimed at reading and math acceleration and individualized learning.

The 2014-2015 Renew Schools Cohort is as follows:

Belmont Runyon Elementary School – Shawn Oxedine-Walter

An educator in the district since 1999, Shawn has worked as a bilingual Math teacher, Math Coach, and is now the Vice Principal of Miller Street. Under her leadership, Miller Street achieved gains in math on the NJASK. Shawn is committed to creating a collegial working environment where staff, families, and students can thrive.

Dr. E. Alma Flagg Elementary School – Ganiat Rufai

Ganiat Rufai is an instructional leader with an extensive background in special education. She has teaching experience in Washington D.C. and Brooklyn, NY, and has served as a Vice Principal in Washington, D.C. for the past four years. Ganiat is a results-driven leader who sets high expectations and has a record of building strong relationships with students, staff, and community members.

Hawkins Street Elementary School – Sandra Marques, Returning

Sandra began her fifteen-year career in the district as a teacher at Hawkins Street where she became Principal in 2012. She also served as Vice Principal at Wilson Street for eight years. Sandra emphasizes a culture of collaboration and collective responsibility amongst her staff and has expertise in aligning school operations with its values.

Rafael Hernandez Elementary School – Patricia Gois
A Wilson Avenue School alumna and an NPS educator since 2002, Patricia Gois has long been dedicated to serving the Newark community. She began her career as a teacher at Ann Street School, and has been Vice Principal there since 2010. Patricia is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and is relentless in her pursuit of excellence.
Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School – Ginamarie Mignone, Returning
A career educator in Newark Public Schools, Ginamarie began her district career in 1998 as a teacher and Literacy Coach at Burnet Street School, to where she returned as Vice Principal in 2007. She served as Vice Principal of Quitman Street Community School for one year before heading back to Burnet Street. In August 2013, Ginamarie became Principal of Dr. William Horton Elementary School. Her leadership skills and focus on family engagement fosters a high quality educational environment focused on student achievement.
Louise A. Spencer Elementary School – Jenn Pellegrine, Returning
Jenn Pellegrine will continue as the Principal of Louise A. Spencer for a third year. Prior to joining the Newark Public Schools, Jenn was a New Leaders Aspiring Principal, taught in public and charter schools in New York City, and served as Director of Data and Assessment at Newark’s Our Lady Liberty Charter School. Striving to continually develop her own leadership skills, Jenn actively seeks out opportunities for professional training in programs such as Research for Better Teaching and Relay Leadership. Leading by example, she encourages her staff to grow professionally as well.
Luis Munoz-Marin – Maria Ortiz
Building on her successful career with the Newark Public Schools, Maria will take the helm at Luis Munoz-Marin – where she started her district career as a Language Arts teacher – after serving as Principal at Alexander Street School. She has also been Vice Principal at Rafael Hernandez School and a Literary Coach Coordinator at both Miller Street Elementary School and Barringer High School. Maria’s spirit of grit and high standards helps establishing a goal-oriented and results-driven culture for staff, families, and students.
Speedway Elementary School – Atiba Buckman, Returning
Returning for a third year, Atiba Buckman will continue as Principal of Speedway Renew. Atiba studied reading at Columbia University’s Teacher’s College and brings expertise in literacy. Prior to joining Newark Public Schools, Atiba was a Vice Principal in New York City. Her commitment is to create a supportive school environment that prepares students for success in high school and beyond.