Mount Vernon

Nearly 2,000 NPS 3rd & 4th Grade Students Perform At NJPAC

Recorder Arts Program Highlights Newark Students and A Commitment to the Arts


[NEWARK, NJ – June 27, 2017] Nearly 2,000 Newark Public Schools (NPS) 4th and 5th grade students recently performed at NJPAC as part of the Recorder Arts for Musical Pathways Program; a partnership between NPS and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. This participation more than doubled the 739 students who participated last year.

“Thank you to NJPAC and Margaret El for their dedication to this important program that brings the arts to our students and allows them to play in the best concert hall in this country,” noted Superintendent of Newark Public Schools Christopher D. Cerf. “We must continue to grow programs like this because the arts are a vital part of our students’ education.”

The partnership includes 20 schools and teachers, who participated in a two day professional development program. As part of the program, NJPAC’s Recorder Arts master teacher conducted two site visits at each school during the first and second semester of the school year for in class support. In addition, NPS teachers from each of the 20 schools made nominations for the All-Star Recorder Choir, who performed on stage during the concert. The concert was held on June 15 at NJPAC’s Prudential Hall.

“I absolutely got chills looking out over the orchestra and all the way up to the third tier in Prudential Theater, seeing and hearing over 1900 third and fourth graders from Newark Public Schools performing in unison,” Added Margaret El, Director of Arts Education at NPS. “We are so excited about the work NPS music students and teachers have accomplished, and look forward to many students pursuing an instrument of choice in the future.”

Click here to listen to the concert.

Participating schools included:

  1. 14th Avenue School
  2. B.R.I.C.K. Avon Academy
  3. Camden Street School
  4. Elliott Street School
  5. First Avenue School
  6. Harriet Tubman School
  7. Ivy Hill School
  8. Lafayette Street School
  9. Lincoln School
  10. Louise A Spencer School
  11. McKinley School
  12. Mt. Vernon School
  13. Oliver Street School
  14. Park Elementary School
  15. Quitman Street Community School
  16. Rafael Hernandez School
  17. Ridge Street School
  18. Roberto Clemente School
  19. South Street School
  20. Wilson Avenue School

Newark Public Schools’ Elementary Students Perform A Disney Kids Musical at NJPAC

Five schools in Greater Newark area participated in Disney Musicals in Schools as part $100,000 Disney grant awarded to NJPAC

[Newark NJ – February 9, 2016] – Newark Public Schools (NPS) elementary students, along with students from the greater Newark area, performed at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) today on the world-class Prudential Hall stage. The students performed selections from The Lion King and Aladdin. The students’ performance was part of “Disney Musicals in Schools”, a national initiative developed by Disney Theatrical Group to create ongoing theater programs in under-resourced public elementary schools. Disney awarded the Arts Center a $100,000 grant last year to bring the program to Newark area public elementary schools.

“I was delighted to watch so many talented young children from Newark Public Schools and the greater Newark area perform on stage in front of their peers, family and friends,” said NPS Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf. “Thanks to NJPAC and the Disney Musicals in Schools program, our kids had the extraordinary opportunity to participate in this fantastic program and we are grateful our schools were selected to participate in the program’s inaugural year.”

NJPAC chose five Newark area public elementary schools including Branch Brook School, Luis Muñoz Marin School and Mount Vernon School from NPS for the pilot year of the program. Each school participated in a 17-week musical theater residency that began in September 2015, and concluded with students performing a 30-minute “Disney KIDS” musical based on a classic Disney film at each school. During the residency, students worked collaboratively, developing self-confidence and strengthening communication skills, all while learning and discovering the joy of creating a musical theater production.

The $100,000 grant awarded to NJPAC supports two years of programming and another five schools will be announced later this year for the 2016-2017 school year.

About Disney Musicals in Schools
Disney Musicals in Schools is a free outreach program offered to a limited number of public elementary schools each year. Through the program schools receive free performance rights and ShowKit materials to a 30-minute Disney musical written for elementary school performers. Over the course of a semester, professional Teaching Artists guide school teachers through the process of mounting a musical with student performers. The goal is to provide the training necessary for teachers to continue a tradition of theater education for years to come. For more information visit: disneymusicalsinschools.com

About New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States and is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey – where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 9 million visitors (including over 1.5 million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. Visit njpac.org or call 1-888-GO-NJPAC for more information.

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NPS Teachers Awarded for Excellence

Governor’s Recognition Award

These eight individuals stand out as top staff members in their schools based on their ability to inspire students of all backgrounds; foster a strong student learning environment, demonstrate leadership in educational activities; and are dedicated to the school and community. These are not just teachers but also our education service professionals who work closely with our children.

  • Jessica Allen a teacher from Quitman Elementary
  • Glenda Capers a teacher from BRICK Avon
  • Josephine Cooper – a Social Worker from Quitman
  • Lucinda Lopez – a teacher from First Avenue
  • Melissa Milara (Ramirez) a teacher from Miller Street
  • Alberta Shiavo a teacher from John F. Kennedy school
  • Deborah Sims a Behavioral Specialist from John F. Kennedy school
  • Hilda Soto-Yao a teacher from New Jersey Regional Day

School Teacher of the Year Award

These teachers were nominated as the top teacher in their school based on their individual accomplishments and contributions in the classroom as well as for their leadership. Not only do these teachers consistently exhibit preparedness and instructional excellence, but they also take on formal and informal mentoring and leadership roles to broadly improve the quality of education at their school.

  • Marisa Alves, from Lafayette Street School
  • Andrea Arguello from South Street
  • Tammy Chavez from Ann Street
  • Nicole Coppola from Park Elementary
  • Deirdre Corley from Hawthorne Avenue
  • Whitney Farrand from Mount Vernon
  • Lisa Fischman from Harriet Tubman
  • Angelisa Guilford from Lincoln Elementary
  • Michelle Gutierrez from Abington Avenue
  • Stacy Guzman from McKinley
  • Stephanie Hairston from Chancellor
  • Nicole Harris from Hawkins Street
  • Sadiqua Harvard from George Washington Carver
  • Natasha Javed from Camden Street School
  • Celia Laricchia from East Side High
  • Cristano Liborio from Science Park High
  • Matthew Lichten from Ridge Street
  • Susan Lopes Oliveira from Wilson Avenue
  • Melissa McSweeney from Elliott Street
  • Jessica Morais from Oliver Street
  • Kariema Muhammad from Belmont Runyon
  • Sean Nally from Barringer Arts and Humanities
  • Teresa Oliveira from BRICK Avon
  • Marcela Palma from Miller Street
  • Anany Rodriguez from Luis Munoz Marin
  • Kimberly Rubenstein from Rafael Hernandez

Special congratulations to District Teacher of the Year recipient, Edith Battle. She is a teacher who exemplifies the highest level of excellence and is a true example for all other teachers in the district.

Newark Public Schools Celebrates its Most Effective Teachers with $1.3 Million in Merit Bonuses

Bonus Checks to Hit the Mailboxes of 190 Teachers Across the District this Week

[August 23, 2013 – Newark, New Jersey] Newark Public Schools (NPS) announced today the first merit-based bonuses in its history, issuing $1.3 million to its most effective teachers throughout the district. In total, 190 teachers will receive one of four types of bonuses, ranging from $5,000 to $12,500. Letters from Superintendent Cami Anderson, along with the checks, were issued on Friday, August 23rd.

“We are keeping a laser focus on ensuring the families of Newark have an effective teacher in every classroom,” stated Superintendent of the Newark Public Schools Cami Anderson. “We are thrilled to celebrate the success of Newark’s best and equally proud to set a new standard for our community where our best can be rewarded. Today’s announcement is a culmination of a great deal of hard work from many grassroots organizations uniting to improve our community. Together, with one voice, we are backing our hard-working teachers across the district and saying that greatness is not only something to aspire to but something that will now be rewarded.”

“Great teachers should be recognized and rewarded,” stated Newark Teacher’s Union (NTU) President Joe Delgrosso “The NTU is proud to have negotiated with the district a breakthrough contract and congratulates the 190 teachers who received their well-deserved merit bonuses.”

Today’s announcement finalizes the implementation of teacher evaluations in NPS for the 2012-13 school year and is the first series of bonuses that are due since last November’s ratification of the landmark three-year teacher’s contract, the state’s first to provide bonus pay based on classroom performance.

Elizabeth Corker, a Mount Vernon teacher who will receive one of the merit bonuses stated,“This is an honor to be among the first group of teachers who are being recognized for maintaining high standards for the benefit of our students. I am inspired by my students and will continue to expose them to the innovative and comprehensive instruction that is needed to master academic, social and emotional skills in preparation for college.”

Teachers who are paid on the Universal Salary Scale and receive a “Highly Effective” rating on the Annual Summative Evaluation, now earn a step on the salary scale for the following year and also are eligible to receive bonuses of up to $12,500.

Specifically, if a teacher who is on the Universal Scale is:

  • rated Highly Effective, s/he receives $5,000;
  • rated Highly Effective and works in a hard-to-staff subject, s/he receives an additional $2,500, for a total bonus of $7,500
  • rated Highly Effective and works in one of the lowest (25%) performing school, s/he receives an additional $5,000, for a total bonus of $10,000; and
  • rated Highly Effective and works both in a hard-to-staff subject and in one of the lowest (25%) performing schools, s/he would get all three bonuses for a total of $12,500.

The following is a breakdown of bonus payments of the 2012-13 academic year.

Bonus Type Bonus Amount Number of Teachers Total Amount
Highly Effective $5,000 102 $510,000
Highly Effective and in Hard-to-Staff Subject $7,500 41 $307,500
Highly Effective and in Lowest-Performing Schools $10,000 30 $300,000
Highly Effective and in Lowest-Performing Schools, and in Hard-to-Staff Subject $12,500 17 $212,500
Total 190 $1,330,000