News

Experience collaborative professional learning at NJEA's Summer Institute

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:09:34 -0400

NJEA’s 2012 Summer Professional Learning Institute features four separate workshops. Hear from teacher leaders, collaborate with others around your own experiences, reflect on new practices, and develop plans for the new year. Attend as many days as you’d like, alone or as a member of a team. Come ready to learn and to share.

Tuesday, July 10

C.A.R.E.: Strategies for Closing the Achievement Gaps

Target audience: grades K-12

Culturally competent teaching gives educators necessary strategies in working with students from diverse backgrounds that match students’ ways of understanding and interacting with the world. Develop new skills to close the achievement gap that exists among race, gender, language, and social class groups.

Presenters: Amanda Adams & Millie Perrine

Thursday, July 12

Using Storytelling, Folk Literature and Drama to Enhance Literacy

Target audience: grades K-5

Because many English language learners (ELLs) come from cultures rich in traditional folklore, folktales are a great resource for instruction. Storytelling with drama allows students to participate at their own levels, developing a wide variety of language arts skills. Gain hands-on experience that will enable you to create lessons that engage all learners and meet Common Core Standards.

Presenters: Julia A. Mahoney & Ellen V. Simpson

Tuesday, July 17

Providing Optimum Learning Experiences for English Language Learners

Target audience: grades 3-12

As the population of students who are English language learners in New Jersey grows, so do the demands for their full inclusion into the academic program. Learn about the basic elements of second language acquisition and seven essential elements for building an effective school community for English language learners.

Presenter: Judie Haynes

Thursday, July 19

When the Going Gets ROUGH, the TOUGH Get Going

Target audience: General & Special Education Teachers K-12

Students with disabilities often present with challenges that are both behavioral and academic. Work with colleagues to develop a variety of new positive strategies for dealing with all students, regardless of their disabilities, in this highly interactive learning experience.

Presenter: Claudette Peterkin

All sessions will be held at NJEA Headquarters,180 West State Street, Trenton, NJ. Each workshop provides five hours of professional development credit. Participants must attend the entire day to receive a certificate.

Workshop Schedule

Registration and continental breakfast: 9-10 a.m.

Workshop: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Registration

The workshop cost is $25 per participant, and $100 for team of five from the same school district on the same day.

Continental breakfast and lunch are included in the registration fee.

Teams must register by mail
Individuals can register online

Registration deadline: June 15. Space is limited.

NJEA, NJCCC honor community college scholars

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:22:52 -0400

NJEA joined the New Jersey Council of County Colleges to honor New Jersey’s 35 best and brightest community college students and their families at the 18^th annual Phi Theta Kappa Day celebration on Thursday, May 3, at the Trenton Marriott Hotel.

“Each year, the New Jersey Council of County Colleges hosts this program to recognize the members of the New Jersey All-State Academic Team, sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for community colleges, the Coca-Cola Foundation and the New Jersey Education Association,” said NJCCC President Dr. Lawrence Nespoli. “These students are recognized for their outstanding academic achievement and exceptional service to their communities as members of Phi Theta Kappa at their local community colleges.”

Essex County College honor student Carla Alvarez-Valverde delivered one of the keynote addresses. A Business Administration major, Alvarez-Valverde was recently named a recipient of the renowned Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Transfer scholarship, worth $30,000 a year for up to three years. She was also named a Coca-Cola Foundation New Century Scholar, and will also receive a $2,000 scholarship for being New Jersey's top community college student.

quo;My parents always told me your life is your responsibility,” Alvarez-Valverde, who is originally from Ecuador, told the audience. She took an English as a Second Language class at Essex County College prior to entering the Honors Program and joining PTK where she served as president this past year. “Big dreams can be supported by concrete plans,” she said, adding that students should harness challenges they face into opportunities.

Alvarez-Valverde also thanked her teachers and fellow students for being a surrogate family in her new country.

NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Marie Blistan congratulated the students, their families, and teachers on their successes. “I am a proud graduate of Camden County Community College. So I can tell you from personal experience that your education at community colleges will take you far in life. Use this experience to achieve your dreams.”

NJEA represents about 4,000 professors and educational support professionals working in New Jersey’s community colleges.

Help fight pediatric cancer with Go4theGoal

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:13:22 -0400

Cancer has no boundaries. It affects people of all walks of life and all ages, even children. That’s why the Go4theGoal Foundation has declared September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Sept. 27 as National Dress 4 Pediatric Cancer Day.

“We chose this day, as it was the birthday of Richard Stefanacci, the young man whose family started the foundation when he was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in 2006,” explained Randy Pickus of the Go4theGoal Foundation.

Last year, 28 schools in New Jersey participated in the National Dress 4 Pediatric Cancer Day and several have already signed up for next school year. The Foundation is also promoting a program called Lace-Up 4 Pediatric Cancer which offers students the opportunity to sell and purchase neon shoe laces to show their support for children battling cancer.

In mid‐February, the Haddonfield, NJ community pulled out all the stops to support two students at Haddonfield Middle School and Haddonfield Memorial High School whom had recently been diagnosed with cancer. As the difficult news spread across town, a group of parents familiar with the Lace-Up 4 Pediatric Cancer program reached out to Go4theGoal to order a few hundred NEON yellow shoelaces to distribute to kids around town to show both support for the boys and their families and to raise awareness about pediatric cancer in the community.

“The community’s response was immediate and remarkable. Students held sales in the High School and Middle School and in shops around town. Within a week, we sold over 7,000 pair of laces and raised more than $30,000 in lace sales and donations,” said Jean-Anne McMahon, a Haddonfield resident.

Go4theGoal’s mission is to help make the lives of children affected by cancer as "normal" as possible by granting personal wishes, providing financial support to them and their families, developing and implementing unique hospital programs and funding grants for innovative pediatric cancer research. All money raised stays in the surrounding community.

For more information, contact Ms. Randy E. Pickus directly at Go4theGoal Foundation, PO Box 433, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423, (508) 269-8795, randypickus@go4thegoal.org

BlueClaws host College Fair Night

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:23:18 -0400

On May 24, the Lakewood BlueClaws will take on the Hagerstown Suns at 6:35 p.m. Come to the ballpark early for an opportunity to meet college recruiters during College Fair Night. Students enjoy the game for free and family members can purchase tickets for $7.

For more information, contact Andy Granozio at 732-901-7000, ext. 175 or send an e-mail to agranozio@blueclaws.com.

Help your students learn through gardening

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:01:14 -0400

Learning Through Gardening, a program of the New Jersey Agricultural Society, will present two workshops in July. Both will be held at the Rutgers Eco-complex in Bordentown, NJ, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Cultivate the Curriculum” is scheduled for Thursday, July 12. Participants will learn how to build and maintain a school garden and incorporate it into their daily lessons.

“Eat, Plant, Read” will be held on Wednesday, July 18. This workshop connects children's literature to the garden. Learn how to plant vegetables from the books and link them to literature lessons and simple recipes which encourage your students to make healthier food choices.

Each program also features a tour of the Eco-Complex's state-of-the-art facility. The cost for each workshop is $95.

To register for either of these workshops, contact Suzanne Macauley at njagsociety@optonline.net or visit http://njagsociety.org/aitc/aitc.htm.

NJEA PAC endorses Marie Corfield for Assembly

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:58:24 -0400

The New Jersey Education Association’s 125-member political action committee (NJEA PAC) has endorsed NJEA member and Flemington art teacher Marie Corfield (D) for Assembly in the 16th Legislative District.

In 2011, Corfield ran for the Assembly in Legislative District 16 against Republican incumbent Pete Biondi. Biondi passed away in November 2011, necessitating a special election this year.

NJEA PAC voted on the recommendations of the local interview team. Further endorsements will be released following the NJEA PAC general election endorsement meeting in August.

Corfield has received NJEA PAC’s endorsement through the general election. New Jersey’s primary election day is June 5.

NJEA Sponsors GI Go Fund’s Jeans for Troops Program

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:13:12 -0400

The New Jersey Education Association is proud to sponsor the GI Go Fund’s Jeans for Troops program which is raising funds to support the GI Go Transition Center for veterans who need assistance with employment, housing, education, and access to health care.

The Jeans for Troops program encourages organizations to permit employees to donate $5 to the GI Go Fund in exchange for wearing jeans on Thursday, May 24.

“NJEA is proud to sponsor the GI Go Fund’s Jeans for Troops program,” said NJEA President Barbara Keshishian. “Our members, many of whom are veterans themselves, are committed to supporting our troops as a way of thanking them for their service.”

In addition to supporting the GI Go Fund with a contribution toward their efforts, NJEA staff will be given an opportunity to participate in the Jeans for Troops program.

Many NJ schools are already participating in this effort. See if your school is on the list.

For more information about the GI Go Fund, visit GIGoFund.org.

NJTV celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:20:35 -0400

NJEA members will be part of two weeks of intense coverage which began on Monday, May 7 to coincide with National PTA Teacher Appreciation Week. Special programming is planned for “On- on-One with Steve Adubato” and “Caucus: New Jersey.”

Since 1984, the National PTAhas designated the first full week in May as PTA Teacher Appreciation Week, a special time to honor the men and women who lend their passion and skills to education.

One-on-One

“One-on-One with Steve Adubato” features in-depth interviews with political leaders, CEOs, television personalities, professors, artists, and educational innovators who each share their experiences and accomplishments. The show regularly interviews NJEA members who have been featured on “Classroom Close-up, NJ.”

From May 7 through May 11, the show interviewed innovative New Jersey teachers and presented footage from their classrooms. Take a look:

The show airs Monday through Friday on NJTV at 7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m, and at noon on Sundays. One-on-One also airs on WNET Monday through Friday at 12:30 a.m. and on WHYY at 5:30 p.m. on Thurdays.

Caucus, New Jersey

On the heels of “One-on-One” series, the popular program “Caucus: New Jersey” will feature a panel discussion with four of the state’s top teachers: New Jersey Teacher of the Year Jeanne DelColle, Hudson County Teacher of the Year Kathy Kuchar, Ocean County Teacher of the Year Michael Dunlea, and Camden music teacher Jamal Dickerson.

Their panel, titled “A+ for Education: Excellence in Education,” will cover a wide range of educational issues in New Jersery.

“Caucus: New Jersey” is an Emmy Award-winning public affairs series that airs on various regional PBS stations including NJTV. Also hosted by Adubato, “Caucus: New Jersey” deals with issues such as tax policy, education reform, healthcare, the future of the state’s children, and the many challenges facing the today’s families.

The panel discussion aired on NJTV Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13. WHYY will carry the panel on Tuesday, May 15 at 5:30 p.m. and WLIW will show it on May 16 at 11:30 p.m.

HEA blocks firing of custodians

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:49:10 -0400

The Hainesport Education Association in Burlington County knows firsthand that community support is the key to saving the jobs of educational support professionals. A six-month campaign to keep the Hainesport Board of Education from firing their six custodians and replacing them with a for-profit cleaning service ended in victory last February when the board voted 6-3 to keep their own staff.

HEA’s outreach to parents and the community was key to the board’s decision.

“The October board meeting was a big one,” said HEA President Cheryl Rothkopf. “The parents, and even some residents with no children in the schools, really came out for our custodians that night.”

In fact, they came out to support the custodians again and again.

That didn’t happen by accident.

As soon as first-year local president Rothkopf received a letter from the board about its consideration of privatization, she called her UniServ field office for advice and assistance. NJEA UniServ consultant Patrick Manahan worked with Rothkopf to develop a strategy to build support for the custodians, but he credits Rothkopf’s leadership for making the real difference.

“For a first-year president to step up the way she did is spectacular,” Manahan said. “Cheryl did an outstanding job reaching out to parents.”

Community outreach

Before reaching out to the community, HEA custodians assessed their contributions to the school and the broader community. Since four of the six were Hainesport homeowners, they calculated their contribution to the local tax base. They enumerated the various community activities in which they participated to demonstrate their personal investment in Hainesport. They listed their specialized trainings and certifications that added value to their role as highly trained staff in the district.

The information was tabulated and integrated into a flier that HEA members of every job description distributed at the district’s two back to school nights and at a community day in Hainesport.

HEA traditionally sets up a greeting table at back to school night at which, among other activities and giveaways, they highlight new teachers. This year, they also highlighted the custodians with a poster that detailed all the services they provided to the district, going as far to indicate the square footage of the building for which each custodian was responsible.

Custodians had faced the additional challenge over the last several years of keeping the building clean and orderly in the midst of construction, asbestos remediation, a new roof, and other projects.

HEA used the community day as an opportunity to gather contact information for potential supporters. These supporters later received a stamped, addressed postcard to mail to the board of education with a message of support for the custodians.

The mailing also included a petition with 10 blanks asking supporters to gather signatures and contact information for more allies. The petitions were to be returned to HEA, which added to the association’s cadre of community supporters.

Board meetings and coffee klatching

Staff and community packed the October board meeting. They questioned the wisdom of the privatization of the custodians and were doubtful that there would be substantial savings.

“We were able to identify residents who were pro-education and parents who would speak up against subcontracting,” Manahan said.”

At its January meeting, the board hosted a community discussion on privatization. Twenty-four parents addressed the board in opposition to the plan to fire the custodians.

In the midst of the campaign, HEA held two “coffee klatch” meetings in residents’ homes. The meetings were an opportunity to share information and take residents’ concerns into consideration.

“We’re a family”

“Some members of the board of education just wanted to look at the numbers, but we put a face on those numbers,” Manahan said.

Custodian and HEA member Glenwood Brown addressed the board at several meetings. At the February meeting, he told the board, “If you bring private people in here it’s not going to be the same school, because we’re a family. You are going to be breaking up our family.”

But the association didn’t ignore financial considerations. In addition to community outreach the association examined the bid specifications and the district’s earlier experiences with subcontracting to raise substantial questions about the value of privatization. The association used NJEA’s expertise as well as that of experts in the community.

One community member pointed out that when the district had subcontracted its transportation services, costs increased by $100,000. The board countered that scheduling, not costs, were the primary motivation for the privatization of its buses.

The future

While the custodians’ jobs were saved this year, the battle is not over. Board members indicated that it may consider privatization in the future.

Like most districts in the state, Hainesport moved its school elections to November. This year, due to various circumstances, five of the board’s seven seats will be up for election. The outcome of this fall’s elections may determine the future of privatization in Hainesport.

Zombie Apocalypse

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:01:02 -0400

Technology teacher Cristen Serdy from Sovereign Avene School in Atlantic City coordinates a multidisciplinary lesson about emergency preparedness through a project called the Zombie Apocalypse. In science they work on cells, disease transmission and vaccines. In social studies they make emergency preparedness kits, find a secure shelter and plan an escape route. In math they calculate the rate of infection across the population. In language arts they use digital storytelling to produce emergency broadcast warnings. The culminating event is an assembly about the importance of being prepared for an emergency and a student performance of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

NJEA statement on SCI report

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:22:55 -0400

NJEA President Barbara Keshishian issued the following statement today upon the release of the report of the State Commission of Investigation on paid union leave agreements:

“The report released today by the State Commission of Investigation makes one thing abundantly clear: the work release arrangements negotiated by certain local education associations with their boards of education are legal and commonplace.

“Despite what are sure to be attempts to politicize this report, we know that after months of intensive investigation, no evidence of any wrongdoing has emerged.

“The simple fact is this: negotiated release time for union members and leaders to attend to union business is a common and longstanding practice in both private and public sector employment. The arrangements negotiated by school employees in New Jersey were all done as part of the collective bargaining process or through other appropriate agreements, and presumably, the ensuing agreements were ratified by boards of education at public meetings. There is nothing secret about these negotiated agreements and nothing to hide.

“The purpose of such agreements is to promote labor harmony within districts by making it possible for problems to be addressed and resolved cooperatively rather than through adversarial processes. Providing negotiated release time for the purpose of conducting union business saves both time and money in districts and provides for a better school environment for all concerned. When issues can be resolved informally, rather than through costly and time-consuming grievance and arbitration procedures, taxpayers save money and everyone benefits.

“While districts and taxpayers benefit from the increased efficiency that results from these negotiated agreements, in many cases much or all of the cost of the release time is borne by the local association, not by the district.

“Agreements for release time, including full-time release in a limited number of instances, have been around for decades. They have always been a matter of public record. The fact that the release of this report comes in the midst of a sustained attack on public education and public sector unions in New Jersey is a remarkable coincidence.”

The Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award

Tue, 08 May 2012 13:11:03 -0400

A visionary, Richard C. Bartlett (1935-2011) inspired environmental educators nationwide. He believed that education is critical to preserving the natural world for future generations. His commitment to conservation and environmental education spanned over four decades. The Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award, made possible through the generous support of Baxter Healthcare Corporation, was established with an original grant from Toyota Motor Sales USA to distinguish the teachers who best represent Dick Bartlett’s passion for and leadership in environmental education.

While serving as president and CEO of Mary Kay, the company received numerous environmental awards. Mr. Bartlett was chairman of the board of NEEF before becoming one of our honorary board members and served on the boards of the Nature Conservancy, the National Council on Science and the Environment, the Aldo Leopold Foundation and the Center for Big Bend Studies. He was co-founder of the Thinking Like a Mountain Foundation, which offers grants to “thinkers and artists” in residence at an environmental ethics resources center, library and observatory in Texas.

The Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award is given annually to an outstanding middle or high school teacher who successfully integrates environmental education into their curriculum and engages students in interdisciplinary solutions to environmental challenges. The award recognizes an educator who can serve as an inspiration and model for others.

The 2012 Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award will go to a high school teacher, which includes grades 9-12. Because middle and high school teachers may face different challenges in their teaching on the environment, the award alternates between middle and high school teachers each year.

The Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award winner will receive $5,000 and two merit winners will receive $750 each.

Read about past Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award winners.

Nominations for the Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award are due June 8, 2012. Nominate yourself or a teacher you know today!

The winners will be selected in late July and announced in August.

NJEA, Riversharks seek honorary bat kids

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:54:26 -0400

Attention NJEA members! NJEA and the Camden Riversharks are looking for all-star students. That’s right! Each month from May to August one deserving New Jersey public school student will be selected as the NJEA/Riversharks Bat Kid. The bat kid can be any student – boy or girl – who deserves the special honor of helping out the Camden Riversharks bat boy for the first inning of a Riversharks baseball game.

NJEA encourages members to nominate well-rounded students ages 7 - 13 who:

Work hard academically,
Display kindness and a commitment to others,
Actively participate in extracurricular activities or hobbies, and
Care about their communities.

To nominate a student, please submit a brief essay of about 250 words or less that explains how the student displays these four qualities. Please include the child’s name, grade, your relationship to the child, and school name and address. Include your name and contact information as well.

The winning NJEA/Riversharks Bat Kid will receive four (4) tickets to the game, a chance to meet Riversharks players, recognition during the game, and gifts from the Riversharks and NJEA.

Nominations may be submitted via U.S. mail to:

Dawn Hiltner
NJEA/Riversharks Bat Kid
NJEA
PO Box 1211
180 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08607-1211

By e-mail to: dhiltner@njea.org. Please include “NJEA/Riversharks Bat Kid” in the subject line.

By fax to: 609-392-6321, attention Dawn Hiltner.

Deadline to submit nominations has been extended. Nominations must reach NJEA Headquarters in Trenton by 5 p.m. on May 25, 2012.

NJDOE announces changes to use of student achievement measures

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:34:59 -0400

Districts participating in the first year of the pilot teacher evaluation program were recently notified by the N.J. Department of Education (NJDOE) about changes to some components of student achievement measures used to evaluate teachers.

For teachers in tested grades (4-8) and subjects (math and language arts), student growth percentiles (SGP) on state assessments (where two consecutive years of data are available) will be calculated. These SGPs will account for 35-45 percent of the teacher’s summative rating. However, since the SGP data for the spring 2012 assessments are not yet available, pilot districts are advised to generate an interim summative rating for teachers this spring, with final summative ratings generated in the fall.

Districts will determine the remaining 5-15 percent of the student learning component, including a schoolwide measure of student achievement and other optional measure of student achievement.

Pilot districts will determine the assessment that will be used for the evaluations of teachers in non-tested grades and subjects. Student achievement measures may be used for 10-45 percent of the summative evaluation, with 5-10 percent derived from schoolwide measures.

Based on this formula, the summative rating for these teachers may be based on a higher percentage of teacher practice measures, up to 85 percent (with 15 percent based on student assessments).

The NJDOE also provided guidance for districts on selecting student achievement measures for non-tested grades and schoolwide measures (beyond state tests).

NJEA has serious concerns about the delay of the summative ratings until the fall for teachers in tested subjects and grades. This practice violates current statute and regulations. In addition, the timeline for developing plans for non-tested subjects is unrealistic. While the stated intent is to provide “flexibility,” districts, districts will need to scramble to determine what measures will “count” in summative teacher evaluations for this year. Teachers will be evaluated on assessments that were chosen at the end of the school year, without the opportunity to align their lessons with the tests.

Second teacher evaluation program has important differences from this year’s trial

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:33:20 -0400

In late March, the N.J. Department of Education (NJDOE) released a Notice of Grant Opportunity (NGO) for up to 20 additional districts to participate in the second year of the pilot teacher evaluation program. The 10 districts participating in the first pilot program can continue with the pilot program in year two, with reduced funding.

Due to federal funding requirements, two separate NGO’s are available for districts. One NGO is for districts with 100 percent of their schools receiving Title I funds; a second grant opportunity is available for all other districts except the districts in Pilot 1. Each NGO will select up to 10 districts – for a maximum of 30 districts in Cohort Two (10 original pilot districts and 20 new pilot districts.)

The proposed teacher evaluation system is based on Gov. Chris Christie’s task force recommendations, including:

Annual teacher evaluations based on standards of effective teacher practices.
Multiple measures of teacher performance and student performance, with student academic progress or growth as a key measure.
A summative rating that combines the scores of all the measures of teaching practice and student achievement.
Four summative rating categories (highly effective, effective, partially effective, ineffective) that clearly differentiates levels of performance.
A link from evaluation to professional development that meets the needs of educators at all levels of practice.

The state hopes that fifty percent of the new evaluation system will be based on measures of student achievement, and fifty percent will be based on measures of teacher practice.

New pilot requires unannounced observations and distinguishes between “core” and “non-core” teachers

The grant application for cohort Two is similar to the first pilot, with a few important exceptions. Districts chosen to participate in Cohort Two will be required to implement features that were not included in the first pilot, such as:

Unannounced observations are required.
There is more flexibility on the duration and number of observations.
Cohort Two categorizes teachers into two categories – core and non-core. Core teachers are teachers in grades K-5, and secondary teachers in math, language arts, science and social studies. Non-core teachers are all other teachers.
- At least two observations for core teachers must be unannounced; one for non-core teachers.
- The number of observations differs for teachers of core and non-core subjects. Nontenured teachers in core subjects will be evaluated five times per school year (tenured teachers will be observed four times). Nontenured teachers in non-core areas will be evaluated three times (tenured teachers will be observed two times).
- Unlike Cohort One, the duration of observations has also been predetermined by the grant, and also differentiates between core and non-core teachers. Nontenured core teachers will be evaluated for at least 105 minutes; tenured core teachers for at least 90 minutes. Nontenured non-core teachers will be evaluated less – at least 60 minutes. Tenured non-core teachers will be observed at least 45 minutes.
No single observation can be less than 15 minutes.
New observation processes are required to ensure inter-rater agreement and accuracy between rates, including the use of external observers (an evaluator not from the teacher’s school) and double-scoring of some sessions.

Training requirements also differ

Unlike the first cohort, the NGO for Cohort Two did not specify the required amount of time teachers or administrators must be trained. The first pilot required administrators to be trained for at least three full days, and teachers for at least two full days. The training requirement in Cohort Two indicates that the training must be “rigorous and comprehensive” – but no specific amount of training is required.

In addition, there are no requirements for informal observations in Cohort Two, which were required in cohort one. Since administrators have the right to do informal observations as necessary according to state regulations, this is essentially left to the discretion of the administrator.

Applications were due at the end of April and the state is expected to notify the winning districts in June. Districts receiving the grant must convene a district evaluation committee before they apply for the grant, select a teacher practice framework by the summer, develop and implement a communications plan, and coordinate their training in the model with their district professional development plan by Sept. 30.

There are no specific deadlines for other grant activities, although the state is recommending that training be completed and observations begin by Oct. 1. Districts in Cohort Two must provide comprehensive training and coaching for teachers and administrators prior to conducting observations, develop or procure additional measures of student achievement (in addition to state test scores), communicate regularly with the NJDOE on their progress, and cooperate with the department’s external researcher.

NJEA raises concerns

NJEA has several concerns about the new requirements in cohort two and has raised them with NJDOE staff. While not specifically referenced in the grant application, the department is advising districts that they may employ independent contractors to conduct observations. These individuals have no legal authority to weigh in on personnel matters.

In addition, categorizing teachers as core and non-core teachers creates the impression that some teachers are more important than other teachers. NJEA believes that evaluation procedures must be consistently applied to all teachers.

The lack of specificity regarding the amount of time administrators and teachers must be trained in the model frameworks could encourage districts to take short cuts in the amount and quality of training. Requiring training to be rigorous and comprehensive is subjective. Teachers in the first year of the pilot reported that training was an essential part of a successful transition to a new evaluation system (see related article, “Opportunities and Obstacles”).

NJEA will continue to monitor cohort two, providing training and assistance to local associations to advocate for members and the profession.

Governor expected to sign bill that changes NJ STARS scholarship program

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:32:16 -0400

Both houses of the state Legislature have passed a bill that would save a popular scholarship program, and Gov. Chris Christie is expected to sign the bill.

NJ STARS II provides a transfer scholarship to NJ STARS community college graduates who successfully transfer to a New Jersey four-year college or university to earn their bachelor’s degrees. NJ STARS and NJ STARS II – like many other state-funded programs in these tough economic times – have changed over the past few years, but now there appears to be agreement among state leaders about what NJ STARS and NJ STARS II will cover starting this fall.

NJ STARS will cover tuition only. Students (and/or their parents/guardians) are responsible for fees and books.

NJ STARS II will provide a $2,500 annual scholarship for NJ STARS students who earn their associate degrees at their community colleges with grade point averages of 3.25 or better and successfully transfer to any public or private New Jersey four-year college or university to earn their baccalaureate degrees. NJ STARS II students will continue to have four semesters of NJ STARS II eligibility and must maintain a 3.25 grade point average in their junior year to receive the scholarship in their senior year. A student whose family’s income equals or exceeds $250,000 will not be eligible for NJ STARS II.

The following provisions will apply to current NJ STARS II students:

Current NJ STARS freshmen may be awarded the $2,500 amount upon transferring to a New Jersey four-year college or university for the fall 2013 semester.
Current NJ STARS sophomores may be awarded the $2,500 amount upon transferring to a New Jersey four-year college or university for the fall 2012 semester.
Current NJ STARS II juniors with grade point averages of 3.25 to 3.49 at New Jersey public four-year colleges and universities may receive a $6,000 NJ STARS II scholarship in their senior year.
Current NJ STARS II juniors with grade point averages of 3.5 or better at New Jersey public four-year colleges and universities may receive a $7,000 NJ STARS II scholarship in their senior year.

For more information, visit www.njstars.net.

Nicky Fifth’s Race to the State House

Mon, 07 May 2012 15:38:30 -0400

Contest for students will have them asking for more New Jersey

by Lisa Funari-Willever

Once upon a time there was a small state with a huge population and hundreds of amazing offerings. By all accounts, this state should have been very prosperous, even in the most challenging of economic times. You see, this small state was perfect for all families, even those that were limited in how far they could travel. The options were abundant and varied, from mountains and beaches to cities and suburbs. The state’s tourism industry should have been virtually recession-proof, as exploring this state could be accomplished on a tank of gas, without airfare or hotels.

But a recession came anyway. While everyone wondered how to turn the situation around, something remarkable was quietly happening in classrooms throughout the state. I created the Nicky Fifth series of chapter books that were set in this amazing place called New Jersey. I believed the key to solving the problem wasn’t to reach the already over-scheduled parents, but to grab the attention of curious, enthusiastic children. For years, I taught New Jersey studies in a fourth-grade classroom in Trenton and I felt that education and promotion need not be mutually exclusive. In fact, I believed the excitement created when the two were combined would serve as a catalyst for family exploration, knowledge, and appreciation. As a partner in Franklin Mason Press, an independent publishing house and our family business, I knew the main characters, Nicky Fifth and T-Bone could breathe new life into the state’s travel and tourism industry. We had everything we needed right here in New Jersey; now we just had to remind people.

Luckily, NJEA also saw the value in combining promotion and education. It recognized the demands placed upon teachers and saw the value in combining two very important subjects, New Jersey and literature. NJEA supported the efforts of Franklin Mason Press to share the series with teachers and their students. The Association sponsored a contest that invited children from all over the state to actively participate and submit their favorite New Jersey destinations. NJEA saw an opportunity to promote reading, family time, amazing attractions, businesses and communities while boosting the tourism sector of the economy.

Schools adopted the series as part of their curriculum and teachers created the most inventive extension activities. Students connected to the characters and responded to the “Jersey humor.” And families, well families topped them all. When children gushed with excitement that the places they read about were actually located in New Jersey, the day trip was reborn. They started dragging their families all over the state. Slowly, attendance at museums, landmarks, and state parks and forests grew. Families were leaving the comfort of their county or their favorite beach to see what else they might find. Franklin Mason Press started adding passports to the back of the books to motivate families to see the state firsthand. One exciting outing led to another and passports were quickly being filled.

Raising Nicky Fifth and T-Bone to Junior Ambassador status

Eventually, the state recognized the contributions of Nicky Fifth and T-Bone and three bills were created to elevate them to the position of Official Junior Ambassadors. Rising above the fray of politics and party lines, the bills came from both sides of the aisle. Children across the state monitored the Nicky Fifth website and patiently waited for word that the bill had passed. In April 2011, the Assembly bill was successfully voted out of committee and children celebrated. In December 2011, the Senate bill was successfully voted out of committee and again, they celebrated. Children from every corner of the state waited for the bill to be scheduled for that final vote.

Sadly, they’re still waiting. The bills were never scheduled for the full vote and a new legislative session commenced in 2012. Disappointed children learned that the bill would need to be converted and re-introduced. They weren’t exactly sure what that meant, but they knew it didn’t mean soon. As an author who visits nearly 70 schools each year, I started receiving letters from kids all over the state. After reading these letters, I knew what needed to be done. The emails and letters were so passionate and could be very effective; they were just going to the wrong person.

You see, as a publisher, I have the authority to do some very cool things. I have each of my books benefit a children’s charity, from Duchenne muscular dystrophy to Autism Speaks. I save room for children to have their work published and my latest contest, Nicky Fifth’s New Jersey, actually sent Nicky and T-Bone to places my readers suggested. A few of my readers even became characters. And while I knew how Nicky and T-Bone could reignite tourism, I hardly had the authority to schedule a bill. So, I decided to harness the creativity and spirit of New Jersey’s kids, our most valuable resource, to preserve and enhance our other valuable resources.

A new contest emerges

If you have a class full of characters, then my new contest, Nicky Fifth’s Race to the State House, is the contest for you. Individual students and classes are invited to find the most creative ways to let the Legislature know that New Jersey really needs Nicky Fifth and T-Bone as Official Junior Ambassadors. You can write letters, a song, or a poem, make posters, create a video, invent a Nicky Fifth and T-Bone dance, or do anything that you believe will be effective and memorable.

Sure there are prizes! The third-place class gets mentioned in the book and each student receives the new book, Nicky Fifth Says Vote For T-Bone. Second place also gets mentioned in the book, each student receives the new book, and Nicky Fifth and T-Bone throw a class pizza party. First place wins the grand prize: each student receives a copy of the new book, Nicky Fifth and T-Bone throw a pizza party, and each student and teacher in that class becomes a character in the story.

Visit the www.nickyfifth.com website for all grade levels and areas of curriculum. It’s a free resource we have created with the help of our talented interns to bring New Jersey to life. On this site, you can show your class photo galleries and videos, use numerous activities, and enter all of the contests. Plus, there’s a link to Nicky and T-Bone’s, age-appropriate, all-New-Jersey-content Facebook page that provides a daily New Jersey fun fact or upcoming event.

As an author, I have always been very passionate about writing, but never in my career have I felt so strongly about the books I have written. By teaching New Jersey through literature, teachers have an enjoyable way to share New Jersey, and ensure all of our students know where they live: in the great state of New Jersey.

Lisa Funari-Willever is a former NJEA member and award-winning author of 18 books. She created Nicky Fifth chapter books to introduce students to the hundreds of amazing offerings in the Garden State and she visits 70 schools each year. She can be reached at Lwill0517@aol.com.

Test-taking tips to help students succeed

Mon, 07 May 2012 13:53:14 -0400

Test-taking can be a stressful time for students: their routines are disrupted, the tests themselves are tedious, and the stakes can be high. One bad day for students can lead to lost funding, increased oversight, and dramatic restructuring for schools. It’s hard for students not to feel anxious. But there are things parents can do to help make testing less stressful for their children. These strategies are as effective on annual exams as they are on their weekly math quiz.

Get a good night’s sleep. Studies show that when children are well-rested, they perform better on exams. Make sure your child goes to sleep at a reasonable hour and that distractions like televisions and computer games are turned off.

Eat a healthy breakfast. It’s important that children eat a nutritious breakfast every day, but it’s especially helpful on test days. If they usually eat just cereal for breakfast, consider adding a protein such as eggs or peanut butter to help them maintain their energy and stay focused.

Relax before the exam. Remind your children to do the best they can on the exams but not to be frightened by the experience. Let them know that the tests are designed to challenge their thinking, so some questions – but not all of them – will be hard.

Listen to directions. Some tests have very specific requirements and they can change section to section. Remind your child to listen carefully and ask their teacher questions if they don’t understand the directions.

Take it slow. There are always a few students who view tests as a race to finish first. Remind your children that their job as a student is to always do the best they can and not to worry about what other students are doing.

Review. Before handing the test in, students should go back over it and review their work. In the case of electronically-graded tests, students should be sure that their answers are correctly recorded.

Do something active after school. After school, students should participate in activities that help them relieve stress. If you can, take your children to the park and play soccer or have a catch. Go for a walk or bike ride together. You will be able to get your children talking about their day and give them an opportunity to recharge after a long day pushing a number two pencil.

Once the scores come in, students should be reminded that they are just a snapshot of a point in time and they shouldn’t be overly concerned about their personal results. They should also be reminded not to compare themselves to other students in their class. Annual tests don’t measure every subject and your children’s talents may be evaluated in different ways.

If you have any questions about annual exams or other tests, contact your children’s teachers. They are your partners in ensuring that your children receive a great education. When families and teachers work together, our children are the winners.

NJ Teacher of the Year meets President Obama

Thu, 03 May 2012 13:50:43 -0400

Jeanne DelColle (Middle row, far right), New Jersey’s Teacher of the Year and a History and Anthropology teacher at the Burlington Institute of Technology in Westampton, met President Barack Obama at a White House ceremony honoring all of the state teachers of the year. In addition, the President recognized Rebecca Mieliwocki from California as the new National Teacher of the Year.

Read Jeanne DelColle’s NJEA Review article, “The many shades of race: why we don’t talk about it, why we should, and how we can.”
Read the NJEA Review profile of Jeanne DelColle, “New Jersey’s own Indiana Jones.”
Watch Jeanne on Classroom Close-up, NJ:

NJEA seeks apprentices

Thu, 03 May 2012 11:58:39 -0400

Are you looking for a new challenge? Would you like to develop skills to prepare for an association leadership role? Have you thought about what it would be like to join the NJEA staff? Consider applying to be part of the 2012-13 NJEA Bolivar L. Graham Practicing Apprentice Program. Log in for more information and application. Deadline is May 25.

Student NJEA at TCNJ leadership awards

Wed, 02 May 2012 19:31:01 -0400

The Excellence in Advocacy Award was one of two received by the Student NJEA chapter at TCNJ. From left: Director of Student Activities Tim Asher, incoming chapter co-presidents Rachel Goldberg and Amanda King, Student NJEA President and chapter president Andrew Lewis, and Student NJEA member Hannah Pawlack. Pawlack was also recognized with the Harold W. Eickhoff Outstanding First-Year Student Award.

The Student NJEA chapter at The College of New Jersey was honored with two programming awards at the college’s Fifth Annual Student Leadership Awards banquet. Student NJEA President and TCNJ Chapter President Andrew Lewis was elected with five other student leaders to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

In addition, the college awarded a scholarship in the name of one of NJEA’s most revered past presidents. The scholarship dates back to 1923.

Excellence in Advocacy

Student NJEA at TCNJ won the Excellence in Advocacy Award for “Drop-Out Crisis: What Future Teachers Need to Know.”

The program was a joint initiative with Princeton University's Teacher Preparation Program and the Center for Future Educators at TCNJ. The program included a panel of speakers from TCNJ and Princeton University, the Trenton community, and high school drop-out students themselves. Among the issues discussed were how teachers could have prevented these students from dropping out and how the students’ lives have changed since leaving school

Outstanding New Program

Student NJEA at TCNJ won the Outstanding New Program Award for its Anti-Bullying Week activities. The purpose of this Student NJEA program at TCNJ was to draw attention to National Anti-Bullying Week and the new Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Law in New Jersey.

Students built a paper chain of pledges, pledging that their future classroom will be bully free. The week also included speaker Matthew Purinton, who was bullied in school because of a disability that left him without arms and in a wheelchair.

“Matthew's message was strong as he spoke about how one his teachers saved his life, but also of a friend of his who was ignored and committed suicide,” Lewis said.

Who’s Who

Lewis, for his numerous activities on campus as well as his statewide leadership of Student NJEA, was selected for “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.”

The Elizabeth Allen Scholarship

TCNJ junior Molly Moltane (r) received the Elizabeth Allen Scholarship Award. The scholarship is named for one of NJEA’s most revered past presidents. With Moltane is Interim Provost Dr. Susan Bakewell-Sachs.

TCNJ junior Molly Moltane was awarded the Elizabeth Allen 1869 Scholarship Award.

The scholarship honors Elizabeth A. Allen, NJEA’s first woman president. Allen was an 1869 graduate of the New Jersey State Normal School at Trenton (now TCNJ) who was instrumental in the establishment of the Teachers Retirement Fund and Tenure of Office Act.

The scholarship was first awarded in 1923 through a fund established by the N.J. Society of Retired Teachers. It is awarded to student “who demonstrates high scholarship, commitment to education, and value to the College.”

Moltane, a 2009 graduate of Pompton Lakes High School, majors in special education and MST (math, science, and technology). She is active in numerous campus activities, particularly those that relate to her future in the teaching profession.

Moltane also won the scholarship in 2011 and this January met Charles Clemens, a distant relative of Elizabeth Allen.

The State of Preschool 2011

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:39:08 -0400

The State of Preschool 2011: State Preschool Yearbook, a landmark national report by The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), a unit of the Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University, reports that New Jersey remained the top-ranked state for resources provided to educate its young learners, a distinction held for the past decade.

The yearbook is the newest edition of NIEER’s annual report profiling state-funded prekindergarten programs in the United States. The latest report finds that New Jersey has moved up to second for enrollment of 3-year-olds and continues to rank in the top half for percentage of children enrolled at age four; however, its access ranking has dropped over the last decade from 9th to 16th as gains made by other states have eclipsed New Jersey’s position.

According to NIEER, the 2011 State Preschool Yearbook shows total state funding for the nation’s pre-K programs decreased by nearly $60 million from the previous year to the 2010-2011 school year. In the past 10 years, real spending on state pre-K has declined by about 15 percent, or more than $700 per child.

For more information and to read the full report, visit www.nieer.org/yearbook.

Digital Storytelling App

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:54:32 -0400

If you’re looking for a fun, engaging digital storytelling app, try StoryKit by ICDL Foundation. With this app, students can create an electronic storybook and share it using their iPad, iPhone, or online via a link.

Other features:

Write text
Create illustrations by drawing on the screen with a paint tool, taking a photo, or attaching photos from an album
Record sounds to tell the story
Add, reorder, or delete pages from the story
Share the story

Here’s how

Visit nea.org to read about other apps recommended by educators.

Art of Comprehension

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:04:39 -0400

Educators at Elms Elementary School in Jackson Township are perfecting the art of teaching comprehension skills. When art teacher Trevor Bryan, fourth grade teacher Donna Donner and fifth grade teacher Justin Dolcimascolo realized that the cognitive processes involved in reading comprehension are nearly identical to the cognitive processes involved in pictorial comprehension they incorporated art into lessons across the curriculum. Art can be used to help students relate to social studies, vocabulary and even science. Early data suggests that the program is having a beneficial effect on students' standardized test scores. Gallery

May Day Festival at the American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:52:54 -0400

On Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 7 pm the American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark will host the annual May Day Festival. Plans call for instrumental and vocal performances of folk and labor music by George Mann with Marty Confurius and Alan Podber, the New Jersey Industrial Union Council (IUC) Solidarity Singers, Harmonic Insurgence choir, and Annamaria Stefanelli, lyric soprano. Refreshments will be served, tours of the Museum will be offered and, shopping in the Museum Store will be available. There is a $10 per person admission.

This project is funded, in part, by the Passaic County Cultural and Heritage Council at Passaic County Community College, through a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of the State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark is a learning environment dedicated to the study of working people and immigrants. With restored period rooms, a free lending library, exhibit space, Museum Store and Old World Gardens, this landmark offers a great deal to visitors. Once the meeting place for thousands of silk mill workers during the 1913 Paterson Silk Strike, it continues to open its doors for organizations to hold meetings.

The Museum is located at 83 Norwood Street in Haledon, New Jersey. The museum’s hours of operation are Monday through Friday 9 am - 5 pm. Tours are offered Wednesday through Saturday from 1 - 4 pm or by appointment. For further information, please visit the Museum’s website www.labormuseum.net or contact the Museum at (973) 595-7953 or email labormuseum@aol.com.

Task force to study school-lunch program

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:58:13 -0400

Gov. Chris Christie has announced the members of the N.J. Education Funding Task Force, which he created in March by issuing Executive Order No. 89. The task force is charged “with examining the State’s school funding formula and developing recommendations for the governor concerning those areas of the formula that may be susceptible to fraud or subject to outside manipulation, including, but not limited to, participation in the Federal Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program.”

The Task Force will be chaired by Secretary of Higher Education Rochelle Hendricks. It also will include Common Sense Institute of New Jersey President and former Randolph Board of Education President Jerry W. Cantrell; former Paterson Public Schools Director of Early Childhood Education Anna Lugo DeMolli; Fort Lee Public Schools Interim Superintendent Steven Engravalle; Stern & Kilcullen Partner John P. Inglesino; St. Benedict’s Prep Headmaster and Essex County Vocational and Technical Schools Board President Rev. Edwin D. Leahy; and Former Absecon City Councilmember Charles Urban.

EO 89 directed the task force to consider the following issues:

Economically effective measures of student poverty;
Educationally sound measures of defining at-risk students;
Appropriate adjustments to the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) to account for municipal property ratable bases that may be artificially deflated as a result of municipal property tax abatements;
Identifying all aspects of the SFRA that may be susceptible to fraud, or subject to undue outside manipulation and recommendations to address these abuses.

The task force is to present its final report only 120 days after its first meeting.

NJEA testifies against tenure bill

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:14:50 -0400

NJEA Director of Government Relations Ginger Gold Schnitzer delivered detailed testimony to the Senate Education Committee today on S-1455, a tenure bill that would essentially eliminate tenure by taking away due process rights from tenured New Jersey teachers.

“NJEA does not want ineffective teachers in the classrooms of our public schools,” Gold Schnitzer told the committee. Then, citing two main thrusts of NJEA’s proposal, she added that “the process for dismissing an ineffective teacher can – and should – take less time and cost less money.” NJEA’s proposal would replicate the dismissal law adopted 20 years ago in Massachusetts, where the courts were removed from the process and replaced with final and binding arbitration hearings.

“This system has been working in Massachusetts for years, and by the way, like New Jersey, Massachusetts is also leading the nation in student achievement,” Gold Schnitzer said.

S-1455, sponsored by Education Committee Chair Sen. Teresa Ruiz, allows districts to take away tenure after two poor evaluations, but provides no opportunity for teachers to challenge the validity of those evaluations. Dubbed the TEACHNJ Act, the bill would leave schools and teachers vulnerable to inappropriate political influence.

NJEA is opposing the bill, and promoting its own proactive tenure reform proposal, which streamlines the process but preserves due process rights to protect effective teachers from mistreatment.

One key concern of NJEA’s is that S-1455 would rely on a yet-to-be designed evaluation process to make critical decisions about teacher dismissal.

“NJEA believes that since a teacher’s career status will hinge on this new evaluation system, we ought to know and agree upon what that system looks like – and make sure it works – before making sweeping changes to the tenure law,” said Gold Schnitzer.

“Addressing tenure without a serious and conclusive discussion about evaluation is like building a house before the foundation is set,” she warned.

A comparison of the two bills highlights the significant problems with the TEACHNJ Act. NJEA has already shared this information with key legislators and legislative leaders.

The bill was heard for discussion only and is not yet scheduled for a vote by the committee.

NJEA is urging members to take action. Contact your legislators today. Share the facts about tenure on New Jersey and urge them to support NJEA’s smart tenure reform proposal that puts great teachers in every classroom and protects those teachers from political interference and mistreatment.

NJEA refiles pension lawsuit

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:39:18 -0400

NJEA and other public employee unions in New Jersey have refiled in state court a lawsuit challenging the provisions of Chapter 78, which NJEA contends violated the rights of its members. The pension law went into effect last year.

On March 6, the U.S. District Court in New Jersey issued an opinion dismissing the original federal lawsuit against the state.

In her opinion, Judge Anne E. Thompson ruled that the federal court did not have jurisdiction in the case, but did not make any rulings on the merits of the suit.

“NJEA’s attorneys strongly disagree with this ruling, but we emphasize that the decision was limited only to the jurisdictional question of whether this suit can proceed in federal court,” said NJEA President Barbara Keshishian.

Chapter 78, among other things, eliminated cost of living increases even for retirees who had already completed their decades of service to their. The law also imposed substantial increases on employees and retirees for health care and pensions.

NJEA, the other unions, and affected individuals claimed that the 2011 pension law violated federal and state constitutional rights, which led to the suit being filed in federal court.

Judge Thompson concluded that the federal court did not have jurisdiction because the 11^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution bars suits in federal courts against the state, or even its officers, if the remedy is a payment of money from the state for past violations of the law.

NJEA will keep members informed as the lawsuit makes its way through state courts.

Registration opens for NJEA Jack Bertolino Summer Leadership Conference

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:35:33 -0400

The NJEA Jack Bertolino Summer Leadership Conference will be held Aug. 4-10 at the Hilton East Brunswick Hotel. The conference is dedicated to developing association advocate representatives. For this reason, there will be no professional development credit given for attendance in any seminar.

Register early

Space at the summer leadership conference is always limited. Therefore, local association presidents or treasurers must forward a Local Affiliate Summary Accounting Form, individually completed Participant Registration Forms, and a check for the amount due to NJEA by June 1. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until all space has been occupied. Mail your registrations early to avoid being closed out. Volume may prevent even timely registrations from being honored.

Checks must be made payable to “NJEA/SLC” and returned with registration material to:

NJEA Summer Leadership Conference
PO Box 36361
Newark, NJ 07188-6361

Note to association presidents

If your local has late spring elections, you may want to reserve slots for your newly elected officers in advance. Please forward their names as soon as your election results are known.

When you are registering people from your association, please confirm roommate information and seminar selection, as well as smoking preference, with registrants before sending the registration information to NJEA to avoid any confusion at registration/check-in.

Cancellation and changes

Any cancellations and changes must be made in writing to NJEA by emailing Sway Gilbert at cgilbert@njea.org.

The cancellation policy will be as follows:

Full refund – cancellation request for refund must be in writing and emailed prior to June 15 to be eligible.

Partial (50%) refund – cancellation request for refund must be in writing and emailed after June 15 but prior to July 1 to be eligible.

Reimbursements for timely cancellations will be processed after October 1. If you have any questions regarding reimbursements or cancellations, please contact Lynne Nelson at 609-599-4561, ext. 2232 or email cgilbert@njea.org.

Housing (resident)

Lodging reservations are based on double occupancy.

Roommate preferences may be indicated on the registration form, but roommate requests are not guaranteed without all the required information on the registration forms.

You must include a roommate for double occupancy. If not included, one will be assigned.

Confirm rooming arrangements with your preferred roommate before sending in your registration form to be sure that person did not choose a different roommate.

Workshop tuition includes lodging (double occupancy), tax, coffee breaks, all organized meals, and entertainment. At checkout, you are responsible for any additional charges.

You will be required by the hotel to present a credit card at check-in.

Single Rooms

Single rooms are available on a very limited first-come, first-served basis for an additional $112 per workshop. If you wish to have a single room, write “SINGLE” (not “NONE”) where roommate information is requested. Once the allotted single rooms are reserved, no further requests for single rooms can be accepted.

Check-In

Hotel registration will be conducted between 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Register Early! The Opening General Session begins promptly at 3 p.m.

Expect confirmation letter

Everyone registered for the conference will receive a confirmation letter. If you do not receive a confirmation letter by July 15, please contact NJEA at 609-599-4561, ext. 2232 or email cgilbert@njea.org.

Bring photo ID

Due to heavy participation at the summer leadership conference, no person will be registered without a confirmation letter and photo identification. Anyone who shows up for a workshop he/she is not scheduled to attend will not be admitted under any circumstances. Only preregistered members will be admitted to the conference (no guests please).

Due to lack of childcare provisions and safety concerns – no children are permitted.

All participants must be NJEA members and show proof of registration by wearing a badge to all workshop activities, social functions, and meals. NJEA security requirements will be prudently maintained..

Two scholarships available

First-Time Attendees

Scholarships will be awarded in each of the 21 county affiliates, as well as one each in the ESP, higher education, and the nonclassroom teacher units of representation.

The scholarship is designed to strengthen NJEA and its affiliates, afford an opportunity for active NJEA members to attend the summer leadership conference for the first time, and help those affiliates with severely limited budgets.

Each unit of representation will develop its selection process. Besides being first-time attendees, applicants must be active NJEA members employed within the unit of representation. The governance body of each unit of representation must vote on the scholarship recipient. A local may only receive a scholarship for a first-time attendee once every five years.

How to be an Organizer

The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage members to take this workshop. One scholarship per county will be awarded. Members registering for this workshop must complete the application and submit it to their local president. Local presidents MUST return their scholarship application to the county president.

For application forms, see your local president or contact Sway Gilbert at 609-599-4561, ext. 2232 or email cgilbert@njea.org.

Local presidents must submit the nominee’s completed application forms to the county president or representation unit head by May 3. The scholarship application and completed registration forms of approved nominees must be submitted to NJEA by June 1.

Special Needs

If you have a special physical, communication, or other disability-related need which may require assistance to permit or facilitate your attendance/participation in conference activities, or if you have any questions or concerns about housing arrangements or need additional registration materials, please contact Sway Gilbert, NJEA, at 609-599-4561, ext. 2232 or email cgilbert@njea.org.

DelColle to be honored by Sen. Menendez

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:46:34 -0400

Sen. Robert Menendez will recognize New Jersey’s 2012 Teacher of the Year Jeanne DelColle at his third annual Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony on Sunday, March 11. In honor of his mother, Menendez will present DelColle and five others with an “Evangelina Menendez Trailblazer Award.” They are Kathy Grant Davis, executive director of New Jersey Primary Care; Linda Fiddle, director of the Daniel J. Fiddle Foundation; Esperanza Porras Field, president of the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce; and Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, executive director of New Jersey Citizen Action.

Lisa P. Jackson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, will keynote at this event celebrating Women’s History Month.

Tickets are still available for the ceremony, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Margaret Williams Theatre at New Jersey City University, Jersey City. Call 973-645-6360 for more information.

Kids In Need Foundation Teacher Grant Opportunity

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:29:26 -0400

Applications will be available February 14 through April 30, 2012 for the Elmer's Teacher Tool Kit grants. Sponsored by Elmer's Products, Inc., the Tool Kit grants are awarded to K-12 certified teachers in the U.S. who want to replicate already proven projects in their own classrooms during the 2012-2013 school year.

Projects available for replication can be viewed on the Kids In Need website. These grant awards are based on financial need, number of children who will benefit, and the teacher's commitment to complete the project. Special consideration is given to first year teachers. Find out more at www.kinf.org.

Score your tickets for the NY Liberty's 7th annual Education Day game

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:20:33 -0400

Join the NY Liberty professional women's basketball team for its 7th annual Education Day game on May 14 at 10:30 a.m.

In addition to great lower-level seats at a discount, ticket holders will enjoy an educational speaker, unique on-court experiences, free thunderstix for your whole group, and more!

For more information or to book your seats today email matt.cohen@msg.com or call 212-631-5738.

Download flier

California Casualty offers athletic grants

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:19:41 -0400

California Casualty has expanded its one-year-old Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant program. This year, $75,000 is available in grants to public high schools across the nation. During the 2010-11 school year, the program awarded $25,000 to ten high schools in Arizona, California, Colorado and Oregon.

Who can apply?

Employees of public high schools in most states (except Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and Wisconsin), who hold current membership in the National Education Association (NEA) or other education associations listed in the grant guidelines.

The application deadline passed on Feb. 15, 2012. Awards were announced on April 5, 2012.

Workers’ Memorial Day Observance

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:55:39 -0400

The American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark will observe Workers’ Memorial Day, a day set aside by the nation’s unions to draw attention to the occupational health and safety of workers in the US, on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 1 p.m. at the Museum’s headquarters, the historic Botto House National Landmark.

In addition to the traditional candle-light vigil, Irwin Nack, Associate Professor of History at William Paterson University (retired) and past president of the American Federation of Teachers Local Union 1796, AFL-CIO, will lead a slide presentation and lead a discussion on the topic of “Scapegoating: From the Salem Witch Hunts to Today’s Immigrant Bashing.”

The first Workers’ Memorial Day was observed in 1989. April 28 was chosen because it is the anniversary of the formation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the day of a similar remembrance in Canada. Every year, people in hundreds of communities and at worksites commemorate Workers’ Memorial Day as an International Day of Mourning.

The Botto House National Landmark, home of the American Labor Museum, is located at 83 Norwood Street, Haledon, New Jersey. It was the meeting place for over 20,000 silk mill workers during the 1913 Paterson Silk Strike. The Museum offers a free lending library, restored period rooms, changing exhibits, Museum Store, Old World Gardens, educational programs and special events. The Museum’s hours of operation are Monday through Friday 9 a.m.5 p.m. Tours are offered Wednesday through Saturday from 1-4 p.m. and by appointment. For further information, please visit labormuseum.net or contact the Museum at (973) 595-7953 or email labormuseum@aol.com.

Professional Development Opportunity for History/Social Studies

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:22:15 -0400

New Jersey history and social studies teachers can learn by doing and earn three professional development hours by participating in the Spirit of the Jerseys History Fair at Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville on Saturday, May 12 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The event is open to everyone and is a wonderful opportunity for teachers to come and learn along with their family and friends.

Activities include military encampments and displays on the Revolutionary, Civil, WWI and WWII time periods; period music and crafts; living history demonstrations; historic character portrayals; and exhibits by historical societies and museums. New Jersey State Historic Sites, most of which offer free school tours and programs, will be available with information.

The fair provides a unique opportunity for teachers to meet numerous experts in fields related to the history of New Jersey, receive information on historic sites and organizations, and interact with living history demonstrators and reenactors who will be interpreting milestone events and historic figures from the State's past.

Professional development documentation certificates must be obtained at the Division of Parks & Forestry exhibit booth during the fair.

It is the responsibility of districts, schools or individuals to determine the suitability of this program with the district or school's Professional Development Plan.

The fair will be held rain or shine. Admission is FREE. Parking is $5 per vehicle.

For more information, visit njhistoryfair.org.

Show your PRIDE with an association banner

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:47:38 -0400

PRIDE banners can help you promote the hard work of your members. Your local can take advantage of this great opportunity to order at least one association banner at no additional cost to you. To make this easy, NJEA has created a PRIDE banner order form. Sign in and visit the PRIDE page under Parents & Community for more information.

More great opportunities—PRIDE funding available

PRIDE funds are still available for the 2011—2012 year. Due to this availability, NJEA will approve locals for new spring or summer projects up until April 15—one month past this year’s PRIDE funding deadline. NJEA may approve local associations for new PRIDE projects even if they have reached their maximum spending limit.

Thank you for your support of the PRIDE program. For more information, contact your UniServ regional office.

>> Go to the PRIDE page

Proposed Changes to NJ STARS

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:39:22 -0400

The New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Rewards Scholarship (NJ STARS) is a state-sponsored, merit-based scholarship designed to reward academic excellence to outstanding high school graduates. To qualify for the scholarship, New Jersey students must graduate from their local high school within the top 15 percent of their class. NJ STARS provides a scholarship for students to attend their local community colleges. NJ STARS II provides a transfer scholarship to NJ STARS community college graduates who successfully transfer to a New Jersey four-year college or university to earn their bachelor’s degrees. NJ STARS and NJ STARS II – like many other state-funded programs in these tough economic times – have changed over the past few years, but now there appears to be agreement among state leaders about what NJ STARS and NJ STARS II will cover going forward beginning in Fall 2012. Per the Governor’s proposed budget and legislation (S874/A1176) now on his desk, we are certain that the program terms will be as follows:

NJ STARS

(For Students Attending New Jersey Community Colleges)

Students who graduate high school in the top 15.0% of their class may be eligible.
NJ STARS will cover tuition only. Students (and/or their parents/guardians) are responsible for fees and books.

NJ STARS II

(For Students Attending New Jersey Four-year Colleges and Universities):

NJ STARS II will provide a $2,500 annual scholarship for NJ STARS students who earn their associate degrees at their community colleges with grade point averages of 3.25 or better and successfully transfer to any public or private New Jersey four-year college or university to earn their baccalaureate degrees.
NJ STARS II students will continue to have four semesters of NJ STARS II eligibility.
NJ STARS II students must maintain a 3.25 grade point average in their junior year to receive the scholarship in their senior year.
Students whose families’ income equals or exceeds $250,000 will not be eligible for NJ STARS II.
Current NJ STARS freshmen may be awarded the $2,500 amount upon transferring to a New Jersey four-year college or university for the fall 2013 semester.
Current NJ STARS sophomores may be awarded the $2,500 amount upon transferring to a New Jersey four-year college or university for the fall 2012 semester.
Current NJ STARS II juniors with grade point averages of 3.25 to 3.49 at New Jersey public four-year colleges and universities may receive a $6,000 NJ STARS II scholarship in their senior year.
Current NJ STARS II juniors with grade point averages of 3.5 or better at New Jersey public four-year colleges and universities may receive a $7,000 NJ STARS II scholarship in their senior year.

For more information, visit www.njstars.net or follow NJ STARS on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NJSTARS.

Could it happen in New Jersey?

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:02:26 -0400

Do you really understand what happened in Wisconsin? In the blink of an eye, public school employees in Wisconsin lost the right to bargain. Today, thanks to Gov. Scott Walker, salaries are down, class sizes are up, and tenure and seniority rights have all but been eliminated. Pensions, health benefits, and working conditions have all deteriorated. This compelling video asks what YOU will do when faced with an attack on your rights.

More than just meals

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:44:45 -0400

Marge Vallieu

A lot of things have changed in school cafeterias over the decades. Meals were once prepared from scratch. State regulations didn’t prevent the cafeteria from providing food at a meeting where staff or members of the public were in attendance. And a district would never consider bringing in a private company to handle food services.

It’s that sense of dedication that earned Vallieu the title of NJEA 2012 Educational Support Professional (ESP) of the Year. NJEA has been honoring the state’s best ESPs for the last 11 years.

“I was just floored when I learned I was the state ESP of the Year,” beams Vallieu. “But I welcome the opportunity to show that ESP members across New Jersey play important roles in their schools and communities.”

Many might view Vallieu’s position as one of preparing food and creating menus, but she understands that there is much more to her work.

“I am a trusted adult and mentor to my students,” Vallieu notes. “Teachers often ask if I can get to the bottom of a problem because a student would not open up to them. I gladly intervene. Sometimes the student just needs a smile or a hug, other times they need a sounding board. I treasure the opportunity to help a child feel cared about, confident, and safe.”

Vallieu also makes her mark on the Gloucester Township community at large.

“After 9/11, I thought a lot about how our local first responders often don’t get the recognition they deserve. We decided to have a heroes luncheon.”

Vallieu combined the event with the school’s annual Thanksgiving lunch. Everyone got involved—her fellow ESP, teachers, students, and administrators. For eight years, the luncheon was a huge success and was even featured on NJEA’s television show “Classroom Close-up, NJ”.

But Vallieu doesn’t view these efforts as work. “These endeavors are fulfilling to me personally and they also show that ESPs are an active and caring part of the community.”

Tech it out!

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:02:50 -0400

Using technology in the classroom once meant hardware—overheads and video projectors, for example. Today, of course, we know that the hardware is a computer (and maybe an interactive white board), but the word “technology” refers to websites, applications and other platforms. Using these resources effectively can empower students to think critically, solve problems, and apply what they have learned in a meaningful way.

That is why NJEA is co-sponsoring two professional development events this spring. On Saturday, April 28, the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey is a co-sponsor and the host of the first Technology Integration Institute. The Southern Regional Institute and Educational Technology Training Center (SRI&ETTC) is also a co-sponsor.

The second Technology Integration Institute will be held on Saturday, May 12, at Kean University and will be co-sponsored by NJEA, Kean University and the School for Global Education and Innovation. (SGEI)

Both events will run from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the cost for each is $30. Each venue can accommodate 125 participants and each attendee will earn four professional development hours.

Workshop descriptions

Registration

Sign in to register online or complete these registration forms:

NOTE: For the April 28 institute at Richard Stockton, if you wish to use ETTC professional hours, use the SRI&ETTC website, www.ettc.net, to register. For an additional fee, participants may be eligible to earn graduate credits in the Master of Arts Instructional Technology (MAIT) program at Stockton. For more information, contact Dr. Amy Ackerman at 609-626-3518 or Amy.Ackerman@stockton.edu.

For the May 12 institute at Kean University, please let NJEA know if you plan to bring your own laptop. Contact Theresa Mura at 609-599-4561, ext. 2255.

Apply to connect your classroom with an Olympian or Paralympian

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:42:10 -0400

Classroom Champions is a free program that connects classes with Olympian and Paralympian mentors and provides communications technology to participating schools. This nonprofit organization started by Steve Mesler—2010 Olympic Gold Medalist— and Leigh Parise, PhD, connects students with Olympian mentors to motivate them to recognize their potential, set goals and dream big.

Benefits for teachers/schools include:

Free equipment to aid in communicating with their Olympian (e.g., HD video camera and video conferencing equipment)
Lessons that reinforce existing curricula focused on reading, writing, geography, math, technology, Internet research, and goal setting
Opportunities to network with participating teachers around the country
Increased student, parent, and teacher engagement and motivation

There is no cost to the school to apply or to participate in this program. The program focuses on grades K-8 and requires that 50 percent or more of the students in the school be eligible for free or reduced price lunch.

Teacher applications are currently being accepted for next year, and the application can be found here: www.classroomchampions.org/apply. The deadline is April 13.

To learn more about the program, go to www.classroomchampions.org.

On a mission

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:47:32 -0400

Marge Vallieu

The 2012 ESP of the Year Marge Vallieu is determined to make a difference in her school and her community.

A lot of things have changed since she started working in a school cafeteria. Meals were once prepared from scratch. State regulations didn’t prevent the cafeteria from providing food at a meeting where staff or members of the public were in attendance. And a district would never consider bringing in a private company to handle food services.

At Glen Landing Middle School in Gloucester Township, Camden County, Cafeteria Manager Marge Vallieu views these changes as challenges. No matter what happens in Trenton or at a local board of education meeting, she is determined to make a difference in her school and community. No doubt it is that sense of dedication that earned Vallieu the title of NJEA 2012 Educational Support Professional (ESP) of the Year.

It’s not just a job

Except for the years she was raising her two daughters, Vallieu has been working outside the home since high school. She had jobs at an insurance company, a hospital, and a department store. But when her youngest was seven years old and she was looking to return to the workforce, her friend Jane Domanski encouraged her to apply for a food services job in the school district. Domanski already held a job in Gloucester Township—and still works thee, now as a cafeteria manager.

In 1988, Vallieu started as a sub in the cafeteria at Gloucester Township Elementary School, but got a full-time position the following year. She has been employed by the district for the next 22 years, working in three different schools. Vallieu has spent 17 of those years as a cafeteria manager.

Many might view Vallieu’s position as one of preparing food and creating menus, but she understands that there is much more to her work.

Sometimes Vallieu phones parents if a child routinely comes to school without money for lunch. “My goal is to make sure children are well-fed, not to make a parent feel bad.”

Contributions to the community

Vallieu also makes her mark on the community at large.

“After 9/11, I thought a lot about how our local first responders often don’t get the recognition they deserve. We decided to have a heroes luncheon.”

She combined the event with the school’s annual Thanksgiving lunch. Everyone got involved--ESP, teachers, students, and administrators. For eight years, the luncheon was a huge success and was even featured on NJEA’s television show “Classroom Close-up, NJ”. Unfortunately, regulations adopted by the State Board of Education in 2009 put an end to the wonderful tradition. There was no money in the budget to continue the luncheon because food service departments must operate independently of the school board.

Vallieu was disappointed but not deterred. At school she organizes food drives for needy families and gathers donations for the local animal shelter. For three years she chaired a Christmas card campaign at her district’s schools for those serving in the military.

“These endeavors are fulfilling to me personally and they also show that ESPs are an active and caring part of the community.”

Association involvement

It was also Jane Domanski who urged her friend to get involved with the local association. Vallieu waited until her youngest daughter had graduated from high school before she volunteered and then she jumped in with enthusiasm.

She has served the Gloucester Township Support Professionals Association (GTSPA) as a department representative and association secretary and currently holds the position of treasurer. Vallieu has coordinated a booth at the local mall for Pride in Public Education Day. She is co-chair of the Camden County ESP committee and her co-chair is, of course, Jane Domanski. Every year Vallieu and her fellow officers run a workshop to welcome new members and answer any questions they may have. Her goal is to help them have a successful experience on the job.

“I want to educate new hires about what it means to be part of a union and what membership can do to help them throughout their careers.”

On the state level, Vallieu serves on the NJEA ESP committee.

Vallieu joined her local’s legislative committee after seeing a campaign ad that boasted the candidate had been endorsed by the NJEA.

“My thought was ‘I am the NJEA’ so I knew I had to get involved. I’ve never looked back. And yes, I am proud to be a PAC contributor.”

Through the National Education Association, Vallieu was selected to be part of a 13-member panel to help develop ideas for a training manual for support professionals on dealing with sexual harassment and bullying in the school community.

Fighting privatization

Like so many ESPs throughout the state, Vallieu has been affected by efforts to privatize food and other services in schools. She and her colleagues in Gloucester Township have withstood privatization, but not without a lot of hard work. With help from NJEA staff, Vallieu. Fellow officers and the Gloucester Township superintendent spoke to the county superintendent as well as state and local legislators in an effort to educate them about the harmful effects of privatization on school employees and students.

GTSPAs victory was not without its costs, however. For example, to ensure that their food services department covers its own costs, Vallieu and her colleagues gave up their uniform allowance and 10 members went from full time to part time, thus losing their health benefits.

“We took a big hit,” she acknowledges, “but we are still here and we are in the black.” Vallieu encourages her colleagues around the state to “hang in there” and wants to remind them that they should exercise their rights when under attack.

“I don’t like politics, but I love my job,” says Vallieu. “I’ve seen firsthand the importance of a union.” She has taken advantage of every opportunity that association membership provides, including attending workshops and conferences. She makes sure her supervisor gets a copy of every certificate she’s earned, but that’s not the only reason she goes to these events.

“I have learned that my voice matters and that I do have the knowledge and expertise to help others,” Vallieu concludes. “I have gained confidence in myself and made many friends.”

And now that she’s the 11th NJEA ESP of the Year, she’s made history as well.

Meet our county ESPs of the Year

Cerf discusses state assessments with NJEA Instruction Committee

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:17:16 -0400

Jeffrey Hauger, Director of Assessment, and Acting Commissioner of Education Christopher Cerf discuss changes to NJ's standardized testing system during the meeting.

Acting Commissioner of Education Chris Cerf and members of his staff attended a meeting of the NJEA Instruction Committee last month. The purpose of the visit was for Department of Education (DOE) officials to explain the transition from New Jersey’s current system of standardized tests (NJ ASK and HSPA) to assessments that measure student achievement in mathematics and English/language arts under the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Cerf was joined by his Chief of Staff David Hespe, Director of Assessment Jeffrey Hauger, and Chief Academic Officer Penny MacCormack.

Instruction Committee Chair Mary Steinhauer, a math teacher and member of the Riverside EA, had invited the acting commissioner during his presentation at last November’s NJEA Convention in Atlantic City. Steinhauer is also the president of the Burlington County Education Association.

New Jersey is one of 46 states that have joined a consortium called the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). Through PARCC, new assessments designed to measure college and career readiness under the CCSS are being designed. Hauger told committee members that PARCC will conduct a pilot of the new tests in the 2012-13 school year followed by a larger field test in 2013-14. New Jersey plans to implement these new tests in the 2014-15 school year. He called this timeline “aggressive.”

Hauger explained that the PARCC assessments will not only measure student progress, but will provide valuable data to teachers to document how their students are performing and where they need to customize instruction for individual students. And because the tests are web-based, scores will be reported faster than ever before.

NJEA Instruction Committee Chair Mary Steinhauer poses a question as NJEA President Barbara Keshishian and others look on.

Members of the committee expressed concern over the “digital divide” that exists among schools as well as the assumption that children will have no problem taking tests on computers, especially if the PARCC assessments are the only ones administered in this way.

Cerf admitted that he was “very skeptical” that the required number of computers will be in place when the tests are ready, but MacCormick noted that the state is currently conducting a “technology inventory” that should help identify what course of action is needed to address the technology gap.

Steinhauer also reminded the DOE officials that assessment facilitators will need to be trained prior to administering the new tests in 2014-15.

In the meantime, this spring’s NJ ASK and HSPA will remain aligned with New Jersey’s current Core Content Curriculum Standards, but the 2013-14 tests will be more aligned to the Common Core Standards. Cerf emphatically stated that regardless of which test is given, “Assessments will be aligned to the instruction that students received that year.”

Hauger agreed to attend an Instruction Committee meeting next school year to provide an update on the PARCC assessments.

Christie signs anti-bullying fix

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:39:05 -0400

On March 27, Gov. Chris Christie signed S-1789¸ which amends the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act and appropriates $1 million for a Bullying Prevention Fund. S-1789 was drafted when the state Council on Local Mandates struck down the anti-bulling law signed in January 2011. The council found that the law imposed unfunded mandates on local school districts.

To qualify for a grant from the Bullying Prevention Fund, a district must demonstrate that it has explored all bullying prevention programs and approaches that are available at no cost.

The bill also establishes a seven-member Anti-Bullying Task Force. The task force will be composed of individuals with legal, policy, educational, social, or psychological expertise in bullying in public schools. However, task force recommendations will not have the force of law behind them, and the Commissioner of Education is not required to implement them.

While NJEA was pleased that the Legislature acted quickly to correct the issues raised by the Council on Local Mandates, it raised concerns that were not addressed in S-1789:

The scope of the school crisis team outlined in the law ought to be expanded.
Training should be made available to all staff so they will have the tools necessary to effectively deal with incidences of bullying.
The anti-bullying specialist should be a certified position and consideration should be given to those trained professionals who have specialized knowledge, background and expertise in dealing with bullying.

When the proper resources are provided to comply with the law, districts can keep teachers teaching in the classroom, counselors doing their job of counseling troubled youth, and bullying specialists working with the community and the N.J. Department of Education to comply with the law, NJEA contended.

S-1789 was sponsored by Sens. Diane Allen, R-Burlington; Barbara Buono, D-Union, and Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen. Its Assembly companion, A-1784, was sponsored by Assembly members Valerie Vainieri Huttle, D-Bergen; Mary Pat Angelini, R-Monmouth; Patrick Diegnan, D-Union; John McKeon, D-Morris; and Mila Jasey, D-Essex.

Summit to spread the word about teen safe driving

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:10:36 -0400

To commemorate National Youth Traffic Safety Month, the NJ Teen Safe Driving Coalition will present the second annual Teen Safe Driving Summit, GDL4U: Good Driving for Life on Saturday, May 12. Led by teens, the summit gives 14-16 year olds and their parents the opportunity to learn about the dangers young people face on the road and what they can do to address those risks through a series of workshops and presentations.

The summit will feature keynote speaker Maryanne Abbate, whose 16-year-old son Luke was killed while riding as a passenger in a vehicle driven by a teen. Her story is chronicled in the 2011 feature film, The 5th Quarter, which starred Andie McDowell and Aidan Quinn. She will be joined by the mother-daughter duo of Kristen and Megan Lavery. The Lavery’s have made educating teens and their parents about teen crash risk a priority after the death of four Mainland High School football players last August. Megan is a junior and Kirsten a member of the support staff at the South Jersey high school. To learn more about and/or to register for the Summit, visit www.njteendriving.com/good-driving-for-life.

It’s Leg Dinner season!

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:04:22 -0400

Freeholder Frank Sutton (far left) and Assemblyman Chris Brown (second from left) greet NJEA members Karen Bailey and Shirley Nelson at the Atlantic County Legislative Dinner on March 21.

Political action is the name of the game as NJEA members from around the state are meeting with state legislators and other elected officials at their county legislative dinners. County legislative dinners are an excellent way to learn about hot educational issues, meet your state lawmakers face-to-face, and share your thoughts about making public education even better.

Although many of the dinners have already been held, 10 counties will be hosting their events in April and May so there is still time to register and attend.

They are:

Burlington - April 23

Essex - May 2

Hudson - May 16

Hunterdon/Somerset - April 25

Middlesex - May 10

Monmouth - April 23
Morris - May 8
Ocean - April 25
Union - April 4

Trenton EA President Naomi Johnson-LaFleur (left) speaks with Senator Shirley Turner at the Mercer County Legislative Dinner on March 21.

Don’t miss this opportunity to discuss important issues with your legislators and network with your colleagues. The program at each dinner also includes a legislative update from the state and federal levels and information on the 2012 presidential election.

Contact your local association representative for more information on your county dinner.

Blistan attends Brain Injury Awareness Day at the State House

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:13:53 -0400

NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Marie Blistan and Wally Kyle, Board Chairperson-Elect, Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey, discuss programs available for victims of brain injury.

NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Marie Blistan attended Brain Injury Awareness Day at the State House earlier this month. Blistan is a trustee for the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey (BIANJ). She and other members of the public were on hand to discuss brain injury-related matters with legislators.

During the event, several members of the New Jersey Legislature were recognized for their efforts in creating brain injury prevention laws. BIANJ honored Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan and Senator Richard Codey for their leadership with regard to the concussion in youth sports law. Senators Tony Bucco and Joe Pennacchio and Assemblywoman L. Grace Spencer were honored for their help in passing a law that requires children to wear helmets while skiing.

Both Codey and Diegnan noted that increased awareness is already helping young athletes. “Just a few years ago a child who experienced a head trauma would be sent right back into the game,” Codey said.

Blistan with Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan (right) and Senator Richard Codey (left) who were honored for their leadership with regard to the concussion in youth sports law.

“We need to help parents and educators understand the importance of measures that protect our children from danger and help those young people who have suffered a brain injury,” said Blistan, a special education teacher.

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month.

For more information about BIANJ, visit http://bianj.org/.

The Voice of Brain Injury in NJ

Autism Awareness Month sparks opportunities, activities

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:59:21 -0400

Autism Family Night

Families affected with autism can feel comfortable and enjoy a relaxed family dinner out at TGI Fridays during the sixth annual Autism Family Night on April 24, 2012. This year’s event, created by Alexandra Abend, a Duke University Student and member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, is taking place at TGI Fridays in New Jersey, Connecticut, North Carolina and parts of Pennsylvania and Staten Island.

As a high school junior, Alexandra felt compelled to create Autism Family Night as part of an action project when her own family was out at a restaurant and her little brother Mikey, who has autism, had an episode. The family decided to leave because of the negative attention from other diners, who did not understand the circumstances. Read Alex’s story

This event is a designated night for families affected with autism to come together and enjoy a relaxed family dinner without feeling stigmatized or embarrassed. In an effort to make the night more enjoyable for the families, Kappa Alpha Theta will distribute information to all participating TGI Fridays staff explaining autism and some associated symptoms.

Families affected with autism can bring this flier to any participating TGI Fridays locations on April 24 and experience a dinner that is hopefully more enjoyable than a typical meal out.

Visit Autism Family Night on Facebook for more information, or email autismfamilynight@gmail.com.

Professional Library Giveaway

To support professionals and parents committed to helping children with autism thrive, Brookes Publishing Co. is holding giveaways of professional libraries during Autism Awareness Month in April. Brookes, a leading publisher of resources that support positive outcomes for people with autism, will give away libraries of seven books by experts such as Paula Kluth, Travis Thompson, and Robert and Lynn Koegel. Each week in April, Brookes will select two winners to choose one of two autism libraries: a collection of Paula Kluth titles or a diverse selection of new and bestselling books from multiple authors. Registration for the giveaways begins March 21st on the Brookes Autism Resource Center website.

Spanish and Portuguese teachers look at new teacher evaluation system

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:30:28 -0400

At its annual conference, CONGRESO PRIMAVERAL, the New Jersey Chapter of the Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (NJAATSP) will address the state’s new teacher evaluation system. The conference will be held on Saturday, April 28, at the Ramada Inn in East Hanover, NJ.

NJEA Associate Director of Research Dr. Rosemary Knab will deliver the keynote address, “The new Teacher Evaluation System: What Does it Mean for Me?” Knab will offer insights on the new evaluations both generally and specifically for world language teachers.

The rest of the agenda is focused on the theme “Technology: An Evolution, not a Revolution. Glennysha Jurado-Moran of Edison Township schools and Enza Antenos Conforti of Montclair State University will present two consecutive sessions, each one devoted to carefully guided exploration of the wonders of technology in the World Language classroom, designed for the novice. Attendees will learn how to create easy lessons that will engage your students.

Participants are invited to bring wireless ready laptop computers to the sessions.

For more information and to register, go to http://www.njaatsp.org/file/Congreso_Primaveral.html.