Tag Archives: COVID-19

Rochelle Park’s Chief Education Officer Highlights Women in Education Leadership



Getting to know a new public-school district and simultaneously organizing the team that will re-open schools and get k-12 students back to school safely during the national COVID-19 pandemic during is no easy feat. Dr. Sue DeNobile did it quickly and successfully combining her experience and peer support. In NJASA’s latest podcast, Dr. Richard Bozza, Executive Director, speaks with Dr. DeNobile, superintendent and chief education officer of the Rochelle Park School District in New Jersey, about the challenges of leading a district during a pandemic, and the unique hurdles faced by women leaders in education. Establishing and cultivating relationships is the silver lining during challenging times, noted Dr. DeNobile who credited the Bergen County Association of School Administrators, the Bergen County Office of Education and New Jersey Association of School Administrators for sharing information and resources. She also addressed the underrepresentation of women leaders in education and efforts to create change through mentoring. She provides an example of her role in the Bergen County Women’s Education Leadership Group, a group that she co-founded. Join us at njasa.net to continue the discussion.

 


Staff Training Key to Getting Students Back to School in Newark



Lessons learned during a summer pilot program will inform decisions for Newark students as the district prepares to reopen both virtually and in-person in September. In NJASA’s 14th video podcast, Dr. Richard Bozza, Executive Director talks with Chief Education Officer Roger León, the first Hispanic Superintendent of the Newark Public School System and the first to report directly to the Newark Board of Education rather than to the state. Newark’s summer school, which taught 100 students in person and 4,000 virtually, will guide procedures for instruction and support for the 2020-21 school year. Staff training will be key to success, notes León. In addition, the district is reallocating its budget due to cuts, and supporting its families through meal distribution. Along with the mayor, Newark will have distributed over 2 million meals by the end of summer. León praised Newark’s mayor and the district’s nurses, custodians, food service and other essential workers who, over the last few months, have provided the solid foundation for the work ahead. Join us at njasa.net to continue the discussion.


Pandemic Amplifies Challenges in North Brunswick Twp.



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.


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



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.


Team of Technical Wizards Helps NJ Public School District Thrive



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.


As School Buildings Remain Closed, Learning Continues in New Jersey



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.


Wildwood, NJ Schools Show Warrior Spirit During Pandemic



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.


Staying Connected in Union County School District, NJ



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.


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



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.