American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, AFL-CIO

Featured Video

News AFT News AFTNJ News 

AFT’s LGBTQIA+ task force to hold inaugural meeting in NYC

AFTNJ

On June 24, the AFT’s new LGBTQIA+ task force will hold its inaugural meeting in New York, close to the Stonewall Inn, the acknowledged birthplace of the modern movement for LGBTQIA+ rights.

The meeting coincides with events at the Stonewall on June 24 (AFT members will gather there at 4 p.m.), the United Federation of Teachers-hosted “Unapologetically Us” educational conference that begins on June 25 and the NYC Pride March on June 26.…

Read more
Kean University News Higher Ed News AFTNJ News 

KFT’s Bellitto lands speaking engagement in Rome

AFTNJ

Kean Federation of Teachers member Dr. Christopher Bellitto, a history professor at Kean University, is scheduled to speak June 23 at the Vatican during the World Meeting of Families.

“It’s certainly humbling that someone would read what I wrote and think it has value on a global scale,” said Dr. Bellitto, referring to “Ageless Wisdom: Lifetime Lessons From the Bible,” his 2016 book that prompted an invite to Rome for the event.…

Read more
Newark Montclair State University News Pre-K to 12 News AFT News AFTNJ News 

U.S. DOE shines spotlight on AFT-supported Red Hawks Rising

AFTNJ

The U.S. Department of Education recently featured the AFT-supported Red Hawks Rising teacher academy as part of its #InnovatED online video series.

The clip focuses on Melissa De Almeida, a senior at Newark’s East Side High School, and her quest to become a bilingual teacher. Also featured in the video are Mayida Zaal, an associate professor in Montclair State University’s teaching and learning department; Erika Plumey, a teacher at East Side; and Roger León, Newark’s superintendent.…

Read more
Diversity and inclusion News Pre-K to 12 News Higher Ed News AFTNJ News 

NJCIE Inclusion Leadership Conference is June 28

AFTNJ

A Q&A session with author Dr. Cheryl M. Jorgensen and a workshop about how schools can support family reading time are among the offerings at the NJCIE Inclusion Leadership Conference on June 28 in Kenilworth.

The event is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Education and the Montclair State University Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health. …

Read more
Mental health COVID-19 News Pre-K to 12 News Higher Ed News AFTNJ News 

Poll: K-12, higher ed are the industries with highest burnout rate

AFTNJ

At 44 percent and 35 percent, respectively, K-12 education and college or university are the top two industries where employees feel most burned out at work, according to a Gallup poll conducted in February.

“K-12 workers have consistently been among the more burned out workers nationally, but the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing challenges — and introduced new ones to a profession already struggling,” write Stephanie Marken and Sangeeta Agrawal for Gallup.…

Read more
COVID-19 News Pre-K to 12 News AFTNJ News 

New U.S. DOE council connects families, schools to meet students’ needs

AFTNJ

The U.S. Department of Education on June 14 launched the National Parents and Families Engagement Council.

“Parents are a child’s first teachers, and there’s no one better equipped to work with schools and educators to identify what students need to recover,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona in a press release. “The National Parents and Families Engagement Council will serve as an important link between families and caregivers, education advocates and their school communities.…

Read more
News Pre-K to 12 News Higher Ed News HPAE AFTNJ News 

Speeches by Chiera and others energize MFOL Newark

AFTNJ

Hundreds showed up June 11 in Military Park to participate in March for Our Lives Newark, one of many rallies that day in New Jersey against gun violence held in solidarity with the national march in Washington, D.C.

Before and after the half-mile march that traveled in part along Broad Street, several featured speakers graced the stage, referencing recent mass shootings in America, citing personal experiences and calling for gun legislation.…

Read more
News Higher Ed News AFTNJ News 

AAC&U, PEN America speak out against bills restricting teaching, learning

AFTNJ

The American Association of Colleges and Universities and PEN America issued a public statement June 8 opposing 70 bills drafted in 28 states since January 2021 that are intended to impose constraints on teaching and learning in colleges and universities.

“The majority of these restrictions are focused on concepts related to race, racism, or gender that legislators regard as divisive or otherwise objectionable,” the statement reads.…

Read more
News Pre-K to 12 News AFTNJ News 

NJTSS has a good read on the summer ahead

AFTNJ

“Setting the Stage for Summer Success,” the next session of the Early Reading Family and Community Engagement roundtable series from the New Jersey Tiered System of Supports, is set for June 9 at noon.

In the online session — meant for educators, administrators and parent liaisons — panelists will discuss tips for avoiding the “summer slide” and strategies to engage families in literacy during the summer months.…

Read more
Rutgers University News Higher Ed News AFT News AFTNJ News 

Vachon co-writes piece for American Educator

AFTNJ

Rutgers University assistant professor Dr. Todd Vachon, an AFTNJ higher education vice president, is a co-writer of “Back to School for All: Helping Students Recover by Creating Safe and Welcoming Environments,” which is in the summer 2022 edition of AFT’s American Educator.

Dr. Vachon shares the byline with Kayla Crawley, a sociology Ph.D. candidate at Rutgers, and James Boyle, a master’s student in labor and employment relations at Rutgers who assists in research projects for the Vachon-directed Labor Education Action Research Network (LEARN).…

Read more