Congratulations to Neshawn Perkins from Newark Vocational High School for submitting the winning design to our Career & Technical Education Logo Contest!
The Newark Board of Education’s Vocational High School has been dramatically transformed over the last few years making it a premier educational facility. The recently completed Culinary Arts & Hospitality Academies are part of the school district’s commitment to Career Technical Education (CTE) programs.
The program will accommodate up to 250 students interested in exploring and studying the restaurant and hospitality industries. The program will also train chefs and hospitality workers, and the facility will also provide in-house dining and allow for outside catering services.
The 10,000 SF space occupies the former vocational shop classrooms, corridors and part of the cafeteria on the ground floor of this 1950’s concrete structure. The industrial aesthetic highlights exposed concrete roof structure and new ductwork. The utility runs are partially screened by wood “clouds” and “planks” to define the various spaces.
Upon entering the Culinary Arts & Hospitality Academies, one is greeted at the concierge desk and can take advantage of the well-appointed Hospitality Waiting & Lounge Area. A glass-walled classroom/conference room is also accessible from this area. Visitors are then seated in Dining Area 1 or 2. Each of these two dining areas also serve as instructional spaces.
The commercial/teaching kitchens feature a Demonstration Kitchen for first-year culinary arts students, and two additional kitchens, Skills 1 and Skills 2, for upper class students. The kitchens serve two dining areas each accommodating up to 32 diners. Dining Area 1 has uninterrupted views into the preparation and cooking areas on one side, and the interior courtyard on the other. Among other features, the kitchens share a walk-in refrigerator and freezer, pantries, dishwashing stations and a laundry room.
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[Newark, NJ – August 2, 2019] Superintendent León has a simple, yet brilliant plan for transforming school culture, increasing rigor, improving student life and promoting parent engagement – by mostly building and tapping into the district’s internal talent pipeline.
“I am excited to start the year with such a talented group of leaders”, said Superintendent León. “We know they have the passion, the drive and track record for advancing student achievement.”
Of those starting the 2019 – 2020 school year as new Principals, 12 were promoted from within the district’s ranks and 3 were recruited externally from a charter school and other public schools in New Jersey.
Here are the 15 Principals who have joined the team of game changers to provide new opportunities for success to our students, staff and community.
American History – Allison R. DeVaughn
Allison R. DeVaughn began her career with the district as a high school English teacher. She served in various positions, most recently as a Vice Principal at one of the district’s high schools. Ms. DeVaughn studied at Caldwell College and Saint Peter’s College. Allison’s focus on curriculum and instruction drove her passion for developing a robust professional development and coaching plan for teachers and staff.
Barringer High School – Dr. Jose Aviles
Jose Aviles returns to the district after recently serving as Principal of a high school in Franklin Township Public Schools. Dr. Aviles studied at Kean University, St. Peter’s College and Seton Hall University. His focus is on social emotional growth, increasing test scores and providing a strong academic curriculum.
Dr. William H. Horton – Hamlet Marte
Hamlet Marte started his career as a teacher and joined the Newark Board of Education as a Vice Principal at one of the district’s elementary schools. He studied at Long Island University, Rutgers and Montclair State Universities. Mr. Marte was responsible for instructional programming of the upper elementary students and frequently facilitated workshops and conducted outreach to support students and families.
Early Childhood Centers – Jeanne Ramirez
Jeanne Ramirez started her career with the Newark Board of Education as a bilingual elementary school teacher. Ms. Ramirez studied at Pace University, Hunter College and The College of St. Elizabeth. Jeanne has an extensive background in early childhood education. She has served in multiple capacities ranging from classroom teacher to school administrator. She is experienced in serving the diverse learners and families represented in the Early Childhood Schools.
East Ward – Rosa Monteiro-Inacio
Rosa Monteiro-Inacio started her career as an elementary school teacher with the Newark Board of Education. Rosa studied at Felician College and Kean University. Rosa has a proven record of increasing test scores and has extensive knowledge of curriculum. She also has the ability to effectively communicate with families, students and other stakeholders.
Franklin – Amy B. Panitch
Amy B. Panitch started her career with the Newark Board of Education as an elementary school teacher and rose to the level of Vice Principal after serving as an instructional coach. Ms. Panitch studied at the University of Pennsylvania and Montclair State University. She developed the K- 4 instructional programming to improve student achievement in her building.
Harriet Tubman – Angela Davis
Angela Davis started her career with the Newark Board of Education as an elementary school teacher and rose through the ranks, serving most recently as a Vice Principal in one of the district’s elementary schools. Ms. Davis studied at Rutgers and Kean Universities and has a track record for increasing student test scores and effectively engaging all stakeholders.
Lincoln – Hillary Dow
Hillary Dow began her career at the Newark Board of Education as a teacher and literacy coach. She rose to the rank of Vice Principal at one of the district’s elementary schools and recently served as a Special Assistant. She studied at Rutgers and Seton Hall Universities. Hillary assisted in managing the instructional and operational programs of twelve district elementary schools. She collaborates with staff and constituents to ensure effective school operations.
Louise A. Spencer – Karla Venezia
Karla Venezia began her career with the Newark Board of Education as an elementary school teacher and most recently a Vice Principal. She studied at Rutgers and Montclair State Universities. Ms. Venezia effectively communicates with parents and staff. Her students consistently demonstrated academic growth and mastery on state assessments.
Luis Munoz Marin – Kenneth Montalbano
Kenneth Montalbano started his career with the Newark Board of Education as an elementary school teacher. Mr. Montalbano studied at New York University and Teachers College – Columbia University. Most recently he served as a Vice Principal, where he led the schools’ social justice initiative and designed a yearlong social justice focus for each grade level, orchestrating the implementation of quarterly Social Justice Showcases.
McKinley – Carlos Reyes
Carlos Reyes started his Newark Board of Education career as an elementary school teacher. Mr. Reyes studied at Montclair State University. He embraced the opportunities to create and facilitate purposeful sessions, which are focused on improving student growth metrics and teacher performance.
Mount Vernon – Camille Findley-Browne
Camille Findley-Browne began her career as an elementary school teacher with the Newark Board of Education and most recently served as Vice Principal at an elementary school. Ms. Findley-Browne studied at Franklin Pierce and St. Peter’s Universities. She made literacy a focus in her building, by creating Literacy Week for her PreK – 2 students and having older students read to the younger students, focusing on guided reading and ensuring that reading was done every day and in every content area.
Newark Vocational – Kyle Brown
Kyle Brown started his career in the Newark Board of Education as a teacher in one of the district’s elementary schools. Mr. Brown studied at Rowan and Grand Canyon Universities. Kyle is solutions oriented and skilled in mitigating issues that distract from instruction. He understands the importance of engaging all stakeholders to achieve the vision of the school and the district.
Quitman Street – Justin Avery
Justin Avery joins us from the Teaneck Public Schools where he was an Assistant Principal. Mr. Avery studied at Rutgers and Grand Canyon Universities. He focused on student and parent equity and differentiated instruction for middle grades 5 – 8. He understands the importance of engaging all stakeholders and is committed to the vision of the district.
University High School – Genique Flournoy-Hamilton
Genique Flournoy-Hamilton joins us from charter school where she served as Principal for the past several years. Ms. Flournoy-Hamilton studied at Rutgers University and Tuskegee University. Ms. Flournoy-Hamilton has demonstrated success in creating a school culture and climate that is safe, inclusive and engaging for all students, staff and parents.
Mike Kinney | News 12 Varsity | Follow on Twitter
When 6-9 Justin Jones broke a bone in his foot just before the postseason began and 6-4 Javonne Jones followed him to the sidelines several games later with a broken finger, Cook’s Roughriders were suddenly without their size for the stretch run of the Group 2 state tournament.
At least that’s true if measuring with a ruler. Cook’s three teams at West Side and six before that at Newark Vocational have always been defined by their scrap, indefatigable will and sense of unity inspired by the big, bearded man those kids call Coach. Despite those injuries–and the almost countless other obstacles facing an inner city team like West Side–the Roughriders (25-7) repeated as Group 2 state champion, and fell in overtime to Teaneck in the Tournament of Champions quarterfinals.
Barry Carter | The Star-Ledger | Email the author | Follow on Twitter
Akbar Cook doesn’t want this story to be about him.
Sorry, Mr. Cook. I can’t do that.
You’re hard to ignore when you’ve managed to keep 80 to 100 young people off the streets on which you grew up in Newark’s West Ward.
“I don’t do it for kudos,” Cook said. “This is what I signed up for.”
And he does it without much sleep, raising the eyebrows of those who know him, hoping the 40-year-old doesn’t burn out.
Cook, a family man who has been married 14 years and has three children, leaves his home in the Poconos early in the morning and drives more than an hour to Hunterdon County’s Pottersville, where he works as a program coordinator at a summer day camp for city kids.
By 4 p.m., Cook is on his way to West Side High School in Newark, where he serves as vice principal. He’s there with a small staff to open the gym – that’s where all of those kids who Cook saves from the streets go three nights a week.
From 6 to 11 p.m., the joint is filled, mostly with boys and young men, ages 10 to 25, with younger players competing on separate courts. Some he knows, some he doesn’t, but they come from all over the city to stay out of trouble.
“If I wasn’t doing this, I’d probably be on the block,” said Davon Nelson, 21.
The time period is crucial. That five-hour window is when idle young people can find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Too much of that happened last summer.
Each time that something happened involving a West Side kid, Cook said it was probably someone he knew or had counseled.
This summer, though, Cook made it his business to be sure that things would be different. He called on the West Side Alumni Group and the MCJ Amelior Foundation, which has adopted the school and funds some of its academic and enrichment programs.
Cook’s idea is simple – give kids something to do in a safe place, particularly at night. The concept comes from his childhood, when he was always at the West Side Boys and Girls Club.
“I wanted to create the same type of feeling,” Cook said.
With only one Boys and Girls Club left in the city, Cook figured the gym could be his own version of a community haven.
He calls it the Lights On Program, which started on July 5. The word spread from one ear to another that the gym would be open for activities through Aug 29. The next thing Cook knew, the gym was averaging 80 kids.
Inside, they play basketball, ping-pong, board games and card games. Those waiting their turn sip on water and eat free meals provided by the Amelior Foundation. Out front, there’s a knock hockey table and a medical van. The girls who come to the gym dance to Jersey club music pumping through a speaker. Some play games, too. At dusk, Cook sets up X-Box and PlayStation systems that project sports video games onto the school’s walls. It looks like a movie from a distance, but that’s Lebron James dunking on someone.
The gym is more than a magnet for kids. Adults come, too. While his two sons are shooting hoops, Abdul Cameron is in the weight room working out.
“It keeps my mind off the negative energy,” he said.
Without the gym, many of the fellas said they’re not sure what they’d be doing, heaping credit on Cook, who shies away from the limelight.
Mr. Cook, it’s okay to wear the community honor badge. You’ve earned it.
Alfonzo Anderson, who graduated from West Side last year, said you saved his life. Remember when you spent five hours talking to him, making him see the dead-end track he was on. The 19-year-old hasn’t forgotten that. He stopped fighting, getting in trouble and getting high.
Because of you, he gave up the street corner for a community college in Cheyenne, Wyo. He’s on the basketball team and getting good grades, an achievement he didn’t think was possible in high school.
“I look at him as a father figure,” Anderson said. “He showed me a different way.”
His athletes get it, too. They are members of the West Side High School basketball team, which he led to its first championship this year.
Yup, Cook, is the head basketball coach, too. And when he’s not at the gym program on those three nights, he’s coaching teams on Tuesday and Thursday nights as part of a Newark summer league.
His guys see the time he puts in with them, but they say it’s more about life than basketball. Cook’s message of manhood and personal responsibility sticks with them.
“He knows how to vibe with kids,” said Yasim Hooker, 17. “I’ve never met a hard-working man like (him) at his age.”
His example commands their attention, compels kids to listen to this role model.
“Plus he’s a big guy, so people are kind of scared of him,” said Quayon Williams, 17.
We laughed at that one. Yes, he’s 6 feet 7 inches tall, carrying 300 pounds. He can be strict, but Cook is fun and downright silly as he empties his heart into these kids.
It’s 11 p.m. Time to go home, but Cook has one more stop. There’s always extra food left over, unopened meals the kids haven’t eaten. Cook drives to Newark Penn Station and gives it to the homeless.
Now, he can leave.
Sheridan, his wife, calls him on the road to make sure Cook is awake, knowing he’s tired but understanding that’s he’s deeply committed to what he’s started, making it hard to see the family. His sons are 7, 9 and 18. They come to the gym, too, sometimes and his wife works with him at the summer camp.
“We have a jewel in the heart of the city and nobody knows about it,” he said, talking about the open gym.
You got that right, Mr.Cook.
That jewel would be – you.