Tag Archives: chief education officers

Pandemic Amplifies Challenges in North Brunswick Twp.

June 5, 2020UncategorizedCares Act, CDC, charter school funding, charter schools, chief education officers, child care, community outreach, coronavirus, COVID-19, daily broadcast, Digital Divide, Dr. Brian Zychowski, Dr. Richard Bozza, education leaders, education network, governor's guidance, governor's leadership, hand sanitizer, impossible to open schools, in seat learning, less schedules, less space, local community needs, Mayor Francis M. Womack III, mental health, New Jersey, NJASA, North Brunswick Twp. Schools, nurses, PPE, re-open schools, recognition programs, remote learning, Rutgers, RWJ Barnabas Healthcare, safely educate children, social distancing, summer camps, superintendents, T-Mobile hotspot, vaccineNJASA

COVID-19 didn’t change what North Brunswick Twp. Schools were doing, but it called for new leadership skillsets to inspire creative solutions to address the district’s pandemic challenges. Chief Education Officer Dr. Brian Zychowski connected with T-Mobile and was awarded a grant for 4,000+ mobile hotspots ensuring internet access to its diversified student population. This effort closed the digital divide and provides a fair and equitable education to all its students.

The district cooks and distributes 8,000 daily breakfasts and lunches, 6 days a week. Their nurses are working on a team with Rutgers University Behavioral Health to reach out to students and staff experiencing anxiety and depression caused by the pandemic, as well as other emotional and mental health concerns.

Dr. Zychowski also partners with the mayor on daily broadcasts, not only sharing information but honoring students and staff.

In this podcast, Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza talks with Dr. Zychowski about re-allocating their 2020-2021 budgets to satisfy the PPE and disinfecting expenses, funding North Brunswick Twp.’s charter schools, and the impossible task of reopening schools under the current social distancing requirements. Visit njasa.net to join us in exploring best practices together.

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Senator Teresa Ruiz Discusses Challenges of Reopening NJ’s Public Schools with NJASA

May 28, 2020Uncategorized29th Legislative District, Cares Act, chief education officers, coronavirus, COVID-19, disinfecting schools, Dr. Richard Bozza, equity, in-person graduation, New Jersey, NJASA, PPE, re-open NJ schools, Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, Senate Education Committee, Senate Education Recovery Task Force, Senator Teresa Ruiz, September, social emotional health, state aid, state budget reimbursement, superintendents, virtual graduationNJASA

Masks in the classroom, staggered schedules and distance learning are among the options being considered by the Senate Education Recovery Task Force, a panel of educators and public officials who will help provide guidance and insight on topics surrounding the reopening of New Jersey’s public schools. Led by Senator Teresa Ruiz, the task force will hear from experts on the digital divide, mitigating learning loss, offering resources to improve at-home special education, social-emotional learning, mental health and more. Equity remains an important focus to ensure all students have access to a quality education. In this podcast, NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza, also a task force member, talks with Senator Ruiz about meeting the challenges as districts prepare for the fall. Visit njasa.net to join us in exploring best practices together.

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Team of Technical Wizards Helps NJ Public School District Thrive

May 22, 2020Uncategorizedchief education officers, coronavirus, COVID-19, Digital Divide, Dr. Michael Salvatore, Dr. Richard Bozza, Facebook Live, Future Ready Schools, geofence, high school graduations, Long Branch School District, mental health, Monmouth Medical Center, National Alliance for Excellent Education, New Jersey, new normal, NJASA, schools’ September outlook, social emotional health, state aid, state budget reimbursement, superintendents, virtual graduationsNJASA

Long Branch Public Schools were “Future Ready” long before the pandemic, thanks to a massive technology reorganization spearheaded by Chief Education Officer Dr. Michael Salvatore. With the Future Ready Schools initiative, the district successfully interrupted the digital divide, providing equal access to high quality content which set the stage for distance learning during COVID-19. Salvatore credits his team of technical wizards who pivot constantly to ensure access continues. In addition to academics, the district is meeting social-emotional needs with mental health outreach, and creative ways for students to celebrate milestones from prom to graduation. In this podcast, NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza talks with Dr. Salvatore, NJASA’s 2019 Superintendent of the Year, about key actions that helped his district during these challenging times. Visit njasa.net to join us in exploring best practices together.

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NJ Public School Superintendent Puts Past Crisis Skills to Work During Pandemic

May 15, 2020Uncategorizedantibody testing, back to work solutions, Bound Brook School District, chief education officers, communication alerts, coronavirus, counseling, COVID-19, data research, Dr. Daniel Gallagher, Dr. Richard Bozza, high school graduations, licensed clinical social workers, mental health, New Jersey, new normal, NJASA, research based practices, schools’ September outlook, social emotional health, state aid, state budget reimbursement, superintendents, testing, testing financials, virtual graduationsNJASA

As we continue to cope with the COVID-19 crisis, NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza talks with NJASA Somerset County Executive Committee Representative Dr. Daniel Gallagher, Chief Education Officer, Bound Brook. The resilient district of Bound Brook was the site of the first confirmed case of Enterovirus EV-D68 in 2014. Dr. Gallagher put his crisis skills to work – including the rigorous cleaning protocols and frequent communications that helped his district successfully navigate the past outbreak. With COVID-19, the District is expanding access to Internet hot spots, antibody testing for staff and mental health concerns for students. He addressed a digital divide, accounted for diverse student needs, and more. Visit njasa.net to join us in exploring best practices together.

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As School Buildings Remain Closed, Learning Continues in New Jersey

May 8, 2020UncategorizedAbdulSaleem Hasan, Assistant Commissioner of Field Services, bilingual communications, Cares Act, chief education officers, Chromebooks, coronavirus, County Superintendents, COVID-19, Department of Education, Digital Divide, distance learning, Dr. Richard Bozza, Education, Education Partnerships, educational collaboration, Governor Murphy, homeschooling, New Jersey, New Jersey Department of Education, new normal, NJASA, NJDOE, public schools, QSAC. Education of the Future, school leaders, schools, special education, Summer School, superintendents, Technology, technology in educationNJASA

After Governor Phil Murphy closed school buildings for the year, NJASA got a high-level look at how New Jersey’s districts are faring from AbdulSaleem Hasan, Assistant Commissioner of Field Services for the New Jersey Department of Education. Meeting school budgets, overcoming the digital divide and getting the resources for special education at home are just some of the challenges facing districts in the coming weeks. In this podcast, NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza talks with Hasan about the challenges and successes, including examples other districts can follow. Visit njasa.net to join us in exploring best practices together.

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Wildwood, NJ Schools Show Warrior Spirit During Pandemic

April 29, 2020Uncategorizedbilingual communications, breakfast, chief education officers, Chromebooks, coronavirus, COVID-19, distance learning, Dr. Richard Bozza, Education, educational collaboration, farm-to-table, homeschooling, J. Kenyon Kummings, lunch, New Jersey, new normal, NJASA, public schools, school leaders, schools, superintendents, Technology, technology in education, Wildwood School DistrictNJASA

Lack of technology, language barriers, and food insufficiency were just some of the challenges faced by Chief Education Officer J. Kenyon Kummings as he led the charge to take Wildwood NJ School District online during a pandemic. His district, known as the Wildwood Warriors, harnessed its true warrior spirit with students, staff and parents coming together to make it happen. Kummings launched bilingual communications in English and Spanish, the latter to address its 66% minority population which is largely Hispanic. The district loaned Chromebooks, set up a farm-to-table breakfast and lunch pick-up program, and recreated their academic programs including options for Career to Technical Education. They also connected in meaningful ways with students and families on social media. In this podcast, NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza talks with Kummings about the challenges and successes, including examples other districts can follow. Visit njasa.net to join us in exploring best practices together.

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Staying Connected in Union County School District, NJ

April 23, 2020Uncategorizedawards events, chief education officers, Christian Bollwage, coronavirus, COVID-19, Department of Education, distance learning, Dr. Richard Bozza, Education, educational collaboration, Elizabeth School District, homeschooling, J. Christian (Chris) Bollwage, Mayor of Elizabeth, mental health, New Jersey, new normal, NJASA, Olga Hugelmeyer, prom, public schools, school leaders, school psychologists, schools, social workers, superintendents, Technology, technology in education, virtual graduationNJASA

In a matter of days, the Elizabeth school district had to get remote learning materials to 29,000 students. Chief Education Officer Olga Hugelmeyer and her team made it happen. The district reached out to Altice, which offered free internet access for families that had none. For PreK to grade 2, teachers developed packets, which were printed and mailed to families. Working with Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage, the district set up a breakfast and lunch pick-up and delivery program. The district also reached out through social workers and guidance counselors for mental health support. Already, the district has lost four teachers and one of its support staff to COVID-19. In this podcast, NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza talks with Hugelmeyer about the challenges and successes, including examples other districts can follow. Visit njasa.net to join us in exploring best practices together.

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Future-Ready Students Excel at Distance Learning in Morris County, NJ

April 15, 2020Uncategorizedchief education officers, coronavirus, COVID-19, distance learning, Dr. Richard Bozza, Education, homeschooling, Mackey Pendergrast, Morris School District, New Jersey, new normal, NJASA, public schools, school leaders, schools, superintendents, Technology, technology in educationNJASA

The Morris School District had a jumpstart on digital learning and using technology in education even before the COVID-19 crisis. Chief Education Officer Mackey Pendergrast was part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Superintendents Technical Working Group. He helped to create the Future Ready Pledge, paving the way for digital learning in the nation’s schools. A forward thinker whose reputation earned him the New Jersey 2020 Superintendent of the Year award, Pendergrast initiated a bold approach for his district that prepared students for a global-based economy. That made for a seamless transition to digital learning. Pendergrast shares details on the district’s new distance learning program with NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza, including examples other districts can follow as we all face unprecedented challenges. Visit njasa.net to join us in exploring best practices together.

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Closing Education Gap in Camden, NJ During the COVID-19 Pandemic

April 14, 2020UncategorizedCamden City School District, chief education officers, Chromebooks, coronavirus, COVID-19, distance learning, Dr. Richard Bozza, Education, homeschooling, Katrina T. McCombs, New Jersey, new normal, NJASA, public schools, school leaders, schools, State District Superintendent, superintendents, TechnologyNJASA

Without access to computers or the Internet, it seemed impossible to initiate a robust K-12 distance learning program in the Camden City School District. They did exactly that. Thrust into the COVID-19 crisis, State District Superintendent Katrina T. McCombs, M.Ed., MPA, took action. She knew that more than 70 percent of her families had no computers or online access and were in danger of being left behind. She also knew that social emotional needs required attention for her most at-risk students. The State District Superintendent, who is leading the district where she went to school, approached benefactors to help and harnessed the talents of educators and staff to continue to do their best during trying times. As a result, the district received $400,000 in donations to provide Chromebooks for all high school students. NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza discusses with McCombs how Camden City School District continues to be the bright light for families, including checking on their social emotional needs. Visit njasa.net to join us in exploring best practices together.

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New Jersey’s Public Schools Reinvented Educational Instruction Almost Overnight

April 6, 2020Uncategorizedchief education officers, coronavirus, COVID-19, distance learning, Dr. Richard Bozza, Education, Hamilton Township, homeschooling, Mercer County, New Jersey, new normal, NJASA, NJASA President Dr. Scott Rocco, NJASA President-Elect Dr. Margaret Dolan, public schools, school leaders, schools, superintendents, Technology, WestfieldNJASA

New Jersey educators reinvented the delivery of educational instructions from in person to online in weeks. They accomplished what otherwise would have taken years before the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic unified educators on every level. As the agency of change already known for spearheading technology evolution in professional development and the classroom, NJASA and its chief education officers are leading the way for this extraordinary transformation. In this podcast, NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza talks with NJASA President Dr. Scott Rocco, Chief Education Officer, Hamilton Township (Mercer County), and NJASA President-Elect Dr. Margaret Dolan, Chief Education Officer, Westfield. They explore how school superintendents are inspiring, motivating and providing resources for swift frontline adaptation in the best interest of the students. Visit njasa.net to join us as we explore and share best practices together.

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