Tag Archives: Technology

Staff Training Key to Getting Students Back to School in Newark

July 31, 2020Uncategorizedbudget cuts, COVID-19, custodians, Dr. Richard Bozza, health and safety protocols, high-performing district, Hispanic, in-person instruction, Latino, Learning at Home plan, mayor, Newark Board of Education, Newark Public Schools, NJASA, nurses, PPE, Roger León, social emotional, Summer School, Technology, training, virtual instructionNJASA

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.

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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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NJASA Frontline Education at Home Leadership for Extraordinary Times

March 27, 2020Uncategorizedchief education officers, coronavirus, COVID-19, distance learning, Dr. Richard Bozza, Education, homeschooling, New Jersey, NJASA, school leaders, schools, superintendents, TechnologyNJASA

With technology playing a pivotal role in restoring normalcy, NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard Bozza shares the high-level view of New Jersey’s Chief Education Officers on the front line of education at home amid the COVID-19 crisis. As the world’s doctors and researchers work to contain the coronavirus, school leaders must do their part to reduce the stress and fear in our communities by guiding the new experience of education at home. District leaders are responsible for the engagement of educators, parents and students to continue the learning process using technology. NJASA is here to help. Executive Director Dr. Bozza will be interviewing superintendents throughout New Jersey to share their experiences and insights during this temporary disruption so that we all may draw inspiration. Visit njasa.net to subscribe to this video podcast and join us as we explore best practices together.

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Matt Miller’s Insights from Techspo®’20

February 14, 2020UncategorizedDitch That Textbook, Dr. Richard Bozza, Education, Educational Risks, Matt Miller, NJASA, Teaching, Technology, TechspoNJASANJASA

Dr. Richard Bozza, Executive Director of NJASA talks to Matt Miller, educator and author about the aha moment that lead him to “Ditching the Books” and transform his teaching and learning philosophies with technology. Dr. Bozza, sat down with Miller after his Techspo’20® keynote address and learned his feelings about educational risks, thoughts of being fired, his vision for teaching today and tomorrow and the reason he wrote Ditch That Textbook. Miller’s movement and website is instructing teachers across the nation. He is also helping them understand how technology and creativity can keep education fresh, relevant and ultimately benefit their students.

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