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# American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, AFL-CIO

A union of professionals

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://aftnj.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://aftnj.org/blog/)
- [AFT, AFTNJ leaders back Kean professor who Filed claim over alleged ICE Assault in Newark](https://aftnj.org/topics/uncategorized/2026/aft-aftnj-leaders-back-kean-professor-who-filed-claim-over-alleged-ice-assault-in-newark/) - AFT and AFT New Jersey leaders on Aug. 3 voiced their support for Norma Bowe (above), a registered nurse and Kean University professor who, with assistance from the ACLU of New Jersey, has filed a claim against the federal government over alleged assault by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. On May 25, Bowe was
- [Higgins, White and Wolfson elected AFT VPs; Weingarten, Ingram and DeJesus reelected](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2026/higgins-white-and-wolfson-elected-aft-vps-weingarten-ingram-and-dejesus-reelected/) - AFT New Jersey President Jennifer S. Higgins, HPAE President Debbie White and AAUP President Todd Wolfson were elected to be AFT vice presidents for 2026-28 during the 2026 AFT Convention, held July 16-19 in Washington, D.C. Union delegates voted to reelect Randi Weingarten, Fedrick C. Ingram and Evelyn DeJesus to new two-year terms as president,
- [Higgins, higher ed leaders Partake in lobby day](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2026/higgins-higher-ed-leaders-partake-in-lobby-day/) - AFT New Jersey President Jennifer S. Higgins and AFTNJ higher education affiliate leaders on June 11 engaged with legislators in Trenton during the state federation’s inaugural Higher Education Lobby Day. After gathering at the New Jersey State AFL-CIO office on West State Street, participants proceeded to the State House complex, where they interacted with legislators
- [Higgins backs adjuncts' testimony for equal access to unemployment, affordable health insurance](https://aftnj.org/topics/health-care/2026/higgins-backs-adjuncts-testimony-for-equal-access-to-unemployment-affordable-health-insurance/) - AFT New Jersey President Jennifer S. Higgins joined longtime adjunct professors Carl Gunhouse and Tom Moomjy on May 18 in Trenton to give testimony about adjuncts’ lack of access to affordable health insurance and their problems with filing for unemployment insurance. Gunhouse spoke first, telling the New Jersey Senate Higher Education Committee about his difficulty
- [AFTNJ convention yields officers for 2026-28](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2026/aftnj-convention-yields-officers-for-2026-28/) - AFT New Jersey on April 18 held its 2026 Convention and Legislative Conference, which featured the election of AFTNJ officers for 2026-28 along with appearances by congressional candidates running in Districts 2, 7 and 12. The current executive slate will remain intact for the term beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2028: Jennifer
- [Weingarten shares her book's backstory at Kean](https://aftnj.org/topics/kean-university/2026/weingarten-shares-her-books-backstory-at-kean/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten on March 19 visited Kean University’s STEM Auditorium to discuss her new book, “Why Fascists Fear Teachers,” with Kean President Dr. Lamont O. Repollet in front of an audience of AFTNJ members and Kean students. “I have a newfound respect for people who write books. This one almost killed me,” Weingarten
- [Higgins, PAF personnel lead flyer distribution in Perth Amboy on AFT day of action](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2026/higgins-paf-personnel-lead-flyer-distribution-in-perth-amboy-on-aft-day-of-action/) - On March 4, AFT New Jersey President Jennifer S. Higgins, Perth Amboy Federation President Pat Paradiso and PAF District Representative Josiah Santamaria spearheaded the distribution of informational flyers to parents and guardians outside Perth Amboy public schools as part of AFT’s latest national day of action. Assisting them that morning were PAF retirees, as well
- [AFTNJ Hires Boone as political director](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2026/aftnj-hires-boone-as-political-director/) - AFT New Jersey has hired Leon Boone III to be the state federation’s political director. His first day was Feb. 2. During his career, Boone has worked as the regional political director for Gov. Phil Murphy’s reelection campaign, and he was the state and local campaigns manager for the political action committee End Citizens United.
- [Higgins, PAF leaders call Out audit findings During Perth Amboy BOE Meeting](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2026/higgins-paf-leaders-call-out-audit-findings-during-perth-amboy-boe-meeting/) - AFT New Jersey President Jennifer S. Higgins joined Perth Amboy Federation leadership Jan. 22 to speak during the Perth Amboy Board of Education meeting about the recently released state audit of Perth Amboy Public Schools. The audit, spanning July 2021 through June 2025, revealed a deficit of $13,040,742, along with other examples of gross financial mismanagement. After a lengthy
- [Sherrill thanks labor, vows to fight for schools and jobs days after naming new education commissioner](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2026/sherrill-thanks-labor-vows-to-fight-for-schools-and-jobs-days-after-naming-new-education-commissioner/) - Four days before her inauguration, Gov. Mikie Sherrill revealed that Lily Laux is her choice as New Jersey’s next commissioner of education. “Lily is a lifelong public servant and educator with decades of experience helping children learn and thrive," Sherrill said Jan. 16. “I look forward to working with her to invest in mental health
- [Sherrill chooses Chaly to be higher education secretary](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2026/sherrill-chooses-chaly-to-be-higher-education-secretary/) - Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill on Jan. 8 announced her choice for higher education secretary: Margo Chaly, who since 2021 has served in New Jersey’s Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) as chief of staff and executive director. “Margo brings years of leadership experience in helping students and families afford higher education, which will be critical as
- [Murphy signs bill banning student use of cellphones in K-12 public schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2026/murphy-signs-bill-banning-student-use-of-cellphones-in-k-12-public-schools/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Jan. 8 signed S3695/A4882, calling it “one of the most consequential pieces of legislation” he’s signed during his two terms in office. “This law will require every public school in New Jersey to implement a bell-to-bell ban on cellphones, period,” Murphy said in his opening remarks at Ramsey High School. “It
- [PreK-12 leaders bid farewell to Dehmer](https://aftnj.org/topics/uncategorized/2025/prek-12-leaders-bid-farewell-to-dehmer/) - AFT New Jersey PreK-12 leaders virtually met with N.J. Department of Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer on Nov. 25 in what is expected to be his final monthly session with the group in that role as Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration winds down. Before going through the meeting’s agenda, some AFTNJ members expressed their appreciation for Dehmer,
- [Higgins praises members for GOTV efforts, congratulates Sherrill on Victory](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2025/higgins-praises-members-for-gotv-efforts-congratulates-sherrill-on-victory/) - For many AFT New Jersey members, the 2025 election cycle was filled with labor walks, phone banking and other get-out-the-vote efforts — and AFTNJ President Jennifer S. Higgins appreciates those who contributed over the past several months right on through Election Day. “I want to thank you for all the work you put into turning
- [Murphy, Bagolie celebrate with N.J. labor unions at Newark event](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2025/murphy-bagolie-celebrate-with-n-j-labor-unions-at-newark-event/) - Gov. Phil Murphy and Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie on Sept. 5 served as grand marshal and deputy grand marshal, respectively, at the Essex-West Hudson Labor Council-sponsored labor parade and celebration in Newark. “This is not just a gathering of the labor movement,” Bagolie said. “It is a gathering of family — a family tied together by
- [New N.J. laws bolster Workers' Rights, establish labor education in Schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2025/new-n-j-laws-bolster-workers-rights-establish-labor-education-in-schools/) - In a private ceremony held Sept. 3 in Trenton, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill expanding prohibitions on employers concerning requirements for employees to attend or listen to communications related to political matters and another bill requiring New Jersey school districts provide instruction on the labor movement. “Workers are the backbone of our state,” Murphy said.
- [Higgins, DeJesus reference Social Security's labor ties at Protect Our Checks rally](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2025/higgins-dejesus-reference-social-securitys-labor-ties-at-protect-our-checks-rally/) - On Aug. 16, two days after the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act becoming law, AFT, AFTNJ and HPAE leaders participated in Indivisible/One NJ7’s Protect Our Checks rally in Bridgewater to praise the landmark legislation and speak out against forthcoming benefit cuts and changes. AFTNJ President Jennifer S. Higgins noted that the driving force
- [Know Your Rights! training covers safety, de-escalation and more](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2025/know-your-rights-training-covers-safety-de-escalation-and-more/) - On Aug. 6, AFT New Jersey held its Know Your Rights! mass mobilization training at the Rutgers Labor Education Center in New Brunswick. “To say that as a country we are at a historic inflection point would be an understatement,” AFTNJ President Jennifer S. Higgins said in her opening remarks. “Every time America has faced
- [Union members, community groups stir up ‘good trouble’ at Newark rally](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2025/union-members-community-groups-stir-up-good-trouble-at-newark-rally/) - AFTNJ President Jennifer S. Higgins was among the speakers July 17 in Newark at a downtown rally that was part of the nationwide Good Trouble Lives On day of action. “We’re here today to get in good trouble,” Higgins said outside the Peter W. Rodino Jr. Federal Building on Broad Street. “Why? Because we’re standing up for
- [AFTNJ endorses Sherrill for governor](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2025/aftnj-endorses-sherrill-for-governor/) - On June 30, AFT New Jersey’s delegate assembly voted to endorse U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill for governor of New Jersey. “As a constituent of Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill for the past six years, I have seen her work diligently to represent the interests and meet the needs of her constituents,” AFTNJ President Jennifer S. Higgins said
- [Union members, lawmakers take center stage at No Kings rally near Lyons VA](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2025/union-members-lawmakers-take-center-stage-at-no-kings-rally-near-lyons-va/) - U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill and N.J. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin were among the notable speakers at the No Kings rally on June 14 that was organized by AFTNJ and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). Hundreds of sign-waving attendees gathered along Valley Road in Lyons, near the Lyons VA Medical Center, for about two
- [Letter of intent brings Kean-NJCU merger closer](https://aftnj.org/topics/kean-university/2025/letter-of-intent-brings-kean-njcu-merger-closer/) - On May 15, the respective presidents of Kean University and New Jersey City University signed a letter of intent to memorialize the terms wherein NJCU may merge with Kean. As stated in the letter’s Purpose of the Relationship section, the two universities desire to structure a transaction in which Kean would acquire control of NJCU,
- [Gubernatorial candidates pitch platforms, field questions at AFTNJ’s legislative conference](https://aftnj.org/topics/uncategorized/2025/gubernatorial-candidates-pitch-platforms-field-questions-at-aftnjs-legislative-conference/) - On April 26, seven New Jersey gubernatorial candidates dropped by the AFTNJ 2025 Legislative Conference in Monroe Township to tout their experience, share their visions for the state and answer questions from members ahead of the June 10 primary. The candidates who spoke were the six Democrats (U.S. Reps. Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer, Jersey
- [Weingarten, Abeigon bring passion to Kill the Cuts Rally in Newark](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2025/weingarten-abeigon-bring-passion-to-kill-the-cuts-rally-in-newark/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten and Newark Teachers Union President John M. Abeigon were among the notable speakers at the Kill the Cuts rally April 8 at Newark’s Military Park. The event was part of a national day of action objecting to the Trump administration slashing funds for education, research and health care — and in
- [Dehmer: N.J. DOE's efforts unchanged in wake of Trump's EO to dismantle U.S. DOE](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2025/dehmer-n-j-does-efforts-unchanged-in-wake-of-trumps-eo-to-dismantle-u-s-doe/) - One day after President Donald Trump issued an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, Kevin Dehmer, New Jersey’s education commissioner, expressed the Garden State’s objectives moving forward. “This does not change the New Jersey Department of Education’s efforts to ensure all New Jersey students have equitable access to a high-quality education and achieve
- [AFTNJ, HPAE launch campaign to protect N.J. public schools, students](https://aftnj.org/topics/newark/2025/aftnj-hpae-launch-campaign-to-protect-n-j-public-schools-students/) - Labor leaders, education advocates, public servants and others gathered March 4 outside New Jersey Regional Day School in Newark for a press conference marking the launch of Protecting N.J. Public Education and Students. This AFT New Jersey-HPAE initiative, part of AFT’s Protect Our Kids campaign and the union’s national day of action, was created in
- [Murphy's FY26 budget proposal fully funds public schools and pensions](https://aftnj.org/topics/pensions/2025/murphys-fy26-budget-proposal-fully-funds-public-schools-and-pensions/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Feb. 25 delivered his fiscal year 2026 budget address, and the funding in his proposal earmarked for public schools and pensions elicited applause from those in attendance inside the State House’s Assembly Chamber in Trenton. “With every budget we have introduced, we have provided record-high funding for our K-12 schools. And with
- [Weingarten, Gomes and Shanker to speak at Hunter College's collective bargaining conference](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2025/weingarten-gomes-and-shanker-to-speak-at-hunter-colleges-collective-bargaining-conference/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten and AFTNJ staff representatives Richard Gomes and Jennie Shanker will be among the speakers at Hunter College’s annual national collective bargaining conference, taking place March 23-25 in New York. Weingarten will be part of the keynote presentation “Unity in Defense of Higher Education and Collective Bargaining” on March 23 at the
- [Educators weigh in on reporting child abuse and neglect](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/aftnj-news/2025/educators-weigh-in-on-reporting-child-abuse-and-neglect/) - About 91 percent of educators strongly agree or agree that their communities should do more to support children and families facing child abuse and neglect, according to a new AFT report. And while 81.1 percent of surveyed educators say they’ve received formal training as mandatory reporters of maltreatment, 40.1 percent of respondents answered “zero” when
- [SXSW EDU 2025 unveils first round of films](https://aftnj.org/topics/sxsw-edu/2025/sxsw-edu-2025-unveils-first-round-of-films/) - “Ultimate Citizens,” about an Iranian American school counselor helping immigrant and refugee children in Seattle compete in an Ultimate Frisbee tournament, will be among the films screened at this year's SXSW EDU conference in Austin, Texas. The 2025 edition of SXSW EDU takes place March 3-6. For more information and to register, click here.
- [AFT leaders Meet in D.C. to discuss path forward after '24 election](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2025/aft-leaders-meet-in-d-c-to-discuss-path-forward-after-24-election/) - On Jan. 13-14, AFT leaders from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., for “What’s Coming at Us and What We Are Going to Do About It: Special Meeting About the Path Forward.” “I’m glad you’re all here [for] the last week of semi-normalcy,” deadpanned AFT President Randi Weingarten on Jan. 13 prior to her
- [Study explores higher ed faculty’s perceptions, attitudes related to academic freedom](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2025/study-explores-higher-ed-facultys-perceptions-attitudes-related-to-academic-freedom/) - About a third of higher education faculty say they perceive less academic freedom for faculty at their institution when it comes to the ability to teach content without any interference, speak freely when participating in institutional governance or speak freely as a citizen, compared to six or seven years ago or since starting at their
- [Weingarten calls signing of Social Security Fairness Act ‘a huge victory’](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2025/weingarten-calls-signing-of-social-security-fairness-act-a-huge-victory/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten was among those who stood near President Joe Biden on Jan. 5 as he signed the Social Security Fairness Act. The law repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, enabling teachers and other public employees to retire with all their Social Security earnings and benefits. “This law remedies a decades-long
- [How to create community within online courses](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/how-to-create-community-within-online-courses/) - Join Beckie Supiano, senior writer for The Chronicle of Higher Education, on Dec. 17 for the virtual forum “Building Community in Online Classes.” Supiano will be joined by professors from Arkansas and Texas to discuss the tactics colleges have tried, what’s worked well and what hasn’t, and more. The hourlong session begins at 2 p.m.
- [Freedom to Read Act becomes law in N.J.](https://aftnj.org/topics/book-censorship/2024/freedom-to-read-act-becomes-law-in-n-j/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Dec. 9 signed S2421/A3446, otherwise known as the Freedom to Read Act, which “establishes requirements for library material in public school libraries and public libraries” and also “protects school library staff members and librarians.” “[This legislation] will ensure generations of New Jersey’s children can continue to discover the wonders that await them
- [Study explores how student absenteeism affects teachers’ job Stress, Satisfaction](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/study-explores-how-student-absenteeism-affects-teachers-job-stress-satisfaction/) - When students are absent, “teachers might miss the energy and enthusiasm that come from a fully attended class,” according to a study from Educational Researcher, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Educational Research Association. Published in November, “Do Teachers With Absent Students Feel Less Job Satisfaction?” also says student absenteeism may prompt educators to “worry about their
- [CCA offers playbook for higher ed to renew democracy](https://aftnj.org/topics/democracy/2024/cca-offers-playbook-for-higher-ed-to-renew-democracy/) - Complete College America on Nov. 14 released a white paper in which the advocacy group calls upon higher education leaders and others “to reframe higher education as a public good that is truly available to all” in order to “help restore public trust in higher education, improve civic culture, and renew American democracy.” The 32-page “Complete
- [PEN America: Book bans in schools hit new high in 2023-24](https://aftnj.org/topics/book-censorship/2024/pen-america-book-bans-in-schools-hit-new-high-in-2023-24/) - More than 10,000 instances of book bans were recorded in the 2023-24 school year, according to the recently released PEN America report “Banned in the USA: Beyond the Shelves.” This figure marks a record high, along with the more than 4,000 unique titles that were removed. In New Jersey during the 2023-24 school year, there
- [Higgins: Post-election, don’t stay silent on what matters Most](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2024/2024/higgins-post-election-dont-stay-silent-on-what-matters-most/) - In the wake of the 2024 presidential election, AFTNJ President Jennifer S. Higgins has released a statement reminding members that what remains most important “are the students and families we serve.” “As we move forward into uncharted territory for our country,” she writes, “let’s stay focused on what we can do to improve the lives
- [Second Trump term could bring major changes to K-12, higher ed](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/second-trump-term-could-bring-major-changes-to-k-12-higher-ed/) - Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election has prompted broad speculation about the future of K-12 and higher education. “In his first term, Trump didn’t put much attention or political muscle behind his sweeping conservative wish list of a K-12 agenda,” Alyson Klein writes in a Nov. 6 story for Education Week. “Since leaving
- [Learn about AI’s influence on cybersecurity in higher ed](https://aftnj.org/topics/artificial-intelligence/2024/learn-about-ais-influence-on-cybersecurity-in-higher-ed/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education senior editor Alex Kafka on Nov. 5 for the virtual forum “AI’s Impact on College Cybersecurity.” The session begins at 2 p.m. ET. For more info and to register, click here.
- [SXSW EDU rolls out first wave of PanelPicker sessions](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/sxsw-edu-rolls-out-first-wave-of-panelpicker-sessions/) - The ethical use of artificial intelligence and investing in teacher pipelines are among the subjects in the 187 PanelPicker sessions recently unveiled as part of SXSW EDU, taking place March 3-6 in Austin, Texas. “This year’s PanelPicker proposals are some of the most thoughtful discussions and conversations we’ve seen to date,” said Julia Shatilo, SXSW EDU’s
- [Higgins: N.J. higher education needs oversight, collaboration and commitment](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/higgins-n-j-higher-education-needs-oversight-collaboration-and-commitment/) - AFTNJ President Jennifer S. Higgins spoke about the state of higher education in New Jersey during a panel discussion held Oct. 15 at Rowan University’s Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy in Glassboro. In her opening remarks, Higgins said that New Jersey is “the sixth chief exporter of college-age students in the country,” adding that
- [Take part in Freedom to Read day of action](https://aftnj.org/topics/book-censorship/2024/take-part-in-freedom-to-read-day-of-action/) - More than 15 New Jersey communities will participate in Oct. 19’s Freedom to Read Community Day of Action, a nationwide event co-organized by the American Library Association, Unite Against Book Bans and others. “At a time when our nation and the world is full of division, there is one place in almost every community with
- [Enter STEM projects in Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow contest](https://aftnj.org/topics/artificial-intelligence/2024/enter-stem-projects-in-samsungs-solve-for-tomorrow-contest/) - Public school teachers in grades 6-12 can apply to submit their students’ projects to the 2024-25 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest. “Solve for Tomorrow’s track record of advancing equity in STEM education — ensuring participation from under-resourced Title I and rural schools, deepening the roles girls take in leading STEM work — has been a significant
- [N.J. Educator evaluation task force submits extensive report](https://aftnj.org/topics/newark/2024/n-j-educator-evaluation-task-force-submits-extensive-report/) - The New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force on Sept. 30 submitted its report to Gov. Phil Murphy and the N.J. Legislature, as required under S2082/A3413. “The collaborative spirit of this task force has been inspiring,” Murphy said. “Our educators play a vital role in our communities, helping to shape the next generation of American leaders.
- [PAF's Paradiso marches with Perth Amboy parents, students for courtesy Busing](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/pafs-paradiso-marches-with-perth-amboy-parents-students-for-courtesy-busing/) - Perth Amboy parents and students marched Sept. 25 to the city’s Board of Education building to highlight the need for courtesy busing throughout the school district. “I was so proud to stand and chant with our parents as they advocated for busing for their kids,” said Perth Amboy Federation President Pat Paradiso, who along with AFTNJ President
- [Amistad Commission seeks members for Teacher Leader Planning Committee](https://aftnj.org/topics/new-jersey-department-of-education/2024/amistad-commission-seeks-members-for-teacher-leader-planning-committee/) - The New Jersey Department of Education’s Amistad Commission is seeking 25 K-12 educators to serve on its Teacher Leader Planning Committee. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a four-year institution, hold standard New Jersey state teacher certification and demonstrate competence in each core academic subject the teacher instructs. Each committee member will receive a
- [Murphy signs literacy legislation package](https://aftnj.org/topics/new-jersey-department-of-education/2024/murphy-signs-literacy-legislation-package/) - On Aug. 13, Gov. Phil Murphy signed A2288/S2647 and S2644/A4303, a bill package to establish the Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery in the New Jersey Department of Education, along with other assets designed to bolster student literacy. “Any teacher will tell you that books open up new worlds, they can lead us to new passions and knowledge,
- [Fall ’24 issue of American Educator is now available](https://aftnj.org/topics/climate-change/2024/fall-24-issue-of-american-educator-is-now-available/) - The fall 2024 issue of AFT’s American Educator contains articles about unshackling members from student debt, fighting for climate justice and teaching in troubled times. To view and download the issue, click here.
- [Virtual Tech Tactics in Education conference is free](https://aftnj.org/topics/artificial-intelligence/2024/virtual-tech-tactics-in-education-conference-is-free/) - Artificial intelligence and data policy, cybersecurity and privacy, and ed tech leadership and strategy will be the three topic tracks for this year’s Tech Tactics in Education conference, taking place online Sept. 25. “This is an exciting time for technology in education, and we have put together a top-notch program to help attendees navigate the
- [AFT-endorsed Harris energizes union’s convention](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2024/2024/aft-endorsed-harris-energizes-unions-convention/) - On July 25, three days after AFT delegates voted to endorse her as the 2024 Democratic nominee for president, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the AFT Convention in Houston. Following some complimentary remarks about President Joe Biden, Harris said, “And to the members of AFT, I thank you for your service to our nation. From
- [Bill Lipkin, AFT Local 2222 President, dies at 85](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/bill-lipkin-aft-local-2222-president-dies-at-85/) - United Adjunct Faculty of New Jersey/AFT Local 2222 President Bill Lipkin died July 13. He was 85. Lipkin was an adjunct professor for more than 50 years, teaching history and political science at Kean University, Essex County College and other schools in New Jersey. “Bill Lipkin was a consummate and passionate advocate for adjunct faculty,” AFTNJ
- [U.S. DOE issues AI guidance for educational technology](https://aftnj.org/topics/artificial-intelligence/2024/u-s-doe-issues-ai-guidance-for-educational-technology/) - In early July, the U.S. Department of Education issued “Designing for Education With Artificial Intelligence.” It’s a guide the agency says is meant to inform developers, legal teams and others “as they work toward safety, security and trust while creating AI products and services for use in education.” The guide is in response to President
- [Virtual PD program covers library leaders’ challenges, goals](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/virtual-pd-program-covers-library-leaders-challenges-goals/) - The Chronicle of Higher Education has teamed with Ithaka S+R to present “The Library and Institutional Success,” a virtual professional development program of seminars and workshops for library leaders beginning July 16. For more info and to register, click here.
- [Murphy once again touts fully funded schools ahead of FY25 budget signing](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/murphy-once-again-touts-fully-funded-schools-ahead-of-fy25-budget-signing/) - Just like he did in February when he delivered his fiscal year 2025 budget address, Gov. Phil Murphy on June 28 emphasized New Jersey's fully funded public education system, prior to signing the $56.7 billion FY25 budget that same day. “This budget will provide the single largest investment into our state’s public education system in
- [Chiera named President Emerit during last week in office](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/chiera-named-president-emerit-during-last-week-in-office/) - On June 24, the AFTNJ Delegate Assembly passed a resolution designating retiring AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera as President Emerit, the first person to receive such designation in the state federation’s history. “Without Donna’s leadership, AFTNJ would not be the respected labor union it is today in the state of New Jersey,” said AFTNJ President-Elect Jennifer S.
- [SML’s Summer of Learning webinars heat up July 10](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/smls-summer-of-learning-webinars-heat-up-july-10/) - Share My Lesson’s Summer of Learning webinar series for educators begins July 10 with four sessions, one of which addresses digital distractions in the classroom. Webinars will be available live from noon to 4:45 p.m. ET that day and on each successive Wednesday through July 31. To view the full schedule and to register, click
- [Bridges, Acebo address NJCU fiscal monitoring report at joint higher ed committee meeting](https://aftnj.org/topics/new-jersey-city-university/2024/bridges-acebo-address-njcu-fiscal-monitoring-report-at-joint-higher-ed-committee-meeting/) - The New Jersey Assembly and Senate Higher Education Committees held a joint meeting June 10 in Trenton to hear testimony from invited guests on the findings of New Jersey City University’s Fiscal & Governance Monitoring Report and Fiscal Accountability Plan. The first speaker was Dr. Brian K. Bridges, New Jersey’s higher education secretary. In fielding
- [U.S. history teachers needed for TeachRock pilot program](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/u-s-history-teachers-needed-for-teachrock-pilot-program/) - TeachRock is seeking U.S. history teachers to assist this summer and fall with the development of a new high school course called A People’s Playlist: U.S. History With Music as a Primary Source. Application packages must be submitted by June 30, and pilot program participants will be chosen and notified by July 19. Participating teachers
- [AFTA’s higher-ed organizing workshops begin June 11](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/aftas-higher-ed-organizing-workshops-begin-june-11/) - AFT Academics on June 11 will present the first of five online workshops in its summer training series on higher-ed organizing. “These biweekly virtual workshops — with supplemental resources and opportunities for one-on-one discussions with an organizer — will cover a variety of nuts-and-bolts organizing topics and give you and your colleagues the tools you
- [N.J. DOE’s Office of Special Education to hold its Summer Learning Institute in July](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/n-j-does-office-of-special-education-to-hold-its-summer-learning-institute-in-july/) - On July 8, the New Jersey Department of Education’s Office of Special Education will begin its Summer Learning Institute, which will run through July 26. In-person and virtual sessions are available, and among the options are: • Beyond Class Management: Responding to Diverse Behavioral Needs With a “Layered Approach” — July 9 / Learning Resource
- [Vachon writes about climate justice in new American Educator](https://aftnj.org/topics/climate-change/2024/vachon-writes-about-climate-justice-in-new-american-educator/) - An article about climate justice by Rutgers University professor and AFTNJ Higher Education Vice President Todd Vachon is featured in the spring 2024 edition of AFT’s American Educator. To download the issue, click here.
- [U.S. DOE expands access to school-based mental health services](https://aftnj.org/topics/mental-health/2024/u-s-doe-expands-access-to-school-based-mental-health-services/) - The U.S. Department of Education recently rolled out three actions that expand access to school-based mental health services. They are: • Nearly doubling the amount of funding available in the current Fiscal Year for the School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) and the Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) grant programs—and giving states, school districts and institutions of higher education
- [Weingarten, congressional candidates Address Nation's hot-button issues in new providence](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2024/2024/weingarten-congressional-candidates-address-nations-hot-button-issues-in-new-providence/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten was the closing speaker May 11 in New Providence at an event intended to counter former President Donald Trump’s rally in Wildwood that same day. “We are in a race in this country between hope and fear,” Weingarten said at NJ-07 Stands Up to Trump: New Jersey Day of Action. “And
- [Chiera joins AFT delegation at White House for Teachers of the Year event](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/chiera-joins-aft-delegation-at-white-house-for-teachers-of-the-year-event/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera accompanied AFT President Randi Weingarten and other union officers May 2 at the White House for the first Teachers of the Year State Dinner. Chiera — a public school teacher for 30-plus years whose term as AFTNJ president ends in June — describes this event as “the highlight of my
- [Higgins elected AFTNJ president, dignitaries salute retiring Chiera at convention-Conference](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2024/2024/higgins-elected-aftnj-president-dignitaries-salute-retiring-chiera-at-convention-conference/) - On April 27 in Monroe Township, AFT New Jersey held its 2024 Convention, during which Jennifer S. Higgins was elected to be the next state federation president. Higgins will begin her two-year term on July 1, succeeding the retiring Donna M. Chiera, who has been AFTNJ president since 2011. “I am humbled and honored to
- [AFT helps with launch of Educators for Biden-Harris campaign](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/aft-helps-with-launch-of-educators-for-biden-harris-campaign/) - The AFT joined Dr. Jill Biden and others April 19 in Bloomington, Minnesota, for the kickoff of the Educators for Biden-Harris campaign. “We launched before the Education Minnesota conference started, and the room was filled with hope after Dr. Biden spoke about a sense of renewed commitment to build on the Biden-Harris administration’s work supporting
- [Report: Nearly 60% of teachers Somewhat Worried about a shooting Happening at their school](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/report-nearly-60-of-teachers-somewhat-worried-about-a-shooting-happening-at-their-school/) - A Pew Research Center survey reveals that 59 percent of K-12 public school teachers in the United States are at least somewhat worried about the possibility of a shooting occurring at their school. More than 6,000 teachers participated in a web survey, conducted last fall and administered by RAND, that was used to compile the
- [How experiential learning has affected students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/how-experiential-learning-has-affected-students/) - Ian Wilhelm, The Chronicle of Higher Education’s deputy managing editor, will be the host of the virtual forum “Experiential Education for All” on April 11. Wilhelm will be joined by experts to discuss experiential learning’s effects on student learning and more. The session starts at 2 p.m. on April 11. To register, click here.
- [Stand up to censorship on Right to Read Day](https://aftnj.org/topics/book-censorship/2024/stand-up-to-censorship-on-right-to-read-day/) - Unite Against Book Bans — an initiative of the American Library Association — has deemed April 8 to be Right to Read Day. Held in conjunction with National Library Week, Right to Read Day is a call to action asking readers, advocates and library fans to contact U.S. Congress members and tell them to stand
- [Learn best practices for using chatbots](https://aftnj.org/topics/artificial-intelligence/2024/learn-best-practices-for-using-chatbots/) - Join Ian Wilhelm, deputy managing editor for The Chronicle of Higher Education, on April 3 for the webinar “The Chatbot Student Experience: What Lies Ahead?” Learn the ways in which chatbots enhance students’ on-campus experiences as well as policies that universities can apply. The session starts at 2 p.m. ET on April 3. To register,
- [Free elective course filters U.S. history through rock and soul](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/free-elective-course-filters-u-s-history-through-rock-and-soul/) - High school students and teachers can explore the history of the United States by way of American popular music in the TeachRock course “An American History of Rock and Soul.” Divided into four chronological units, the curriculum can be taught as a history elective or music course. Educators can learn more about “An American History
- [Frank W. Viggiano, former AFTNJ president, dies at 88](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/frank-w-viggiano-former-aftnj-president-dies-at-88/) - Frank W. Viggiano, who served as president of AFT New Jersey in the late 1990s, died March 16 at age 88. Raised in Jersey City, Viggiano received his bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University and his master’s degree from Rutgers University. He was an English literature teacher for 30-plus years at North Bergen High School,
- [AFTNJ PreK-12 leaders have first meeting with Dehmer](https://aftnj.org/topics/garfield/2024/aftnj-prek-12-leaders-have-first-meeting-with-dehmer/) - On March 18, AFTNJ PreK-12 leaders representing the Newark, Garfield, North Bergen and Perth Amboy school districts participated in their first meeting with New Jersey Department of Education Acting Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. Topics addressed during the hourlong virtual session included the Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC) and teacher recruitment. Perth Amboy Federation President Pat Paradiso
- [AFT Local 2364 lays out TCNJ’s budget crisis for legislators](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/aft-local-2364-lays-out-tcnjs-budget-crisis-for-legislators/) - On March 8, two professors at The College of New Jersey, two of its students and one alum made the most of their chance to address six New Jersey legislators about TCNJ’s significance and its budget crisis. “We want to talk about the crippling financial challenges that we are now facing,” AFT Local 2364 President
- [AFT Local 2373 member Klapper recaps her latest ‘Jeopardy!’ appearance](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/aft-local-2373-member-klapper-recaps-her-latest-jeopardy-appearance/) - In early 2023, Melissa Klapper had a successful run as a “Jeopardy!” contestant, becoming a three-day champion. That distinction qualified Klapper, a member of AFT Local 2373 and a Rowan University professor, for a return to the game show as part of its latest Tournament of Champions. Klapper says it all started to come together
- [Virtual forum to address concerns over campus conflicts](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/virtual-forum-to-address-concerns-over-campus-conflicts/) - Join Ian Wilhelm, The Chronicle of Higher Education’s deputy managing editor, on March 5 for the virtual forum “Building Civil Campus Conversations.” Wilhelm will be joined by a panel of national experts to talk about the challenges of navigating polarizing topics as well as handling student friction related to controversial speakers and protests on campus.
- [Murphy, Chiera laud school funding in FY25 budget](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/murphy-chiera-laud-school-funding-in-fy25-budget/) - Two days after his fiscal year 2025 budget address, Gov. Phil Murphy on Feb. 29 visited a Plainfield elementary school for an event to emphasize the proposed budget’s $900 million increase in public education funding. “This is not only the single largest investment in New Jersey’s public education system in our entire history, it is
- [Rutgers PTLFC to launch Adjuncts speak week on feb. 26](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2024/rutgers-ptlfc-to-launch-adjuncts-speak-week-on-feb-26/) - The Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union on Feb. 26 will begin its annual Adjuncts Speak Week. Over the course of five days, union members will take a few minutes of class time (or share info on Canvas for online classes) to highlight the role that adjunct faculty plays at Rutgers University and how adjuncts' working conditions shape students’
- [Registration is open for the 2024 Share My Lesson Virtual Conference](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/registration-is-open-for-the-2024-share-my-lesson-virtual-conference/) - More than 35 new, for-credit sessions will be available as part of the 2024 Share My Lesson Virtual Conference, taking place March 19-21. AFT President Randi Weingarten is set to deliver a keynote on the state of public education on March 19 at 6 p.m. ET. To view each day’s webinar and keynote offerings, and
- [Chiera meets with N.J. DOE acting commissioner Dehmer](https://aftnj.org/topics/career-and-technical-education-cte/2024/chiera-meets-with-n-j-doe-acting-commissioner-dehmer/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera met virtually with New Jersey Department of Education Acting Commissioner Kevin Dehmer on Feb. 13, one day after he officially assumed the post. Topics of discussion included school funding, early childhood education, career and technical education (CTE), and the teacher shortage. Chiera stressed that the educators she represents are among the best
- [Weingarten to co-host webinar on federal CTE program](https://aftnj.org/topics/career-and-technical-education-cte/2024/weingarten-to-co-host-webinar-on-federal-cte-program/) - February is Career and Technical Education Month, and on Feb. 27, AFT President Randi Weingarten will be the co-host of a webinar on the federal CTE program, commonly known as Perkins. Joining Weingarten will be Dr. Amy Loyd, who is the assistant secretary of the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education at the U.S. Department
- [Kean alum Chiera sees statewide value in the university's center for Africana Studies](https://aftnj.org/topics/kean-university/2024/kean-alum-chiera-sees-statewide-value-in-the-universitys-center-for-africana-studies/) - On Feb. 1, Kean University revealed details about its new Center for Africana Studies. According to Kean, the center will be part of its College of Education and aims to be “a leading resource for scholarly research, community engagement and educational programming, particularly in support of New Jersey's Amistad curriculum for K-12 students.” “This new center
- [Chiera to retire at the end of Her current term](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/chiera-to-retire-at-the-end-of-her-current-term/) - Donna M. Chiera, AFTNJ’s president since 2011, is not seeking reelection this year and will retire after her current term, which ends June 30. Chiera broke the news to members Jan. 24 during the AFTNJ Executive Board meeting. She subsequently informed the AFTNJ staff, then told the members who attended the Delegate Assembly meeting on
- [Black History Month offering ‘Stax Meets Motown’ entertains, informs](https://aftnj.org/topics/black-history-month/2024/black-history-month-offering-stax-meets-motown-entertains-informs/) - To mark Black History Month, the Soulsville Foundation is offering free access throughout February to “Soul of America: Stax Meets Motown,” starting Feb. 2. Geared toward educators, students and schools, the 45-minute virtual production follows students from Detroit (where Motown Records was founded) as they take a field trip to Memphis and visit the Stax Museum
- [Murphy picks Dehmer to be new N.J. DOE commissioner](https://aftnj.org/topics/new-jersey-department-of-education/2024/murphy-picks-dehmer-to-be-new-n-j-doe-commissioner/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Jan. 29 nominated Kevin Dehmer to be the state’s new Department of Education commissioner. “Ensuring that New Jersey’s schools are ready to meet the ever-changing and evolving needs of our communities is crucial,” Murphy said in a Jan. 29 press release. “Nobody is better prepared to meet this charge than Kevin,
- [N.J. HELC aims to be proactive in 2024](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2024/n-j-helc-aims-to-be-proactive-in-2024/) - The New Jersey Higher Education Leadership Council held a membership meeting on Jan. 19 to plan a course of action for the new year. Early on, AFTNJ lobbyist Pete Guzzo noted that Sen. Joe Cryan has taken over as the chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee (Sen. Andrew Zwicker is now its vice chair),
- [SXSW EDU unveils initial film, performance lineups](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/sxsw-edu-unveils-initial-film-performance-lineups/) - “The Truth About Reading,” which delves into America’s illiteracy problem, will be among the films screened during SXSW EDU, taking place March 4-7 in Austin, Texas. As for performances, aerospace engineer Roy Moye III’s program “Changing the Future of STEM Education With STEMusic!” will provide musical examples for educators and include tools he’s used to
- [Murphy signs A5684/S4055, expanding access to free school meals for N.J. students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2024/murphy-signs-a5684-s4055-expanding-access-to-free-school-meals-for-n-j-students/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Jan. 16 signed A5684/S4055, which will make New Jersey students from more than 60,000 families newly eligible for free school meals under 2022’s Working Class Families’ Anti-Hunger Act. A5684/S4055 calls for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and/or the federal School Breakfast Program to provide a free school lunch and/or
- [Murphy signs bill requiring instruction on grief in public schools for grades 8-12](https://aftnj.org/topics/mental-health/2024/murphy-signs-bill-requiring-instruction-on-grief-in-public-schools-for-grades-8-12/) - On Jan. 4, Gov. Phil Murphy signed S3330/A5015, which requires New Jersey’s public schools to provide students in grades 8-12 with instruction on grief. The curriculum will be in accordance with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. “Grief can be a debilitating experience that lasts a lifetime when not addressed
- [Survey: Stress was high, emotional well-being low for most educators during 2020-23](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2024/survey-stress-was-high-emotional-well-being-low-for-most-educators-during-2020-23/) - More than 77 percent of teachers and school staff said their emotional well-being was somewhat low in satisfaction or worse, according to the survey “Teachers Emotional Well-Being During and After a Global Pandemic.” Meanwhile, 90.7 percent said their stress level was somewhat high or worse. The survey results come from a study by the Teachers Self-Care
- [Sign up for AFL-CIO’s MLK Civil and Human Rights Conference](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/sign-up-for-afl-cios-mlk-civil-and-human-rights-conference/) - Registration is now open for the 2024 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference, taking place Jan. 12-14 in Montgomery, Alabama. The event’s website homepage reads: “The conference in 2024 will occur at a crucial moment for the labor and civil rights movements, as workers across the country are organizing at
- [Poet Gorman to kick off AFT Book Club Series](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/poet-gorman-to-kick-off-aft-book-club-series/) - Poet Amanda Gorman, whose résumé includes delivering a reading at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, will be the first author in the upcoming AFT Book Club Series. The webcast session with Gorman and AFT President Randi Weingarten will take place Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. ET. Fred Guttenberg, author of “American Carnage: Shattering the Myths That
- [Early registration for FETC 2024 ends Dec. 22](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/early-registration-for-fetc-2024-ends-dec-22/) - The National Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) is set for Jan. 23-26 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The event offers in-depth workshops and hands-on sessions on the current tech innovations being used in K-12 education, and attendees will also learn about trends and best practices. Early bird registration ends Dec.
- [AFTNJ has first of proposed monthly meetings with N.J. DOE office, commissioner](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/aftnj-has-first-of-proposed-monthly-meetings-with-n-j-doe-office-commissioner/) - On Dec. 11, AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera and eight PreK-12 leaders met virtually with Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, the acting commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Education. Among the topics of discussion were New Jersey’s teacher shortage as well as efforts needed to retain the state’s existing educators. In her response to those issues,
- [Winter ’23-’24 issue of American Education is now available](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2023/winter-23-24-issue-of-american-education-is-now-available/) - The winter 2023-24 issue of AFT’s American Educator contains a story by AFTNJ Higher Education VP and Rutgers University professor Todd Vachon titled “Climate Justice for All: Pursuing a Just Transition in the Education Sector.” To download the issue, click here.
- [Learn ways to improve student, staff mental health](https://aftnj.org/topics/mental-health/2023/learn-ways-to-improve-student-staff-mental-health/) - Join educators from across the country Dec. 7 for the Education Week virtual forum “Boosting Student and Staff Mental Health: What Schools Can Do.” Expect to hear about recent reporting on such challenges as inconsistent funding for mental health services, the scarcity of mental health professionals and low teacher morale. The session will start at
- [Computer Science Education Week starts Dec. 4](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/computer-science-education-week-starts-dec-4/) - Mark the beginning of Computer Science Education Week on Dec. 4 with the “Impacts of Computing” webinar at 6 p.m. CT. Supported by the Computer Science Teachers Association, among others, CSEdWeek is an annual event that aims to “inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers
- [Allen-McMillan stepping down as N.J.’s acting education commissioner](https://aftnj.org/topics/new-jersey-department-of-education/2023/allen-mcmillan-stepping-down-as-n-j-s-acting-education-commissioner/) - Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, the acting commissioner for New Jersey’s Department of Education for more than three years, will step down from the post and retire, effective Feb. 1, she said via X/Twitter. In a three-part post Nov. 27 on the social-media platform, Allen-McMillan wrote that her time as acting commissioner “has been one of the
- [PEN America report analyzes legislative educational gag orders](https://aftnj.org/topics/critical-race-theory/2023/pen-america-report-analyzes-legislative-educational-gag-orders/) - Through Nov. 1, 110 educational gag order bills were introduced in the United States during 2023 (down from 143 in 2022), while 14 such bills were passed or adopted this year via legislation or state policies/executive orders (four more than last year), according to a recent PEN America report. “America’s Censored Classrooms 2023” has a link
- [Preventing burnout of student-support staff](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/preventing-burnout-of-student-support-staff/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education deputy managing editor Ian Wilhelm on Dec. 5 for the virtual forum “Supporting Student Success: Staff and Roles.” Wilhelm will be joined by a panel of experts to discuss preventing burnout and supporting student-support staff. The session begins at 2 p.m. ET on Dec. 5. To register, click here.
- [Chiera, Wolfson see the value in MSU's Teacher Certification Registered Apprenticeship Program](https://aftnj.org/topics/montclair-state-university/2023/chiera-wolfson-see-the-value-in-msus-teacher-certification-registered-apprenticeship-program/) - The U.S. Department of Labor on Nov. 14 recognized Montclair State University as the first higher education institution in New Jersey to have a Teacher Certification Registered Apprenticeship Program. The program “addresses the teacher shortage in a very specific way, providing an opportunity for aspiring teachers to realize their full potential,” MSU President Jonathan Koppell
- [Free forum to focus on learning recovery’s success stories](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/free-forum-to-focus-on-learning-recoverys-success-stories/) - Join Education Week on Nov. 16 for the virtual forum “Making Learning Recovery Work.” In its description for this session, EW says, “Implementing strategies like accelerated learning or high-dosage tutoring can be challenging and most school districts are still struggling to master them. This virtual forum will highlight recent reporting on some of the schools and
- [Weingarten backs Markey’s bill of rights for paraprofessionals, education support staff](https://aftnj.org/topics/health-care/2023/weingarten-backs-markeys-bill-of-rights-for-paraprofessionals-education-support-staff/) - On Nov. 6, U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts introduced the Paraprofessionals and Education Support Staff Bill of Rights, which is co-sponsored by Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Per a press release from Markey’s office, the resolution calls for: • Livable, competitive wages and access to benefits, including health care and paid leave • The
- [GSC '24 has sessions on outdoor learning spaces, indoor air quality programs](https://aftnj.org/topics/climate-change/2023/gsc-24-has-sessions-on-outdoor-learning-spaces-indoor-air-quality-programs/) - Hourlong sessions on transforming outdoor spaces for learning and implementing indoor air quality programs are among the offerings at the next Green Schools Conference, taking place March 5-7 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Now in its 14th year, the Green Schools Conference “brings together everyone involved in creating and advocating for green schools, with a focus
- [Celebrating Native American Heritage Month](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/celebrating-native-american-heritage-month/) - November is Native American Heritage Month, and The Library of Congress has rounded up resources as well as in-person and virtual events that celebrate the traditions and ancestry of American Indians. View the offerings here.
- [Virtual forum to examine the road for student success in higher ed](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/virtual-forum-to-examine-the-road-for-student-success-in-higher-ed/) - Join The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Ian Wilhelm on Nov. 7 for the virtual forum “Student Success: The New Year Ahead.” Wilhelm and a panel of experts will discuss ways in which colleges are dealing with graduation and retention rates through learning from student needs. The session begins at 2 p.m. ET on Nov. 7.
- [Learn how generative AI affects higher education](https://aftnj.org/topics/artificial-intelligence/2023/learn-how-generative-ai-affects-higher-education/) - Grammarly for Education on Nov. 1 will present an interactive discussion on generative AI adoption trends in higher education. The scheduled speakers are Sid Dobrin, an English professor at the University of Florida, and Jenny Maxwell, the head of Grammarly for Education. To register for the session, which starts at 1 p.m. ET, click here.
- [SXSW EDU unveils first round of accepted sessions](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/sxsw-edu-unveils-first-round-of-accepted-sessions/) - On Oct. 25, SXSW EDU unveiled more than 200 sessions (crowdsourced from PanelPicker) for next year’s conference, taking place March 4-7 in Austin, Texas. The programming options include: • “Unleashing the Potential: Therapy Dogs in Education” • “The Future of Education Isn’t A.I. It’s Human” • “How to Wow K-5 Through Podcasts & Storytelling” Check
- [CISA to present free virtual summit on school safety, security](https://aftnj.org/topics/mental-health/2023/cisa-to-present-free-virtual-summit-on-school-safety-security/) - The virtual National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security is set for Nov. 1-2. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the host of the event, offers this description: “Through expert panels and keynote addresses by leaders in the field, the summit explores current threats and issues in school safety and considers research-informed strategies for
- [Report: Prospect of low pay deters students of color from becoming teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/report-prospect-of-low-pay-deters-students-of-color-from-becoming-teachers/) - The low compensation associated with being a teacher and a systemic lack of respect for the profession discourage students of color and Indigenous students from pursuing careers in education, according to a new report from Teach Plus and the Center for Black Educator Development. More than 100 high school students of color and Indigenous identities from
- [Active learning and more to be explored during VirtCon](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/active-learning-and-more-to-be-explored-during-virtcon/) - VirtCon, presented by the Discovery Educator Network, will take place Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET. The theme is “Igniting the Classroom Spark,” and the conference is open to teachers and other education personnel, as well as parents and caregivers. Attendees can expect to hear about “a variety of topics of importance to
- [Learn tips for creating engaging classrooms](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/learn-tips-for-creating-engaging-classrooms/) - Beckie Supiano, senior writer for The Chronicle of Higher Education, will be the host of the virtual forum “Meaningful Classroom Engagement” on Oct. 19. Supiano and a panel of experts will discuss how instructors can make their classrooms engaging in the post-pandemic era and establish a foundation for student success. The session starts at 2
- [Register now for Tech Tactics in Education conference](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/register-now-for-tech-tactics-in-education-conference/) - Early bird registration ends Oct. 20 for the Tech Tactics in Education conference, taking place Nov. 7-9 in Orlando, Fla. Attendees can expect hands-on learning, practical tips and strategic discussions on important cybersecurity issues and key data infrastructure and practices affecting K–12 and higher education. For more information and to register, click here.
- [Workshop offers civics, economics lessons to help U.S. history teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/workshop-offers-civics-economics-lessons-to-help-u-s-history-teachers-2/) - The Rutgers University-affiliated New Jersey Center for Civic Education on Oct. 9 will present the in-person workshop “Infusing Civics, New Jersey, and Economics Into High School United States History” at RU's Livingston Campus Center in Piscataway. The workshop aims to provide N.J. high school educators who teach U.S. history with sample lessons and strategies on
- [Virtual forum to discuss college students’ needs, expectations](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/virtual-forum-to-discuss-college-students-needs-expectations/) - Ian Wilhelm, The Chronicle of Higher Education’s deputy managing editor, on Oct. 5 will be the host of the virtual forum “Supporting Student Success: Tools and Strategies.” The session starts at 2 p.m. ET. To register, click here.
- [Workshop offers civics, economics lessons to help U.S. history teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/workshop-offers-civics-economics-lessons-to-help-u-s-history-teachers/) - The Rutgers University-affiliated New Jersey Center for Civic Education on Oct. 9 will present the in-person workshop “Infusing Civics, New Jersey, and Economics Into High School United States History” at RU's Livingston Campus Center in Piscataway. The workshop aims to provide N.J. high school educators who teach U.S. history with sample lessons and strategies on
- [Learn strategies for positive student outcomes](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/learn-strategies-for-positive-student-outcomes/) - Join Ian Wilhelm, The Chronicle of Higher Education’s deputy managing editor, on Sept. 27 for the virtual forum “New Strategic Directions for Student Success.” Topics of discussion will include using data-driven insights and adopting flexible learning methods. The session begins at 2 p.m. ET on Sept. 27. To register, click here.
- [OpenAI issues ChatGPT guide for teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/chatgpt/2023/openai-issues-chatgpt-guide-for-teachers/) - With artificial intelligence on the rise in education settings, OpenAI recently issued a guide for teachers who are utilizing ChatGPT in their classrooms. “We’re sharing a few stories of how educators are using ChatGPT to accelerate student learning and some prompts to help educators get started with the tool,” reads the “Teaching With AI” opening.
- [Panel to discuss status of virtual, hybrid learning in higher ed](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/panel-to-discuss-status-of-virtual-hybrid-learning-in-higher-ed/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education senior writer Beth McMurtrie on Sept. 20 as she serves as the host of the virtual panel discussion “The State of Virtual and Hybrid Learning.” The session starts at 2 p.m. ET. To register, click here.
- [Shanker Institute report will be subject of webinar discussion](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/shanker-institute-report-will-be-subject-of-webinar-discussion/) - On Sept. 19, the Albert Shanker Institute and AFT’s Share My Lesson will present a webinar discussion on the ASI’s recently released Reading Reform Across America report. Susan B. Neuman, Esther Quintero and Kayla Reist, the report’s authors, will be joined Mary Cathryn Ricker, the Albert Shanker Institute’s executive director, to discuss the findings “in
- [Sorting through the political side of higher ed classrooms](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/sorting-through-the-political-side-of-higher-ed-classrooms/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education senior reporter Emma Pettit and others on Sept. 14 for the virtual discussion “Politics in the Classroom: Who Decides?” Pettit's talk with a panel of experts will cover why conservative lawmakers are especially interested in higher education these days, the direct impact of various state laws on faculty and students,
- [AFT, Educators Thriving produce ‘Beyond Burnout’ report](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/aft-educators-thriving-produce-beyond-burnout-report/) - The new report “Beyond Burnout,” a team effort by the AFT and Educators Thriving, contains practical, research-based solutions to address the burnout and stress affecting K-12 teachers and staff. In her letter that opens “Beyond Burnout,” AFT President Randi Weingarten points out that the report “describes some of the work we undertook to support educators
- [First round of SXSW EDU ’24 featured sessions unveiled](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/first-round-of-sxsw-edu-24-featured-sessions-unveiled/) - SXSW EDU recently revealed its first round of featured sessions for the 2024 conference, taking place March 4-7 in Austin, Texas. Those three sessions, as described by SXSW EDU, are: • Does Your Classroom and School Have a Culture of Growth? — Author Carol Dweck joins protégé Mary Murphy to launch and discuss “Cultures of Growth: How the New Science of
- [Chronicle Festival will focus on ideas reshaping higher education](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/chronicle-festival-will-focus-on-ideas-reshaping-higher-education/) - Join leading thinkers and college leaders Aug. 29-31 for Chronicle Festival, a virtual conference presented by The Chronicle of Higher Education. Scheduled session speakers include Rutgers University law professor Stacy Hawkins and author Stephen Marche. For more information and to register, click here.
- [Learn about accessible educational technology tools](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/learn-about-accessible-educational-technology-tools/) - On Aug. 29, the Office of Educational Technology is teaming up with the Office of Special Education Programs for a webinar highlighting free and low-cost educational technology. STEMIE will share its resources to help families and other caregivers learn the importance of STEM concepts and what children are learning. The webinar begins at 1 p.m. ET
- [How to blend tech trends into higher ed course design](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/how-to-blend-tech-trends-into-higher-ed-course-design/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education deputy managing editor Ian Wilhelm on Aug. 23 for the virtual forum “Preparing Today’s Students for a Tech-Driven Tomorrow.” Wilhelm and a panel of experts will discuss ways in which institutions of higher education can incorporate technology into course design to benefit college students of all ages. The session begins
- [AFTNJ Activist Conference recap: adjunct unemployment, Rutgers LEARN and more](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/aftnj-activist-conference-recap-adjunct-unemployment-rutgers-learn-and-more/) - A captive crowd of PreK-12 and higher education faculty and staff gathered Aug. 16 for the AFTNJ Activist Conference at the Rutgers Labor Education Center in New Brunswick. “If I had to pick a theme for this meeting today,” AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera said in her opening remarks, “a lot of it’s going to
- [Fall ’23 issue of American Educator is now available](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/k-12/2023/fall-23-issue-of-american-educator-is-now-available/) - The fall 2023 issue of AFT’s American Educator is a special edition on teaching reading for families and educators. To download the issue, click here.
- [Smart Beginnings 2023 is set for Aug. 15-17](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/smart-beginnings-2023-is-set-for-aug-15-17/) - K-12 educators and others can learn about the resources available for supporting children with disabilities during Smart Beginnings 2023. The three-day virtual conference, which begins Aug. 15, will be presented by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs. The two-hour sessions begin at 3 p.m. ET each day. For more info and
- [U.S. DOE rolls out K-12 cybersecurity efforts](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/u-s-doe-rolls-out-k-12-cybersecurity-efforts/) - The U.S. Department of Education on Aug. 7 unveiled plans to establish a Government Coordinating Council that it says “will coordinate activities, policy and communications between federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments that strengthen the cyber defenses and resilience of K-12 schools.” “Let’s face it: In today’s digital age, our students and their teachers will
- [Forum panelists to discuss how new college transcripts go beyond grades](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/forum-panelists-to-discuss-how-new-college-transcripts-go-beyond-grades/) - On Aug. 16, The Chronicle of Higher Education will present the virtual forum “The Transcript of the Future.” During the 75-minute session, a panel of experts will discuss how colleges have experimented with digital portfolios to also include elements beyond grades. The virtual forum begins at 2 p.m. ET on Aug. 16. To register, click
- [Chiera attends Menendez roundtable on PSLF](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/chiera-attends-menendez-roundtable-on-pslf/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera on Aug. 1 was among the participants in a roundtable discussion about public service loan forgiveness held at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark. The roughly 45-minute event was led by Sen. Bob Menendez, who in his opening remarks mentioned the PSLF Payment Completion Fairness Act, a bipartisan
- [Panelists to discuss how colleges support adult learners](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/panelists-to-discuss-how-colleges-support-adult-learners/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education executive editor Liz McMillen on Aug. 2 for the virtual forum “Shifting Student Support to Adult Learners.” McMillen will be joined by a panel of experts to discuss whether the needs of adult learners differ from those of traditional students, how student support offices need to change and much more.
- [ASCD’S EL Meetup is set for Aug. 14-15](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/ascds-el-meetup-is-set-for-aug-14-15/) - The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) will hold its Emerging Leader Meetup on Aug. 14-15 at Monmouth University in West Long Branch. Among the scheduled speakers is Monmouth professor Maria Paradiso-Testa, whose session on Aug. 15 is titled “Above & Beyond: Exceeding the Limitations & Expectations of the Status Quo.” To register for
- [Murphy signs S3406, enacting fiscal accountability measures in higher ed](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/aftnj-news/2023/murphy-signs-s3406-enacting-fiscal-accountability-measures-in-higher-ed/) - Gov. Phil Murphy recently followed through on his pledge in January to sign S3406 once it crossed his desk. The legislation requires public institutions of higher education in New Jersey to submit an annual fiscal monitoring report, and it authorizes the secretary of higher education to appoint a state monitor of these institutions. “Promoting fiscal
- [AFT launches Real Solutions for Kids and Communities, partners with Reading Universe](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/aft-launches-real-solutions-for-kids-and-communities-partners-with-reading-universe/) - In her AFT TEACH keynote speech July 21, AFT President Randi Weingarten unveiled Real Solutions for Kids and Communities, a $5 million yearlong campaign addressing ongoing mental health and achievement crises. “These are strategies that will address loneliness and learning loss and literacy,” Weingarten said, “and we can and will do everything to spread and sustain
- [AFT-partnered report delves into social media’s impact on students, schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/aft-partnered-report-delves-into-social-medias-impact-on-students-schools/) - In their recently released report titled “Likes vs. Learning: The Real Cost of Social Media for Schools,” the AFT and four partners list five key principles for companies that design and deliver their products to students. “Today we are calling on social media platforms to make fundamental changes to their products that could dramatically improve
- [Target’s Teacher Appreciation Event runs through Aug. 26](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/targets-teacher-appreciation-event-runs-through-aug-26/) - Teachers and school staff can take advantage of a one-time 20 percent discount at Target through the retailer’s free Target Circle loyalty program. The discount can be applied to one order — in store or online — through Aug. 26. All K-12 teachers, homeschool teachers, teachers working at day care centers and early childhood learning
- [Virtual forum to examine changes in career services](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/virtual-forum-to-examine-changes-in-career-services/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education deputy managing editor Ian Wilhelm on July 26 for the virtual forum “How Technology Is Changing Career Services.” Wilhelm and a panel of college experts will discuss the ways in which remote work and other technology have affected career-service offices and personnel. The session begins at 2 p.m. ET. To
- [Exposing elementary school students to social studies](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/exposing-elementary-school-students-to-social-studies/) - With the emphasis in elementary schools to improve reading and math after the pandemic, fourth-grade North Carolina teacher Nardi Routten says she and her contemporaries “get limited time to teach social studies.” “But we can’t just throw up our hands,” Routten writes for Edutopia, offering a handful of strategies that she plans on using in
- [Murphy waives certification fees for educators, expands school employee sick leave](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/murphy-waives-certification-fees-for-educators-expands-school-employee-sick-leave/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on July 1 noted that New Jersey’s fiscal year 2023-24 budget includes $5 million devoted to the implementation of an Educator Certification Fee Holiday, which runs through June 30, 2024. This initiative allows individuals seeking certification “to waive the customary fees associated with educator certification applications, renewals and related services,” per a July
- [Webinars cover appropriate Indigenous images for classrooms](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/webinars-cover-appropriate-indigenous-images-for-classrooms/) - The National Museum of the American Indian will present free webinars July 11 and 18 with celebrated contemporary graphic artists Michael Sheyahshe (Caddo) and Dr. Lee Francis IV (Laguna) about using their imagery from NMAI’s NK360° lessons and visuals from other sources in classroom settings. The hourlong webinars begin each day at 4 p.m. ET. To
- [Apply now to speak at SXSW EDU 2024](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/apply-now-to-speak-at-sxsw-edu-2024/) - Speaking proposals for SXSW EDU 2024 can be submitted for consideration until July 23 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Use the education conference-festival's PanelPicker Guide to review the session tracks (among the themes are teaching & learning, equity & justice, and future of tech) and format options (solo presentation, panel discussion, instructional workshop, etc.), as well
- [How to integrate SEL into everyday instruction](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/how-to-integrate-sel-into-everyday-instruction/) - Looking ahead to the next school year, Rutgers University psychology professor Maurice J. Elias offers six ways to integrate social and emotional learning into daily instruction without it seeming like an addition to the regular teaching workload. Read his column for Edutopia here.
- [U.S. DOE webinar to delve into improved kindergarten readiness](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/u-s-doe-webinar-to-delve-into-improved-kindergarten-readiness/) - Join education leaders and practitioners June 27 for the webinar “How Family Engagement Supports Kindergarten Readiness/Early School Success.” Presented by the U.S. Department of Education, the 90-minute session is expected to explore why engaging families early matters for the long-term success of children, as well as how technology can be leveraged to support families. This
- [Explore the latest tech and more at ISTELive 23](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/explore-the-latest-tech-and-more-at-istelive-23/) - Tyler James Williams, star of the hit ABC sitcom “Abbott Elementary,” is among the notable names scheduled to appear at ISTELive 23, taking place June 25-28 at the Philadelphia Convention Center, 1101 Arch St. Presented by the nonprofit International Society for Technology in Education, the event has sessions on such topics as artificial intelligence, digital
- [Belfer conference supports accurate Holocaust teaching](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/belfer-conference-supports-accurate-holocaust-teaching/) - The 2023 Arthur and Rochelle Belfer National Conference for Educators is scheduled for June 26-28. Over the course of the free, three-day virtual conference, participants will access accurate, classroom-ready Holocaust lessons and resources based on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s collections. All content is available to registrants for up to six months after the
- [AFT, other unions attend Biden-Harris 2024 labor rally in Philadelphia](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/aftnj-news/2023/aft-other-unions-attend-biden-harris-2024-labor-rally-in-philadelphia/) - One day after announcing its endorsement of the Biden-Harris ticket in the 2024 Democratic primary, the AFT joined other unions June 17 at the Philadelphia Convention Center for the first rally of President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign. “This week, for the first time I’m aware of, the AFL-CIO endorsed us early, and every union as
- [Learn ways to create the best experience for college students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/learn-ways-to-create-the-best-experience-for-college-students/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education senior writer Alex Kafka on June 22 for the virtual discussion “The Student-Centered College.” Kafka’s talk with a panel of college leaders begins at 2 p.m. ET. For more information and to register, click here.
- [ACE webinar explores the labor involved with DEI leadership](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2023/ace-webinar-explores-the-labor-involved-with-dei-leadership/) - The American Council on Education will present the webinar “Creating Emotionally Supportive Spaces Through Shared Equity Leadership” on June 15 at 1 p.m. ET. Panelists will discuss “what emotional labor looks like in an environment where responsibility for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) leadership is broadly distributed,” according to ACE, as well as provide examples
- [SML kicks off Summer of Learning '23](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/sml-kicks-off-summer-of-learning-23/) - As the 2022-23 school year winds down, AFT’s Share My Lesson has already rolled out its Summer of Learning '23 resources. Among the offerings: TEACHING RESOURCES• Father's Day Lesson Plan and Activities• Teaching Juneteenth: Lesson Plans and Resources• Baseball Lesson Plans and Activities for PreK-12 WEBINARS• Practical Approaches to Advance Original Thinking in a World With
- [Chiera, Wolfson testify in favor of Bloomfield-Montclair State merger bill](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2023/chiera-wolfson-testify-in-favor-of-bloomfield-montclair-state-merger-bill/) - With New Jersey’s Assembly Higher Education Committee about to vote on A5470 (the Bloomfield College-Montclair State University merger bill), AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera and AFT Local 1904 President Rich Wolfson on June 5 testified in favor of the legislation, which was recently amended to remove anti-labor language. “This move — bringing Bloomfield and Montclair together
- [Register now for virtual Education Summit ’23](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/register-now-for-virtual-education-summit-23/) - Billing itself as “the virtual conference that brings heart and care into the classroom,” the free Education Summit ’23 is set for June 29-30. The keynote speakers will be "The Art of Gathering" author Priya Parker and professor-author Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz. For more information and to register, click here.
- [Weingarten, Chiera and Hildner renew the call for state to fund NJCU](https://aftnj.org/topics/new-jersey-city-university/2023/weingarten-chiera-and-hildner-renew-the-call-for-state-to-fund-njcu/) - As the New Jersey Legislature reconvenes to finalize the state’s fiscal year 2024 budget, AFT leaders are reminding the state Senate and Assembly about the urgent need to address New Jersey City University's well-documented financial crisis. “New Jersey City University hands first-generation students their diplomas and gives them a shot at a secure, middle-class life,” AFT President
- [AFTNJ welcomes staff representative Jennie Shanker](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2023/aftnj-welcomes-staff-representative-jennie-shanker/) - The AFTNJ on June 1 welcomed its new staff representative, Jennie Shanker, who takes over for Joe Norris. Organized labor and education have been constants in her life. She is the daughter of the late Albert Shanker, who was AFT president for more than two decades. In her 20-plus years of teaching, Jennie Shanker held various
- [U.S. DOE, NASA aim to boost efforts advancing STEM, space education](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/u-s-doe-nasa-aim-to-boost-efforts-advancing-stem-space-education/) - The U.S. Department of Education and NASA recently signed a memorandum of understanding that involves increasing student and school access to STEM and space education. “From the groundbreaking Apollo mission to today’s Artemis program, which will land the first woman and first person of color on the moon, NASA’s work has long galvanized the world
- [Early registration for AFT TEACH ends June 1](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/early-registration-for-aft-teach-ends-june-1/) - Register for AFT TEACH by June 1 to guarantee housing and save $200. The three-day conference, which begins July 21 and takes place in Washington, D.C., offers professional development workshops that are custom developed by AFT members and other experts. To view the schedule and to register, click here.
- [N.J. DOE Amistad Commission’s inaugural Summer Curriculum Institute begins July 17](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/n-j-doe-amistad-commissions-inaugural-summer-curriculum-institute-begins-july-17/) - All Garden State educators are welcome to apply for the New Jersey Department of Education Amistad Commission’s inaugural Summer Curriculum Institute for Teachers, which will take place July 17-20 at William Paterson University. The event's theme is “Moments in African American History,” and participants will experience lectures by esteemed scholars, breakout sessions with colleagues and
- [AFTNJ 2023 Legislative Conference in pictures](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/aftnj-2023-legislative-conference-in-pictures/) - Gov. Phil Murphy noted the need for teacher recruitment and retention in New Jersey. Sen. Andrew Zwicker, who sits on the Senate Higher Education Committee, said the state has an obligation to fund higher education. And Sen. Vin Gopal, the chair of the Senate Education Committee, expressed his appreciation for educators and pledged his support.
- [WEC webinar has tips for better workplace ventilation](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2023/wec-webinar-has-tips-for-better-workplace-ventilation/) - The New Jersey Work Environment Council is set to present the webinar “Building Ventilation and Minimizing Exposure to COVID-19 and Airborne Diseases” on May 31. Dave Newman, who for 18 years served as the staff industrial hygienist for the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, will be the guest speaker. Topics of discussion will
- [Energize students by collaborating on course creation](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/energize-students-by-collaborating-on-course-creation/) - There’s power in co-creating courses with students, according to international educator Aimée Skidmore. “Inviting students to co-create the curriculum shifts ownership and accountability to learners and fosters democratic teaching practices, without sacrificing the objectives and goals that align learning experiences,” she writes for Edutopia. Read Skidmore’s full post here.
- [Panel to offer guidance on handling AI challenges](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/panel-to-offer-guidance-on-handling-ai-challenges/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education editor Ian Wilhelm on May 16 for the panel discussion “Academic Integrity and AI.” As described by the Chronicle, the discussion will cover what ChatGPT means for academic integrity, and panelists will provide insight into stopping cheating before it becomes problematic. To register for the hourlong discussion, which begins at
- [OSEP initiative addresses transition services for children with disabilities](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/osep-initiative-addresses-transition-services-for-children-with-disabilities/) - An initiative designed to improve postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities is set to launch virtually May 10 at 1 p.m. ET. “Expect, Engage, and Empower: Successful Transitions for All!” supports Education Secretary Dr. Miguel A. Cardona’s mission to improve school equity nationwide. As described by The Office of Special Education Programs, this effort “will challenge
- [Chiera talks public education’s past, present and future at ELC event](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/chiera-talks-public-educations-past-present-and-future-at-elc-event/) - On May 4, the Education Law Center marked its 50th anniversary with the panel “Promise and Perils in Public Education: Past, Present, and Future” at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark. Among the panelists was AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera. When asked by panel moderator and ELC Executive Director Robert Kim how the teaching profession has
- [Spring ’23 issue of AFT Health Care out now](https://aftnj.org/topics/health-care/2023/spring-23-issue-of-aft-health-care-out-now/) - In the latest issue of AFT Health Care, four union leaders talk about their experience with violence in the workplace and what changes are needed to keep health care workers safe. To download the issue, click here.
- [Chiera closes N.J. Legislature's meeting on state of higher ed with call for funds, oversight](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/chiera-closes-n-j-legislatures-meeting-on-state-of-higher-ed-with-call-for-funds-oversight/) - For many months, whenever she’s talked about higher education in New Jersey, AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera has emphasized what’s lacking on the fiscal side: transparency, accountability and oversight (TAO). On May 1, Chiera spent several minutes on TAO and other topics during the N.J. State Legislature’s Special Meeting on Higher Education at the State
- [Forum addresses international education’s shifting landscape](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/forum-addresses-international-educations-shifting-landscape/) - Join Chronicle of Education senior writer Karin Fischer on May 2 for the virtual forum “The Changing Field of International Education.” Along with a panel of experts, Fischer will discuss strategies for addressing updated goals in international education’s shifting landscape. The forum begins at 2 p.m. ET. To register, click here.
- [Biden taps Ingram for educational equity commission](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/biden-taps-ingram-for-educational-equity-commission/) - President Joe Biden on April 21 revealed his intent to appoint AFT Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick C. Ingram to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans. The commission’s objectives include promoting career pathways for Black students via internships and other work-based learning initiatives, along with increasing public awareness of the
- [Virtual discussion to tackle issues facing Latino educators, students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/virtual-discussion-to-tackle-issues-facing-latino-educators-students/) - Melody Gonzales, the executive director of the White House Hispanic Initiative, will be among the featured speakers April 27 during the virtual discussion “Ensuring Latino Students Succeed: The Latino Action Agenda.” To register for this free Latinos for Education event, click here.
- [Murphy signs bill expanding access to UI for workers during labor disputes](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/murphy-signs-bill-expanding-access-to-ui-for-workers-during-labor-disputes/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on April 24 signed A4772/S3215, which addresses some loopholes that have affected striking workers and others in labor disputes from receiving access to unemployment insurance benefits. Taking effect immediately and applying to all UI benefit claims filed on or after Jan. 1, 2022, A4772/S3215 will: • Permit UI benefits to be distributed to workers during an employer
- [Survey: Student misbehavior has climbed while morale has dropped](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2023/survey-student-misbehavior-has-climbed-while-morale-has-dropped/) - According to a recent EdWeek Research Center survey, 70 percent of educators said there is more student misbehavior in their classes, schools and districts now than there was in fall 2019. In December 2021, when the research center previously asked educators about it, “66 percent of them said their students were misbehaving a little more or
- [With labor unrest at NJIT, Chiera talks Rutgers strike's influence, need for higher ed commissioner](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/with-labor-unrest-at-njit-chiera-talks-rutgers-strikes-influence-need-for-higher-ed-commissioner/) - Similar to the faculty unions at Rutgers University, the adjunct professors, graduate students and postdoctoral students at New Jersey Institute of Technology have been working about nine months under an expired contract. But unlike those Rutgers unions, NJIT instructors don’t appear to be close to anything resembling a framework for a new contract. “We’ve been
- [Register now for N.J. Special Education Summit](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/register-now-for-n-j-special-education-summit/) - The annual New Jersey Special Education Summit is set for April 28 at the FEA Conference Center in Monroe Township. The focus of this year’s summit (sponsored by Public Consulting Group and NJPSA/FEA) will be fostering leadership and creating a collaborative culture in schools. To view the scheduled speakers and sessions, click here. To register,
- [PAF’s Paradiso is OK with metal detectors at high school](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/pafs-paradiso-is-ok-with-metal-detectors-at-high-school/) - Perth Amboy High School on April 17 debuted the use of metal detectors, a security measure that Perth Amboy Federation President Pat Paradiso describes as “a good thing.” “I know it’s going to be difficult, but you can’t have kids with weapons in school,” Paradiso told News 12 New Jersey in a segment that aired April
- [Rutgers faculty strike suspended; contract framework has ‘profound victories’](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2023/rutgers-faculty-strike-suspended-contract-framework-has-profound-victories/) - Rutgers AAUP-AFT, Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union and AAUP-BHSNJ members have suspended their strike, which began April 10 and affected five days of classes across all Rutgers University campuses. They were due to resume working April 17, days after their respective union leaders and Rutgers management agreed to a framework for new contracts. An April 15
- [Let Dr. Seuss’ ‘Lorax’ lead the way on Earth Day](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/let-dr-seuss-lorax-lead-the-way-on-earth-day/) - One year after the first Earth Day, Random House in 1971 released Dr. Seuss’ environmentally themed “The Lorax.” Celebrate Earth Day 2023 on April 22 with “Lorax”-friendly ideas for schools gathered here in this educators’ guide.
- [Helping college students understand the unwritten rules](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/helping-college-students-understand-the-unwritten-rules/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education news editor Sarah Brown on April 18 for the virtual forum “Helping Students Navigate the ‘Hidden Curriculum.’ ” Along with a panel of experts, Brown will talk about how colleges and universities are shifting priorities and creating strategies to help their students overcome these challenges. The session starts at 2 p.m.
- [Historic strike by Rutgers faculty unions shakes up university, stirs legislators](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2023/historic-strike-by-rutgers-faculty-unions-shakes-up-university-stirs-legislators/) - On April 10, after working nearly 290 days without a contract, three Rutgers University faculty unions went on strike, marking the first teaching walkout in school history. Union members and supporters participated in rallies and picket lines at the three main Rutgers campuses through April 12 as union leaders negotiated each day with the RU
- [STEM initiatives covered in free virtual conference](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/stem-initiatives-covered-in-free-virtual-conference/) - SmartBrief Education’s virtual STEM Pathways Summit is set for April 27. The free, three-hour event begins at noon ET, and session topics will include: • Project-based learning• Creativity and student agency• Design thinking and problem solving For more info and to register, click here.
- [U.S. DOE sets public hearings on higher education rulemaking](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/u-s-doe-sets-public-hearings-on-higher-education-rulemaking/) - On April 11-13, the U.S. Department of Education will hold virtual public hearings seeking stakeholder feedback on potential issues for future higher education rulemaking sessions. “The Department’s primary responsibility is to serve students and help them succeed,” said U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel A. Cardona in a U.S. DOE press release. “That means we must
- [Murphy talks College Promise, FY24 higher ed investments at Newark roundtable](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/murphy-talks-college-promise-fy24-higher-ed-investments-at-newark-roundtable/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on April 5 visited Rutgers University’s Newark campus for a roundtable discussion about his New Jersey College Promise initiative and to highlight higher education investments in his fiscal year 2024 budget. “One of our top priorities from day one of our administration, which is now in its sixth year, has been making
- [ACE survey participants are eligible for gift card drawing](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/ace-survey-participants-are-eligible-for-gift-card-drawing/) - The American Council on Education has commissioned a short survey designed so ACE can better understand how the community views the organization’s work and role in higher education. Those who finish the survey by April 12 will be entered into a drawing for a $200 Amazon gift card. To start the survey, click here.
- [Webinar to cover advantages of flexible scheduling](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/webinar-to-cover-advantages-of-flexible-scheduling/) - The New Jersey Department of Education on April 27 will present a 90-minute webinar on maximizing schedules to support learning acceleration. A panel of educators who already use flexible scheduling in their districts will share the benefits they’ve experienced and provide information on how to build this type of schedule. This New Jersey Partnership for
- [Weingarten addresses public education’s value, challenges](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2023/weingarten-addresses-public-educations-value-challenges/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten on March 28 delivered an address titled “In Defense of Public Education” that delved into such issues as gun violence, school voucher programs and culture wars. Here are select quotes from Weingarten’s address: • “Today we renew our call for common-sense gun safety legislation, including a ban on assault weapons. …
- [Now hear this: Teachers can win Music K-8 gift cards, subscriptions](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/now-hear-this-teachers-can-win-music-k-8-gift-cards-subscriptions/) - Ten music teachers will each receive a $200 gift card to Music K-8 and a one-year subscription to Music K-8 magazine through a program sponsored by Plank Road Publishing. Deadline for entries is March 29 at 11:59 p.m. CT. Winners will be announced April 5 on WeAreTeachers.com. For rules and to enter, click here.
- [Online discussion will explore first-gen student mentoring](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/online-discussion-will-explore-first-gen-student-mentoring/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education senior writer Katherine Mangan on March 28 as she hosts the virtual forum “Mentoring Programs for First-Gen Students.” Mangan and a panel of college mentoring experts will talk about how to establish an atmosphere that encourages mentoring bonds. The session starts at 2 p.m. ET on March 28. For more
- [Amplify Education rolls out literacy webinar series](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/amplify-education-rolls-out-literacy-webinar-series/) - For its spring 2023 webinar series, Amplify Education will present sessions designed to improve literacy instruction. Among the scheduled webinars: • March 24 at 1 p.m. ET: “Supplemental Reading Educator Roundtable” — hosted by literacy specialist Charissa Snyder and professional learning specialist Cynthia Shields • March 27 at 1 p.m. ET: “Literacy Is Opportunity” —
- [Spring issue of American Educator is now available](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/spring-issue-of-american-educator-is-now-available/) - The spring 2023 issue of AFT’s American Educator contains articles about rethinking STEM in elementary grades, reimagining school safety, incentivizing equity and more. To download the issue, click here.
- [Forum looks at role of university libraries](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/forum-looks-at-role-of-university-libraries/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education senior writer Scott Carlson on March 21 as he hosts the virtual forum “In Defense of Libraries.” Topics of discussion will include how librarians make the case for the library and how they align themselves with strategic goals of their institutions. The session begins at 2 p.m. ET on March
- [Rookie teacher shares coping methods for fellow newbies](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/rookie-teacher-shares-coping-methods-for-fellow-newbies/) - As she navigates her rookie year as a teacher, South Dakota’s Audra Lynam says she’s been in need of strategies that would “build up my stamina and resilience.” With fellow first-year teachers in mind, Lynam has written a column for Edutopia in which she offers five coping methods that have worked for her. Read Lynam’s
- [Faculty, union leaders take charge at Fund NJCU Rally](https://aftnj.org/topics/new-jersey-city-university/2023/faculty-union-leaders-take-charge-at-fund-njcu-rally/) - New Jersey City University faculty and students, along with labor leaders, members of various unions, elected officials and others, convened March 13 for the Fund NJCU Rally, presented by AFT Local 1839 inside the campus’ Gilligan Student Union Building. Here are excerpts from select rally speakers: “For 93 years, NJCU has provided tens of thousands
- [PAF’s Paradiso to Perth Amboy BOE: ‘Step up — or step aside’](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/pafs-paradiso-to-perth-amboy-boe-step-up-or-step-aside/) - The Perth Amboy Board of Education on March 9 held its first meeting since the stabbing of 11-year-old Smailyn Jimenez on Feb. 22 by a fellow Samuel E. Shull Middle School student and the subsequent community outcry about school safety. In an op-ed posted by Perth Amboy Now on March 11, Perth Amboy Federation President
- [How instructors can create an engaging atmosphere for all](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/how-instructors-can-create-an-engaging-atmosphere-for-all/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education senior writer Beckie Supiano on March 14 as she hosts the virtual forum “Lessons Learned From Re-engaging Students.” The session begins at 2 p.m. ET. For more information and to register, click here.
- [Biden’s FY24 budget requests $90B for Education Department](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/bidens-fy24-budget-requests-90b-for-education-department/) - In the U.S. government budget for fiscal year 2024, revealed March 9, President Joe Biden has requested $90 billion for the Department of Education, $10.8 billion more than the 2023 enacted level. Some of the investments within that $90 billion are: • $20.5 billion for Title I (a $2.2 billion increase above the 2023 enacted
- [AFT virtual phone bank targets debt ceiling](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/aft-virtual-phone-bank-targets-debt-ceiling/) - On March 9, the AFT will hold a National Day of Action virtual phone bank advocating for Congress to raise the debt ceiling. The member-to-member calls will be made from 4-5:45 p.m. ET. To volunteer, click here.
- [Learn more about ChatGPT and other AI tech](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/learn-more-about-chatgpt-and-other-ai-tech/) - Chronicle of Higher Education senior writer Beth McMurtrie will be the host of the virtual forum “ChatGPT and Other Cutting-Edge Learning Tech” on March 8. The session starts at 2 p.m. ET. For more info and to register, click here.
- [Murphy highlights K-12 funding in FY24 budget](https://aftnj.org/topics/new-jersey-department-of-education/2023/murphy-highlights-k-12-funding-in-fy24-budget/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on March 2 visited Montgomery Upper Middle School in Skillman to highlight K-12 school funding in his fiscal year 2024 budget, which he unveiled Feb. 28. “As I told New Jerseyans on Tuesday, this next New Jersey is going to be grounded on three central tenets: affordability, responsibility and opportunity,” Murphy said. “But
- [SML has resources for Women’s History Month](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/sml-has-resources-for-womens-history-month/) - March is Women’s History Month, and Share My Lesson has cross-curricular resources that illustrate the achievements of women throughout history in culture, civil rights and more. View the offerings here.
- [Hundreds gather for Take Back Rutgers rally on Newark campus](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2023/hundreds-gather-for-take-back-rutgers-rally-on-newark-campus-2/) - Like they did at their Dec. 6 rally in New Brunswick for new contracts, Rutgers University unions endured raw weather Feb. 28 for the centerpiece of their Take Back Rutgers actions on the Newark campus. Following the first of two scheduled indoor discussions about solidarity, an estimated 200 people gathered for an outdoor rally on
- [Perth Amboy Federation, citizens elevate call for school safety after Shull student is stabbed](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/perth-amboy-federation-citizens-elevate-call-for-school-safety-after-shull-student-is-stabbed/) - Nine days after Perth Amboy Federation members met to discuss safety concerns at Samuel E. Shull Middle School, 11-year-old Smailyn Jimenez was stabbed Feb. 22 by a fellow Shull student, prompting PAF to ramp up its efforts for change and accountability in the district. Perth Amboy authorities say the attack, which occurred while Jimenez was on his way
- [Virtual forum will cover faculty retirement landscape](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/virtual-forum-will-cover-faculty-retirement-landscape/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education editor Liz McMillen on March 2 for the virtual forum “The New Faculty Retirement Landscape.” Topics of discussion will include the current state of the faculty workforce and evolving retirement plans. This session starts at 2 p.m. ET on March 2. To register, click here.
- [Family Engagement Learning Series begins Feb. 28](https://aftnj.org/topics/mental-health/2023/family-engagement-learning-series-begins-feb-28/) - The U.S. Department of Education has teamed with Carnegie Corporation of New York and Overdeck Family Foundation to present the virtual Family Engagement Learning Series, which begins Feb. 28. “Research tells us that engaging families helps overcome obstacles to learning and that students are more apt to succeed in school when those closest to them are deeply
- [Murphy earmarks more funding for PreK expansion](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/murphy-earmarks-more-funding-for-prek-expansion/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Feb. 22 visited the Brooks Crossing school’s Deans Campus in Monmouth Junction to share details about additional funding to expand preschool in New Jersey. “So from the very beginning, I’m proud to say that our administration has held access to a good education as one of our core values,” Murphy began.
- [EES webinars aim to support after-school, summer learning](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/ees-webinars-aim-to-support-after-school-summer-learning/) - The Engage Every Student initiative is set to launch a webinar series on a range of topics to support engagement in high-quality after-school and summer learning opportunities for all students. The first session, taking place Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. ET, will focus on program funding (to register, click here). The second session, taking place
- [N.J. DOE to present session on group instruction in K-3 math](https://aftnj.org/topics/new-jersey-department-of-education/2023/n-j-doe-to-present-session-on-group-instruction-in-k-3-math/) - New Jersey math educators are welcome to sign up for the hourlong virtual learning session “Flexible Small Group Instruction in K-3 Mathematics,” taking place Feb. 23 at 3:15 p.m. Among the training objectives of the New Jersey Department of Education session are ways to effectively organize students into groups based on shared needs and offer
- [Murphy expands AP African American Studies in New Jersey](https://aftnj.org/topics/newark/2023/murphy-expands-ap-african-american-studies-in-new-jersey/) - Gov. Phil Murphy visited Newark’s Science Park High School on Feb. 14 to announce the expansion of Advanced Placement African American Studies classes in New Jersey. Now in the first stage of a two-year pilot program nationwide, the AP African American Studies class will be taught in 26 N.J. high schools in 2023-24, with Science Park
- [Perth Amboy Federation begins effort to improve Shull school's climate](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/perth-amboy-federation-begins-effort-to-improve-shull-schools-climate/) - About 20 Perth Amboy Federation members met Feb. 13 at Samuel E. Shull Middle School to discuss safety concerns and unruly student behavior in the building and ways in which to address these issues. The nearly hourlong afternoon meeting at Shull was led by PAF President Pat Paradiso, who was joined by district representative Lynn
- [Microsoft introduces Learning Accelerators](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/microsoft-introduces-learning-accelerators/) - At its Reimagine Education event on Feb. 9, Microsoft introduced a category of no-cost tools called Learning Accelerators that are part of Microsoft 365 Education. These tools are meant to “help support and streamline the creation, review, and analysis of student progress and development across academic subjects,” according to writer Paige Johnson. The Coach tools
- [AFT Local 4277, AFTNJ take action related to discharged TESU dean’s civil case](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/aft-local-4277-aftnj-take-action-related-to-discharged-tesu-deans-civil-case/) - A civil lawsuit filed Jan. 25 by former Thomas Edison State University employee Joseph Youngblood II against TESU, President Merodie Hancock and others has prompted AFT Local 4277 and AFTNJ to speak out in support of TESU’s AFT members, the school’s reputation and the legal process. In his suit, Youngblood alleges that over the course
- [SXSW EDU rolls out its Podcast Stage lineup](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/sxsw-edu-rolls-out-its-podcast-stage-lineup/) - “Tomorrow’s Principal” and “The Higher Ed Geek” will be among the podcasts featured March 6-9 as part of SXSW EDU’s Podcast Stage. To view the full lineup, click here.
- [Biden calls for teacher raises, preschool access in SOTU address](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/biden-calls-for-teacher-raises-preschool-access-in-sotu-address/) - President Joe Biden on Feb. 7 devoted about two minutes of his State of the Union address to a handful of education-related issues. “You know, when we made public education — 12 years of it — universal in the last century, we became the best-educated, best-paid nation in the world,” Biden said. “But the rest
- [Explore history of Valentine’s Day with SML](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/explore-history-of-valentines-day-with-sml/) - Let Share My Lesson serve as your platonic headquarters for curated Valentine’s Day activities and resources suitable for PreK-12 students. To view the options, click here.
- [Win a free trip to D.C. for AFT TEACH](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/win-a-free-trip-to-d-c-for-aft-teach/) - AFT educators who preregister for the Share My Lesson Virtual Conference (set for March 21-23) will be eligible to win one of three free trips to Washington, D.C., for AFT TEACH 2023 (taking place July 21-23). For more info and to enter, click here.
- [Virtual forum to cover campus mental health](https://aftnj.org/topics/mental-health/2023/virtual-forum-to-cover-campus-mental-health/) - Chronicle of Higher Education staff reporter Kate Hidalgo Bellows on Feb. 7 will host the virtual forum “A Holistic Approach to Campus Mental Health.” Bellows will be joined by mental health experts for a discussion on how all groups on campus can cultivate a culture of support and understanding. This virtual forum begins at 2
- [Lots of Black History Month resources are available for educators](https://aftnj.org/topics/black-history-month/2023/lots-of-black-history-month-resources-are-available-for-educators/) - AFT's Share My Lesson and the Library of Congress have Black History Month lesson plans, student guides and resources that are suitable for the classroom. View the Share My Lesson options here; check out the Library of Congress choices here.
- [Educators, students can groove to Stax music watching ‘Soul of America’ film](https://aftnj.org/topics/black-history-month/2023/educators-students-can-groove-to-stax-music-watching-soul-of-america-film/) - In celebration of Black History Month, the Soulsville Foundation on Feb. 3 will debut the film “Soul of America: The Evolution of Soulsville” online. Geared toward educators, students and schools, “Soul of America” is about the youth efforts to revitalize the neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee, known as Soulsville USA, where the legendary Stax Records and
- [AFT 1839 NJCU's Mooke is in tune with SXSW EDU](https://aftnj.org/topics/new-jersey-city-university/2023/aft-1839-njcus-mooke-is-in-tune-with-sxsw-edu/) - SXSW EDU 2023 recently rolled out its initial performance lineup, and among those scheduled to play in Austin, Texas, during early March is electric violist Martha Mooke, a member of AFT 1839 New Jersey City University. Mooke, a full-time professor at NJCU, will present “Igniting the Imagination: Music & Creative Process” on March 8 at the Austin Convention Center.
- [SML has Holocaust remembrance resources](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/sml-has-holocaust-remembrance-resources/) - International Holocaust Remembrance Day is Jan. 27, and Share My Lesson has a collection of teaching resources suitable for grades 6-12. View the offerings here.
- [Survey: Faculty, staff and student mental health on campus worsened during past year](https://aftnj.org/topics/mental-health/2023/survey-faculty-staff-and-student-mental-health-on-campus-worsened-during-past-year/) - More than 70 percent of surveyed National Association of Student Personnel Administrators members said campus mental health — faculty, staff and students — worsened over the past year. “College leaders increasingly acknowledge the critical need to address mental health on campus, especially as more students open up about their struggles with issues like anxiety and
- [Cardona address will cover his focus for 2023](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/cardona-address-will-cover-his-focus-for-2023/) - On Jan. 24, U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel A. Cardona will lay out his department’s focus for 2023 in an address titled “Raise the Bar: Lead the World.” He will also participate in a fireside chat with Nathan Monell, the executive director for the National Parent Teacher Association. The event begins at noon ET on
- [Murphy awaits bills to increase fiscal oversight in higher education](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/murphy-awaits-bills-to-increase-fiscal-oversight-in-higher-education/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Jan. 19 pledged his support for three bills aimed at ensuring fiscal accountability at New Jersey’s public colleges and universities. Those three bills are: • A4970/S3406: Requires public institutions of higher education to submit annual fiscal monitoring report; authorizes Secretary of Higher Education to appoint State monitor of these institutions • A4971/S3407: Requires
- [Use SML resources to teach about Lunar New Year](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/use-sml-resources-to-teach-about-lunar-new-year/) - Jan. 22 marks the beginning of Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year), and Share My Lesson has classroom resources that can be used to celebrate the Year of Rabbit. Among them are coloring printables and holiday cards from ABCmouse that are suitable for PreK children and K-2 students. Find all of the
- [Survey looks at schools’ struggles with student misbehavior](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/survey-looks-at-schools-struggles-with-student-misbehavior/) - About 75 percent of survey respondents said they felt stifled by a shortage of “alternative placements or programs” for students who are disruptive, according to data released this month by the School Pulse Panel. Responses to the survey, which focused on school safety and security personnel, came from more than 1,000 K-12 public schools nationwide
- [Webinar to cover indoor air quality in schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/webinar-to-cover-indoor-air-quality-in-schools/) - The AFT will be a co-host of an informational webinar Jan. 18 about indoor air quality in schools. During the hourlong session, the Department of Energy will present on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Renew America’s Schools grant, and partners will share key research on the impact of indoor air quality on health and education outcomes. They will
- [Everside Health to hold open houses in January](https://aftnj.org/topics/health-care/2023/everside-health-to-hold-open-houses-in-january/) - Learn about Everside Health’s care and services at two upcoming open houses: Jan. 18 from 4-7 p.m.Fair Lawn Health Center, 14-01 Broadway, Fair Lawn Jan. 25 from 5-8 p.m.Willingboro Health Center, 630 Beverly Rancocas Road, Willingboro Everside Health is another option of primary care AFTNJ members covered by the State Health Benefits Plan can take
- [AFT rolls out TEACH-ify webinar series](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/aft-rolls-out-teach-ify-webinar-series/) - The AFT’s Professional Learning program will launch its TEACH-ify: A Great Teaching Strategy Playlist webinar series on Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. ET. The purpose of these free Zoom sessions (one per month through May) is for AFT members to interact and discuss great teaching strategies for supporting K-12 students. For the complete playlist of
- [Visit SML for MLK resources](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/visit-sml-for-mlk-resources/) - Jan. 16 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Share My Lesson has curated resources suitable for PreK-12 students about the civil rights leader's life and legacy. To view the offerings, click here.
- [ChatGPT usage by students has educators talking](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/chatgpt-usage-by-students-has-educators-talking/) - Launched by OpenAI in late 2022, ChatGPT has been a hot topic of conversation lately nationwide in the education community regarding students’ usage of the software program in completing assignments. “ChatGPT will not displace the root motive for writing: our human capacity for questioning,” said Brett Vogelsinger, a ninth-grade English teacher in Pennsylvania, responding to an
- [Report: Nearly all apps used in schools expose student data](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/report-nearly-all-apps-used-in-schools-expose-student-data/) - About 96 percent of apps used by K-12 students in U.S. schools “share children’s personal information with third parties … typically without the knowledge or consent of the users or the schools, making them unsafe,” according to a recent report by the nonprofit Internet Safety Labs. More than a dozen New Jersey schools were among
- [ACE continues webinar series on faculty, staff burnout](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2023/ace-continues-webinar-series-on-faculty-staff-burnout/) - The American Council on Education will present “Faculty and Staff Burnout: What to Do About It, Part Two” on Jan. 18 at noon ET. Like the first session (held Nov. 2), this webinar is free and will be moderated by ACE research and practice director Hollie Chessman. Among the topics of discussion will be the
- [SML staff compiles list of 2022’s top resources](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/sml-staff-compiles-list-of-2022-top-resources/) - The Share My Lesson staff has put together a list of favorite resources from 2022. “Our 2022 story is a focus on diversity, a return to some classroom normalcy, a need for health and wellness for students and adults, a story of heartache and, for me, a story of joy,” writes Kelly Booz, who oversees
- [Watch for these K-12 tech trends in 2023](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/watch-for-these-k-12-tech-trends-in-2023/) - While K-12 schools integrated artificial intelligence, cloud technology and other technologies in 2022, “IT leaders and forward-thinking schools are taking it a step further in 2023,” writes Alexandra Frost for EdTech. Read her picks for what to watch in the new year by clicking here.
- [SML has winter-related learning covered](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/sml-has-winter-related-learning-covered/) - The first day of winter is Dec. 21, and Share My Lesson has curated PreK-12 activities and lessons related to this specific season. Among the options is a reading of “The Elves and the Shoemaker” with actress Chrissy Metz that is suitable for grades 1-3. View all of the offerings here.
- [Gehry siblings named SXSW EDU keynote speakers](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/gehry-siblings-named-sxsw-edu-keynote-speakers/) - Renowned architect Frank Gehry and his sister, California State Polytechnic University professor emerita Doreen Gehry Nelson, will participate in a keynote conversation during SXSW EDU 2023, taking place March 6-9 in Austin, Texas. For more on programming and registration, click here.
- [AFT extends Reading Opens the World campaign](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aft-extends-reading-opens-the-world-campaign/) - Having exceeded 1 million books distributed in 2022 as part of its Reading Opens the World initiative, the AFT on Dec. 10 said it plans to distribute another million books in 2023. “Reading is foundational,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten in a press release. “It is necessary for virtually everything we do—and for experiencing the joy of a great
- [NJ Spotlight to host roundtable on teacher shortage](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/nj-spotlight-to-host-roundtable-on-teacher-shortage/) - Join NJ Spotlight News’ John Mooney and Joanna Gagis on Dec. 15 as they moderate the virtual roundtable “Is Teaching in Trouble?” The event begins at 4 p.m. ET and will include academic leaders from around New Jersey. For more information and to register, click here.
- [Winter issue of American Educator now available](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/winter-issue-of-american-educator-now-available/) - Five educators share their experience with gun violence in “Too Many, Too Young,” the cover story for the latest issue of AFT’s American Educator. To download a copy, click here.
- [U.S. DOE begins initiative to enhance STEM](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/u-s-doe-begins-initiative-to-enhance-stem/) - The U.S. Department of Education on Dec. 7 launched the Raise the Bar: STEM Excellence for All Students Initiative. According to the U.S. DOE, the initiative is meant to “help implement and scale equitable, high-quality STEM education for all students from PreK to higher education — regardless of background.” “Research shows how a sense of
- [Solidarity aplenty in New Brunswick as Rutgers unions rally for fair contracts](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2022/solidarity-aplenty-in-new-brunswick-as-rutgers-unions-rally-for-fair-contracts/) - Undeterred by the steady rain, Rutgers University faculty, staff and students gathered Dec. 6 in New Brunswick for an outdoor rally to support Rutgers unions in their quests for fair contracts. The Hub City rally, one of three held around the same time at the other main Rutgers campuses, began at Voorhees Mall. Among the
- [AFT task force issues report on health worker shortage](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/aft-task-force-issues-report-on-health-worker-shortage/) - The AFT Healthcare Staffing Shortage Task Force recently issued a report as part of the union’s ongoing effort “to improve our nation’s healthcare system and the working conditions our members endure,” as stated in the report’s introduction. Among the components of the staffing shortage examined in the report are unsafe working conditions, inadequate compensation for
- [AFT, Shanker Institute sponsor Ukraine talk](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/aft-news/2022/aft-shanker-institute-sponsor-ukraine-talk/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten will be among the participants Dec. 8 in the virtual panel “AFT Solidarity With Ukraine.” Scheduled to join Weingarten for the panel are other AFT educators who accompanied her a few weeks ago to Lviv, Ukraine, to meet with educators, trade unionists and medical workers there who have been affected by
- [Arbitrator rules in favor of NTU in COVID quarantine grievance](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/arbitrator-rules-in-favor-of-ntu-in-covid-quarantine-grievance/) - The Newark Teachers Union (Local 481) scored a major victory Nov. 23 when arbitrator Robert C. Gifford ruled that Newark Public Schools must repay NTU members what the union estimates is about $1 million in salary and restore sick days with regard to COVID-related absences. The case started on Oct. 13, 2021, when the NTU filed
- [U.S. DOE seeks public comment on Stronger Connections FAQs](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/u-s-doe-seeks-public-comment-on-stronger-connections-faqs/) - Through Dec. 19, the U.S. Department of Education is seeking public comment on the draft FAQs related to the Stronger Connections grant program, which is part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Stronger Connections recognizes “that local evidence-based school safety and climate plans, along with other evidence-based strategies for creating safe, healthy and supportive schools,
- [Paradiso, Pereira join task force addressing N.J. teacher shortage](https://aftnj.org/topics/newark/2022/paradiso-pereira-join-task-force-addressing-n-j-teacher-shortage/) - Perth Amboy Federation President Pat Paradiso and Newark Teachers Union member Silvia Pereira will be the AFT representatives on the task force Gov. Phil Murphy established via executive order to address the teacher and support staff shortage in New Jersey’s public schools. “AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera recommended me for the task force, but I
- [SXSW EDU 2023 expands its lineup](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/sxsw-edu-2023-expands-its-lineup/) - More than 40 sessions were recently added to the lineup for SXSW EDU 2023, taking place March 6-9 in Austin, Texas. Along with those sessions came word of three new featured sessions. They include “Building Sustainable Early Childhood Education,” and among the scheduled speakers is Michelle Kang, CEO for the National Association for the Education
- [Murphy establishes teacher shortage task force](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/murphy-establishes-teacher-shortage-task-force/) - Gov. Phil Murphy recently signed Executive Order No. 309, which establishes a task force to address the shortage of K-12 teachers and education support professionals in New Jersey. Dennis Zeveloff, Murphy’s chief policy adviser, has been named the chair of the task force, which will include two AFT members. According to EO 309, all public
- [Registration is now open for ACE2023](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/registration-is-now-open-for-ace2023/) - Early bird registration is underway for ACE2023, the American Council on Education’s annual meeting, taking place in person April 13-15 in Washington, D.C. For more information and to take advantage of early bird pricing (which ends Jan. 26), click here.
- [Raise the Bar supports career-connected learning](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/raise-the-bar-supports-career-connected-learning/) - On Nov. 14, the U.S. Department of Education launched Raise the Bar: Unlocking Career Success, a Biden-Harris administration initiative supported by the Commerce and Labor departments designed “to strengthen the connection between K-12 education, postsecondary education and workforce programs,” according to the U.S. DOE. “It’s time we bridge the divide between our K-12 systems and
- [Interactive session covers how pandemic has affected special education](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/interactive-session-covers-how-pandemic-has-affected-special-education/) - Join Education Week staff members Nov. 16 for the virtual discussion “How Schools Are Helping Special Education Students Recover From the Pandemic.” This free interactive session begins at 2 p.m. ET. To register, click here.
- [Forum will explore practices for engaging students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/forum-will-explore-practices-for-engaging-students/) - Ian Wilhelm, assistant managing editor for The Chronicle of Higher Education, is set to host the virtual forum “How to Design Learning for Student Success” on Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. ET. Wilhelm and college leaders will discuss the trend of institutions turning to students for input about coursework, curricula and teaching styles. To register, click
- [Aoki to lead TeachRock class on growth mindset](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aoki-to-lead-teachrock-class-on-growth-mindset/) - DJ-producer Steve Aoki will discuss his experiences in the entertainment industry and share how he’s harnessed his creativity in the free course “Growth Mindset: Unlock Your Brain’s Neon Future,” taking place Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Created by the nonprofit educational resource TeachRock and hosted by Varsity Tutors, this 45-minute session is best suited
- [U.S. DOE’s ‘Raising the Bar’ series continues Nov. 10](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/u-s-does-raising-the-bar-series-continues-nov-10/) - In late October, the U.S. Department of Education launched its “Raising the Bar” literacy-math series to address academic recovery. Its next virtual session is set for Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. The topic for Nov. 10 is “Best Practices and Research on Rigorous Instruction for all Students in Literacy and Mathematics,” and key features will
- [County's plans for Middlesex College projects draw ire from Chiera, Local 1940's Payne](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/countys-plans-for-middlesex-college-projects-draw-ire-from-chiera-local-1940s-payne/) - Middlesex County’s Community, Innovation, and Opportunity Strategic Investment Plan, unveiled Nov. 1 at Middlesex College in Edison, has prompted stern reactions from AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera and Local 1940 AFT President Pat Payne. Middlesex College President Mark McCormick joined Gov. Phil Murphy and other New Jersey leaders for the rollout of the CIO plan,
- [Murphy expands access to STEM education](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/murphy-expands-access-to-stem-education/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Nov. 2 signed S2563, which amends the New Jersey Department of Education’s grant program for STEM teachers that he established in 2019. Sponsored by Senate Education Committee Chair Vin Gopal, state Sen. Shirley K. Turner and others, the legislation “expands the number of educators who are eligible to provide STEM instruction
- [Teaching materials aplenty for Native American Heritage Month](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/teaching-materials-aplenty-for-native-american-heritage-month/) - November is National Native American Heritage Month, and teaching materials from myriad sources can be accessed online for free. Among the options suitable for K-12 students are “American Indians: Primary Sources and Ready-to-Use Teaching Activities” from the National Archives and “Native Americans and the American Revolution: Choosing Sides” from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
- [New SML webinars explore games literacy and more](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/new-sml-webinars-explore-games-literacy-and-more/) - In collaboration with the Chicago Teachers Union Foundation’s Quest Center, AFT’s Share My Lesson will present new webinars in November that are designed to spark creativity and ingenuity among students. Those webinars are: • Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. ET: “More Than STEM: Minecraft As a Tool for Multidisciplinary Learning” • Nov. 9 at 6
- [Take students on a NASA virtual field trip](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/take-students-on-a-nasa-virtual-field-trip/) - K-12 students can learn about robotic spacecraft technology and much more through virtual field trips offered by the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center in Virginia. These virtual field trips, typically available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, involve hands-on activities and a Q&A session. They may be hosted by the visitor center on Microsoft Teams, or student groups
- [Create adventure games to teach literary analysis, narrative writing](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/create-adventure-games-to-teach-literary-analysis-narrative-writing/) - As a high school English teacher in South Carolina, Lauren Gehr knows all about the challenges that come with “creating rigorous, differentiated assessment methods” for writing instruction and literary analysis “that are also relevant and engaging to students.” Her advice: Have students create adventure games “where players can choose their own adventure with stories and
- [Education researchers break down emotion regulation strategies](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/education-researchers-break-down-emotion-regulation-strategies/) - Based on their review of current emotion regulation research, Yale Child Study Center’s Zi Jia Ng and Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence’s Jennifer Seibyl delve into the pros and cons of eight emotion regulation strategies in an article for EdSurge. Read it here.
- [Implementing culturally responsive pedagogy in the classroom](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/implementing-culturally-responsive-pedagogy-in-the-classroom/) - Writing for Edutopia, special education professor Lusa Lo presents six ways for teachers to ensure they are prepared “to teach and support students whose cultural linguistic backgrounds are different from theirs.” Read her article here.
- [Chronicle Festival to explore ideas shaping higher education](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/chronicle-festival-to-explore-ideas-shaping-higher-education/) - Join journalists from The Chronicle of Higher Education on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 for the Chronicle Festival. The first day of this virtual event will focus on ways to help students learn and succeed in their careers; the second day will cover how colleges can reconnect with their communities. To view the full agendas
- [Survey: Most Americans know very little about CRT](https://aftnj.org/topics/critical-race-theory/2022/survey-most-americans-know-very-little-about-crt/) - More than 35 percent of participants in a recent University of Southern California survey say they have never heard of critical race theory, and around the same amount say they only know a little about CRT. “Consistent with our findings of low levels of CRT knowledge, most subgroups showed neither majority support nor majority opposition
- [SML has resources for digital citizenship, safety](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/sml-has-resources-for-digital-citizenship-safety/) - Digital Citizenship Week is Oct. 17-21, and Share My Lesson has resources to assist students with fostering their own well-being, identifying misinformation and staying safe online. To view the offerings, click here.
- [Survey: Early childhood educators struggle with mental health, stress from staff shortages](https://aftnj.org/topics/mental-health/2022/survey-early-childhood-educators-struggle-with-mental-health-stress-from-staff-shortages/) - A U.S. survey by Teaching Strategies shows that 45 percent of early childhood educators struggle with mental health and burnout, while 43 percent report staffing shortages are affecting their stress level. The 2,300-plus respondents were also asked about professional development and career preparedness. For more, click here.
- [HPAE leads rally against union busting at Rutgers](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/aftnj-news/2022/hpae-leads-rally-against-union-busting-at-rutgers/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera, New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charlie Wowkanech and state Sen. Linda Greenstein were among the featured speakers Oct. 11 in New Brunswick at an outdoor rally organized by HPAE against union-busting actions by Rutgers University. HPAE President Debbie White set the tone for the speakers to follow by calling out
- [Murphy marks N.J.’s progress toward achieving universal access to free preschool](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/murphy-marks-n-j-s-progress-toward-achieving-universal-access-to-free-preschool/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Oct. 6 visited Betty McElmon Elementary School in West Long Branch to highlight his commitment to early education and the goal of providing universal preschool programs across New Jersey. “These children [at BME] are among the more than 2,100 three- and four-year-olds in 27 districts statewide who now have access to
- [NMAI program highlights indigenous voices in K-12](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/nmai-program-highlights-indigenous-voices-in-k-12/) - In celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day, the National Museum of the American Indian on Oct. 10 will present an online program highlighting native youth who incorporate indigenous voices into K-12 education and promote inclusive conversations in U.S. classrooms. The “Indigenous Peoples Day: Transformative Teaching” program is part of the NMAI’s Youth in Action: Conversations About
- [U.S. DOE to launch mental health learning series](https://aftnj.org/topics/health-care/2022/u-s-doe-to-launch-mental-health-learning-series/) - On Oct. 4, join the U.S. Department on Education for the start of a three-part series promoting mental health for students. According to the U.S. DOE, the series “will tackle pressing issues facing the field and will highlight ways to support student mental health, increase access to services and support the whole child.” The schedule is as
- [Learn best practices in moving forward with higher education](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/learn-best-practices-in-moving-forward-with-higher-education/) - Join The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Ian Wilhelm on Oct. 5 as he leads the virtual forum “Making Change in Higher Ed.” Wilhelm and a panel of experts will look into best practices for leading change at institutions of higher education to achieve such strategic goals as increasing enrollment and improving student success. The webinar
- [K-12 interest in NFT use is on the rise](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/k-12-interest-in-nft-use-is-on-the-rise/) - Nonfungible tokens are starting to find a place in K-12 environments, and in a story for EdTech, Erin Brereton takes a look and current and developing NFT applications for classroom use. Read more here.
- [Apply for NSHSS Educator of the Year Awards by Oct. 1](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/apply-for-nshss-educator-of-the-year-awards-by-oct-1/) - The National Society of High School Scholars is accepting applications through Oct. 1 for its Educator of the Year Awards. Candidates must be educators currently working within a public or private U.S. high school. The top recipient will receive $5,000, and nine finalists will get $1,000 each. For information about application requirements, click here.
- [AFT partner Hungry for Music makes a sound offer](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aft-partner-hungry-for-music-makes-a-sound-offer/) - Through Oct. 15, music teachers, social workers and paraprofessionals at Title I schools working in music or music therapy can put in an instrument request with AFT partner Hungry for Music to assist children unable to participate due to financial hardship. “We want to increase our outreach of supporting students in school and after-school programs
- [Leveraging student surveys to cultivate a better classroom](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/leveraging-student-surveys-to-cultivate-a-better-classroom/) - Veteran elementary school teacher Tara Olagaray uses surveys to learn more about her students, then subsequently makes adjustments “in the way information is shared in my classroom to become a more culturally responsive teacher.” “As I administer the survey, I assure students that their answers are confidential,” she writes for Edutopia. “I let my students
- [Chiera joins Menendez, Pascrell in Garfield for recap of CARES, ARP use in N.J. schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/chiera-joins-menendez-pascrell-in-garfield-for-recap-of-cares-arp-use-in-n-j-schools/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera joined U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell and others Sept. 19 at Thomas Jefferson School No. 9 in Garfield to see how federal funds have been put to use in the district during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Today is a proud moment,” said Menendez, who visited a class in
- [Fall issue of AFT’s American Educator now available](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2022/fall-issue-of-afts-american-educator-now-available/) - An interview with Rutgers AAUP-AFT President Rebecca K. Givan and others about why elections matter in education is featured in the fall 2022 edition of AFT’s American Educator. To download a copy, click here.
- [Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in the classroom](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/celebrating-hispanic-heritage-month-in-the-classroom/) - National Hispanic Heritage Month is underway, and Edutopia’s Hedreich Nichols shares ways in which educators can celebrate in the classroom with music, arts and more. Read her column here.
- [AFT, other unions attend rally in Trenton opposing planned increases to health insurance](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/aftnj-news/2022/aft-other-unions-attend-rally-in-trenton-opposing-planned-increases-to-health-insurance-2/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera joined AFT members from around the state Sept. 13 for a mass union rally in Trenton opposing proposed increases to health care costs for public employees. Among the speakers during the hour-plus event outside the New Jersey State House Annex was HPAE Local 5089 President Banita Herndon, who led a
- [Murphy signs bills to reduce N.J. students' food insecurities](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/murphy-signs-bills-to-reduce-n-j-students-food-insecurities/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Sept. 9 signed two bills that address food-insecurity issues for New Jersey students. A2368 requires schools to provide free breakfasts and lunches to students from working-class, middle-income families, while A2365 requires the development of promotional materials for educating parents and guardians about existing and expanding school meal program options. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate Majority
- [Kamenetz sees ‘chance for recovery’ during 2022-23 school year](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/kamenetz-sees-chance-for-recovery-during-2022-23-school-year/) - In an interview about her new book, “The Stolen Year: How COVID Changed Children’s Lives, and Where We Go Now,” education reporter Anya Kamenetz says she thinks it’s possible for 2022-23 to be the first post-COVID year. “But in order for that to happen, we need to be clear-eyed about what has already happened,” she tells
- [Virtual forum will address strain on college students’ mental health](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/virtual-forum-will-address-strain-on-college-students-mental-health/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education staff reporter Kate Hidalgo Bellows and others Sept. 7 for the virtual forum “Trends in College Students’ Mental Health.” Topics will include the looming effects of COVID-19 on the mental health crisis and the future of mental health services on campus. The session begins at 2 p.m. ET on Sept.
- [School climates are key to students reporting potential threats](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/school-climates-are-key-to-students-reporting-potential-threats/) - Having strong relationships between school personnel and students “are essential to building trust and robust reporting cultures” when it comes to disclosing potential threats in K-12 schools, a RAND Corp. study reveals. Among the recommendations in “Supporting Individual Willingness to Report School Safety Concerns”: Increase opportunities for teachers and staff to interact informally with groups
- [Murphy earmarks $6.5M in ARP funds for school safety initiative](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/murphy-earmarks-6-5m-in-arp-funds-for-school-safety-initiative/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Aug. 30 revealed details to use $6.5 million in remaining American Rescue Plan funds to outfit about 1,500 school buildings around New Jersey with mapping technology that can assist first responders during emergencies. “An important part of school safety is ensuring that first responders have the tools they need to answer
- [Free copies available of The Week Junior](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/free-copies-available-of-the-week-junior/) - Teachers of students ages 8-14 can request a free copy of The Week Junior, a magazine with news, ideas, puzzles, activities and more. For more information, click here.
- [Kapwing offers free subscriptions to its video editing software](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/kapwing-offers-free-subscriptions-to-its-video-editing-software/) - Educators and students can sign up for free subscriptions to browser-based video editing software from Kapwing, a video editing service that supports a nonlinear workflow. The software works on Chromebooks and other platforms. To learn more about what Kapwing for Education has to offer, click here.
- [Share My Lesson has ideas for teaching the civil rights movement](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/share-my-lesson-has-ideas-for-teaching-the-civil-rights-movement/) - Celebrate the 59th anniversary of the March on Washington (Aug. 28) with more than 80 Share My Lesson resources about the civil rights movement. View the options here.
- [Goal of Hawkins program is to diversify teacher workforce](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2022/goal-of-hawkins-program-is-to-diversify-teacher-workforce/) - The U.S. Department of Education on Aug. 19 revealed an $8 million grant competition meant to increase the diversity of the teacher workforce. The Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence program will support comprehensive, high-quality teacher preparation programs at historically black colleges and universities, minority-serving institutions, and tribal colleges and universities, per a U.S. DOE
- [N.J.’s tax-free period for back-to-school supplies begins Aug. 27](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/n-j-s-tax-free-period-for-back-to-school-supplies-begins-aug-27/) - As per Gov. Phil Murphy’s announcement in late June, New Jersey’s tax-free period for back-to-school supplies starts Aug. 27. Pens, notebooks, computers, sports equipment and bicycle helmets are among the items that can be purchased in person or online starting that day and through Sept. 5 sans the state’s sales tax. On a related note,
- [AFTNJ 2022 Leadership Conference recap](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aftnj-2022-leadership-conference-recap/) - Under the theme Stronger Unions, Stronger Voices, AFTNJ local presidents and members of their leadership teams gathered Aug. 17 in East Brunswick for this year’s leadership conference to expand their knowledge of union-related procedures and actions. Following introductory remarks by AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera, attendees were presented with a series of workshops led by
- [Report: Educators dealt with job stress, harassment over politicized issues](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/report-educators-dealt-with-job-stress-harassment-over-politicized-issues/) - About 40 percent of K-12 public teachers “reported that the intrusion of political issues and opinions into their professions was a job-related stressor,” according to the recent Rand Corp. report “Walking a Fine Line — Educators’ Views on Politicized Topics in Schooling.” Among the report's other key findings: • 54 percent of K-12 educators surveyed
- [Murphy signs EO to end routine COVID-19 testing for school districts, state workers](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/murphy-signs-eo-to-end-routine-covid-19-testing-for-school-districts-state-workers/) - Effective Aug. 15, New Jersey school districts and child care settings no longer need to maintain a policy that requires their unvaccinated workers undergo routine COVID-19 testing, per an executive order from Gov. Phil Murphy. “Today’s executive order follows guidance from public health officials at the CDC regarding responsible steps states can take as we
- [Forum to explore importance of communications, creativity in higher education curriculum](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/forum-to-explore-importance-of-communications-creativity-in-higher-education-curriculum/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education senior writer Beckie Supiano on Aug. 17 for the virtual forum “Lessons in Creativity and Communications.” Supiano and the panelists will discuss the ways in which higher education leaders are integrating communications and creativity into their curriculum. The 75-minute session begins at 2 p.m. ET. For more info and to
- [Apply for AAUW gender equity grant through Dec. 1](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/apply-for-aauw-gender-equity-grant-through-dec-1/) - Individuals and organizations with programs that promote equity and education for girls and women have until Dec. 1 to apply for the American Association of University Women’s Community Action Grant program. For more information and to apply, click here.
- [GFT’s Garcia, Garfield High students complete art project for hospital](https://aftnj.org/topics/garfield/2022/gfts-garcia-garfield-high-students-complete-art-project-for-hospital/) - The end of a school year is a busy time for Garfield High School’s art teachers, says Garfield Federation of Teachers member Michael Garcia, one of the fine arts department’s three educators. With that in mind, Garcia initially didn’t think he could take on a project that was proposed in the spring by fellow Garfield
- [Google rolls out Classroom add-ons](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/google-rolls-out-classroom-add-ons/) - This month, Google launched its Classroom add-ons feature, which allows subscribers to access 18 ed tech tools, among them BookWidgets, EdPuzzle, PBS LearningMedia and WeVideo. The Journal’s Kristal Kuykendall has more.
- [Teachers can reward students with CritterCoin NFTs](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/teachers-can-reward-students-with-crittercoin-nfts/) - By using CritterCoin, schools can create their own systems that allow teachers to reward students with digital coins and non-fungible tokens for exhibiting desired behaviors. CritterCoin “is free for schools and teachers forever,” according to its website, with premium features available for a monthly fee. For more information and to register a school, click here.
- [Webinar has classroom tools for mental health discussions](https://aftnj.org/topics/mental-health/2022/webinar-has-classroom-tools-for-mental-health-discussions/) - Discover resources for discussing mental health and wellness with students by attending the Share My Lesson webinar “Mental Health in the Classroom” on Aug. 4. This hourlong session is free and is suitable for grades 1-8. For more information and to register, click here.
- [Chiera requests $100M in ARP funds for N.J. higher education](https://aftnj.org/topics/bloomfield-college/2022/chiera-requests-100m-in-arp-funds-for-n-j-higher-education/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera has asked that $100 million in American Rescue Plan funds be allocated “to shore up New Jersey’s higher education system.” She made her detailed request Aug. 2 during an ARP virtual hearing with Gov. Phil Murphy’s office. Chiera, the hearing’s fifth speaker, opened by saying many of New Jersey’s public
- [Apply by Aug. 15 for chance at NSHSS diversity grants](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2022/apply-by-aug-15-for-chance-at-nshss-diversity-grants/) - The National Society of High School Scholars is accepting applications for its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Teaching Grant program through Aug. 15. Any high school teacher currently employed at a U.S. public high school is eligible. Recipients of the five $1,500 awards may use the funds for supplies, field trips and other resources. For
- [Mastery learning can accelerate learning recovery, teacher survey says](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/mastery-learning-can-accelerate-learning-recovery-teacher-survey-says/) - Nearly 85 percent of teachers “believe mastery learning can help address learning loss from the pandemic,” according to a new nationally representative survey from Khan Academy, a nonprofit providing free education resources. “Mastery can play a critical role in recovery,” says Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy. “It allows teachers to personalize learning so that each
- [CUPA-HR: Higher education faces crisis in retaining talent](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/cupa-hr-higher-education-faces-crisis-in-retaining-talent/) - About 57 percent of the higher education workforce is at least somewhat likely to look into other employment opportunities during the next 12 months, according to a new employee retention survey from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. “The most common reason for seeking other employment (provided by three-fourths of those likely
- [SML sets up a cinematic summer](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/sml-sets-up-a-cinematic-summer/) - Share My Lesson has a curated collection of summer movies for children with resources to help avoid the “summer slide.” Among the lessons is “Summer of Soul: 1969, A Unique Year,” which focuses on the acclaimed “Summer of Soul,” a documentary about the long-forgotten Harlem Cultural Festival in New York starring Stevie Wonder, B.B. King,
- [New U.S. DOE resources provide schools with support for students with disabilities](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/new-u-s-doe-guidance-resources-provide-schools-with-support-for-students-with-disabilities/) - On July 19, the U.S. Department of Education issued guidance and resources designed to help public elementary and secondary schools “fulfill their responsibilities to meet the needs of students with disabilities and avoid the discriminatory use of student discipline,” per a U.S. DOE press release. “The guidance we’re releasing today will help ensure that students
- [AFT report: Supporting diversity, mentorship could revitalize educator, school staff pipeline](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aft-report-supporting-diversity-mentorship-could-revitalize-educator-school-staff-pipeline/) - Developing a federal Diverse Teacher Corps fund/grant and maintaining state-funded support for mentorship programs are among the AFT Teacher and School Staff Shortage Task Force's recommended implementation strategies for revitalizing the educator and school staff pipeline. In its July report — officially named “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?” — the task force also offers strategies for
- [GAO updates Cardona on its priority open recommendations](https://aftnj.org/topics/mental-health/2022/gao-updates-cardona-on-its-priority-open-recommendations/) - The U.S. Government Accountability Office recently sent a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel A. Cardona with an update on its priority open recommendations for the U.S. Department of Education. As of the June 28 letter (made available to the public in early July), the GAO had five priority recommendations that fall into two
- [Read Not Guess provides instruction, encouragement](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/read-not-guess-provides-instruction-encouragement/) - When Chad Aldeman realized this spring that his 8-year-old son would guess when encountering unfamiliar words while reading, the Georgetown University education researcher came up with Read Not Guess. It’s a 30-day summer reading challenge “to help parents get their kids ready to start the next school year strong,” Aldeman writes for The 74. From
- [Black, special ed students received ‘exclusionary discipline’ during pandemic, study shows](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/black-special-ed-students-received-exclusionary-discipline-during-pandemic-study-shows/) - With most students in virtual classroom during the 2020-21 school year, suspensions declined, “yet African American students and students with disabilities disproportionately received exclusionary discipline,” writes New York University’s Dr. Richard O. Welsh in a recently released study. “In 2021–22, suspensions seem to be on the rise as educators grapple with stress accompanying the return
- [AFT survey: 2021-22 was one of the worst years for PreK-12 teachers, staff](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aft-survey-2021-22-was-one-of-the-worst-years-for-prek-12-teachers-staff/) - More than 70 percent of AFT members who participated in a recent Hart Research Associates-AFT survey described the 2021-22 academic year as one of the worst for PreK-12 teachers and staff. Interviews were conducted June 17-21 with 2,379 AFT members. Other key findings: • 60 percent said they probably will stay or definitely will stay
- [Win tickets to ‘Hamilton’ through SML](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/win-tickets-to-hamilton-through-sml/) - As part of its Summer of Learning 2022 series, Share My Lesson is giving away three grand-prize packages to see “Hamilton” at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York. The entry deadline for the "Hamilton" and the Big Apple Educator Sweepstakes is Aug. 5; the prize drawing will occur Aug. 10. For more info, contest
- [NCES: Student, teacher absenteeism rose in 2021-22](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/nces-student-teacher-absenteeism-rose-in-2021-22/) - Around 40 percent of schools experienced an increase in chronic absenteeism among their students in 2021-22, and about half of schools said teacher absenteeism went up during that academic year, reports The Washington Post’s Donna St. George, citing recent government data. Collected by the National Center for Education Statistics, the data in the 2022 School
- [NPSS will expand tutoring and mentoring](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/npss-will-expand-tutoring-and-mentoring/) - On July 5, the Biden administration, the U.S. Department of Education and others launched the National Partnership for Student Success to provide students with more tutors and mentors, according to a White House press release. “America’s students are on average two to four months behind in reading and math because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the
- [NAMI to use survey results for second book](https://aftnj.org/topics/mental-health/2022/nami-to-use-survey-results-for-second-book/) - The National Alliance on Mental Illness will use answers from its latest survey for a second edition of “You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health,” which will focus on navigating the mental health needs of children and teens. The AFT is asking its members to complete the NAMI survey by July
- [Education Summit ’22 begins July 28](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/education-summit-22-begins-july-28/) - Join faculty and administrators July 28-29 for Course Hero's virtual Education Summit ’22, a deep dive into the latest in learning and pedagogy. For more information and to register for free, click here.
- [Share My Lesson launches its Summer of Learning](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/share-my-lesson-launches-its-summer-of-learning/) - The Share My Lesson team worked earlier this year with its leading partners to create content intended to refresh and inspire AFT members during the summer months. SML’s free Summer of Learning offerings include the webinars “Missing Migration Narratives in American History” on July 26, “Podcast-Inspired, Solutions-Driven Climate Education” on July 27 and “Managing the
- [N.J. DOE offers online safety tips, resources](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/n-j-doe-offers-online-safety-tips-resources/) - The New Jersey Department of Education has issued the two-page flyer “Keeping Children and Youth Safe While Connected,” which contains online safety tips, toll-free hotlines and other resources. To download, click here.
- [Advisory council aims to lift voices of Latino education leaders](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/advisory-council-aims-to-lift-voices-of-latino-education-leaders/) - The nonprofit Latinos for Education recently launched a six-member advisory council “to lift up the voices and efforts of seasoned, Latino education leaders” as well as “influence conversations and actions around increasing educator diversity at the state and national level,” according to its website. “We know that we are not alone in our efforts to
- [Webinar to cover how educators navigate free speech issues](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/webinar-to-cover-how-educators-navigate-free-speech-issues/) - Join Education Week’s Holly Kurtz on June 29 as she moderates the webinar “Future of the First Amendment: Exploring Trends in High School Students’ Views of Free Speech.” Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions relevant to their own experiences in districts and schools. The hourlong webinar begins at 2 p.m. ET on June
- [NMAI teacher workshop covers Pamunkey Indian tribe](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/nmai-teacher-workshop-covers-pamunkey-indian-tribe/) - “Life Along the River: The Pamunkey Indian Tribe of Virginia,” a two-part online workshop for fourth- and fifth-grade teachers, begins June 28 at 4 p.m. ET. Presented by the National Museum of the American Indian, this workshop — in which participants will explore materials for appropriate teaching of Pamunkey history — meets social studies and
- [Forum explores challenges of supporting college students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/forum-explores-challenges-of-supporting-college-students/) - Join national experts and college leaders June 27 as they share stories of success and thoughts for the future in the virtual forum “Encouraging Student Persistence,” presented by The Chronicle of Higher Education. The session begins at 2 p.m. ET. To register, click here.
- [AFT’s LGBTQIA+ task force to hold inaugural meeting in NYC](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/afts-lgbtqia-task-force-to-hold-inaugural-meeting-in-nyc/) - 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
- [KFT’s Bellitto lands speaking engagement in Rome](https://aftnj.org/topics/kean-university/2022/kfts-bellitto-lands-speaking-engagement-in-rome/) - 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
- [U.S. DOE shines spotlight on AFT-supported Red Hawks Rising](https://aftnj.org/topics/montclair-state-university/2022/u-s-doe-shines-spotlight-on-aft-supported-red-hawks-rising/) - 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
- [AAUP votes to affiliate with AFT](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2022/aaup-votes-to-affiliate-with-aft/) - On June 18, delegates to the biennial meeting of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) voted to affiliate with the AFT, creating the largest alliance of higher education faculty members in the country. “This partnership is game-changing for the promise and potential of higher education,” AFT President Randi Weingarten said in a press release.
- [Webinar to explore lifelong learning’s future](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/webinar-to-explore-lifelong-learnings-future/) - Join The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Ian Wilhelm and a panel of experts June 22 for the webinar “The Future of Lifelong Learning.” Wilhelm and the panelists will look at how the pandemic is changing lifelong learning and how higher education is supporting these programs. The session begins at 2 p.m. ET. To register, click
- [NJCIE Inclusion Leadership Conference is June 28](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2022/njcie-inclusion-leadership-conference-is-june-28/) - 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
- [Poll: K-12, higher ed are the industries with highest burnout rate](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/poll-k-12-higher-ed-are-the-industries-with-highest-burnout-rate/) - 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
- [New U.S. DOE council connects families, schools to meet students’ needs](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/new-u-s-doe-council-connects-families-schools-to-meet-students-needs/) - 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
- [SML has Juneteenth teaching resources](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/sml-has-juneteenth-teaching-resources/) - Lessons on the Reconstruction era and how to teach the 15th Amendment are among Share My Lesson’s nearly 50 resources related to Juneteenth. To view the collection, click here.
- [Speeches by Chiera and others energize MFOL Newark](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/speeches-by-chiera-and-others-energize-mfol-newark/) - 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
- [AAC&U, PEN America speak out against bills restricting teaching, learning](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aacu-pen-america-speak-out-against-bills-restricting-teaching-learning/) - 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
- [Virtual panel to discuss future of campus libraries](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/virtual-panel-to-discuss-future-of-campus-libraries/) - Join Scott Carlson, a senior writer with The Chronicle of Higher Education, on June 13 for the virtual panel discussion “The Future of Academic Libraries.” Carlson and the panelists will discuss how libraries have adapted to change and evolved to serve institutional and student needs. The panel begins at 2 p.m. ET. To register, click here.
- [NCES plans innovations for NAEP](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/nces-plans-innovations-for-naep/) - Starting in 2024, the National Center for Education Statistics will administer the National Assessment of Education Progress online. Students will have the ability to test on any device in 2026, and adaptive testing will be implemented in 2028. K-12 Dive’s Naaz Modan has more.
- [NJTSS has a good read on the summer ahead](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/njtss-has-a-good-read-on-the-summer-ahead/) - “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
- [Vachon co-writes piece for American Educator](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/vachon-co-writes-piece-for-american-educator/) - 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
- [Webinar has support strategies for educators, students in aftermath of gun violence](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/webinar-has-support-strategies-for-educators-students-in-aftermath-of-gun-violence/) - On June 8, join AFT President Randi Weingarten, two of the cofounders of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence and others for the free Share My Lesson webinar “After the Shootings: How to Help Our Kids and Ourselves.” The hourlong session begins at 6:30 p.m. ET. For more information and to register, click here.
- [Deadline for AFT Pride of the Union Award entries is June 30](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/deadline-for-aft-pride-of-the-union-award-entries-is-june-30/) - AFT locals meeting certain membership criteria have until June 30 to apply for the Pride of the Union Awards, which will be presented during this year’s AFT convention, taking place July 14-17 in Boston. Applicants must meet one of the following three requirements: • Membership is at a level of 90 percent or more of
- [Starting salary for Newark teachers raised to $62K](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/starting-salary-for-newark-teachers-raised-to-62k/) - The Newark Board of Education and the Newark Teachers Union recently agreed to raise the district’s starting salary for new teachers to $62,000 per year. “While teacher shortages across the nation have been exacerbated by the global pandemic, we in Newark are leveraging multiple strategies to attract and retain great teachers,” Newark superintendent Roger León said
- [March for Our Lives is taking action across N.J.](https://aftnj.org/topics/mental-health/2022/march-for-our-lives-is-taking-action-across-n-j/) - The anti-gun violence organization March for Our Lives will conduct a march June 3 in Montclair, followed by several across New Jersey on June 11 in conjunction with a centerpiece march that day in Washington, D.C., and others around the country. Here are the details for the New Jersey events (schedule subject to change): June
- [AFT has five virtual student debt clinics in June](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aft-has-five-virtual-student-debt-clinics-in-june/) - The AFT will present five virtual student debt clinics in June, starting with a June 2 session from 7-8:30 p.m. ET. Subsequent 90-minute sessions will be held June 9, 16, 23 and 30, all starting at 7 p.m. These student debt clinics are free; click here to register.
- [Virtual option available for Visible Learning Conference](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/virtual-option-available-for-visible-learning-conference/) - This year’s Visible Learning Conference is set for July 25-28 in Aurora, Colorado, with virtual sessions being offered July 26-27. Among the scheduled speakers are San Diego State University professor Dr. Nancy Frey and veteran educator Sonja Hollins-Alexander. To view all registration options, click here.
- [Report: Higher education enrollment declines again](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/report-higher-education-enrollment-declines-again/) - Higher education’s total enrollment for the spring 2022 semester fell 4.1 percent (685,000 students) compared to spring 2021, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. “Following a 3.5 percent drop last spring, postsecondary institutions have lost nearly 1.3 million students since spring 2020,” the research center wrote in a May 26 post on its
- [Tips for choosing digital education tools](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/tips-for-choosing-digital-education-tools/) - As a former math teacher, Stephanie Eaton knows that most educators “want to be great teachers, not IT experts.” With that in mind, Eaton — who now develops virtual curricula for Proximity Learning — shares tips for choosing digital tools and more in an article for SmartBrief.
- [Share My Lesson has Memorial Day resources](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/share-my-lesson-has-memorial-day-resources/) - An interview with Peter McDonnell, a code talker during World War II, is among the Memorial Day-themed K-12 resources available through AFT’s Share My Lesson. To view all options, click here.
- [Virtual forum looks at shifting education landscape](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/virtual-forum-looks-at-shifting-education-landscape/) - Join The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Goldie Blumenstyk and a panel of experts May 25 for the virtual forum “The Changing Higher-Ed Ecosystem.” Topics of discussion will include the potential impact of growing competitors to traditional college programs and how new innovations will affect students. The session begins at 2 p.m. ET on May 25.
- [Murphy touts PSLF program’s availability, expanded eligibility](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/murphy-touts-pslf-programs-availability-expanded-eligibility/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on May 23 led a roundtable discussion about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, describing it as “a gem, but in many cases, a hidden gem.” The PSLF program, Murphy explained, “allows people working throughout the public or nonprofit sectors to have that service credited against their outstanding federal student loans.
- [NTU’s Snowden is set for honor at Princeton commencement](https://aftnj.org/topics/newark/2022/ntus-snowden-is-set-for-honor-at-princeton-commencement/) - Newark Teachers Union member Lee Snowden, who teaches at the city’s University High School, will be honored May 24 as one of four Princeton Prize for Distinguished Secondary School Teaching recipients during Princeton University’s 2022 commencement. “It is truly an honor to be recognized for the great work that is happening at University High School,” Snowden
- [AAUP issues latest survey of tenure practices](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2022/aaup-issues-latest-survey-of-tenure-practices/) - In its 2022 survey of tenure practices, the American Association of University Professors says that 82.3 percent of colleges permit faculty members to extend their probationary period prior to being awarded tenure — a practice known as “stopping the tenure clock.” “Of those that offer policies to stop the tenure clock, 92.5 percent make the option
- [Activities for closing out the school year](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/activities-for-closing-out-the-school-year/) - Writing thank-you notes to someone in their school and creating “vision boards” are two year-end activities for students to help them “acknowledge and celebrate the growth they have made while also setting goals for the future,” writes special education math teacher Rachel Fuhrman for Edutopia. Read more about these and other activities Fuhrman recommends here.
- [Cardona, Marten set to speak at U.S. DOE virtual summit](https://aftnj.org/topics/mental-health/2022/cardona-marten-set-to-speak-at-u-s-doe-virtual-summit/) - U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona will deliver the opening remarks during a May 23 virtual summit about ways in which schools and colleges can support mental health needs and students with disabilities. “As communities and our country heal and recover, it’s important to acknowledge that our students with disabilities have faced unique
- [GAO report looks at teachers’ efforts to mitigate pandemic learning loss](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/gao-report-looks-at-teachers-efforts-to-mitigate-pandemic-learning-loss/) - During the 2020-21 school year, about 60 percent of K-12 teachers in a virtual environment “had students who had more difficulty understanding lessons than in a typical year, compared to 37 percent of teachers in an in-person environment,” according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Here are other key findings in the GAO’s report, which
- [Notable changes proposed for school buses](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/notable-changes-proposed-for-school-buses/) - The New Jersey Assembly's Transportation Committee on May 12 released A1282, which would require the Department of Environmental Protection to develop and implement an electric school bus program. In other bus-related developments, Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on May 11 unveiled a proposal to allow the use of federal E-Rate funding for Wi-Fi in school
- [N.J. DOE to present mental health webinar series](https://aftnj.org/topics/mental-health/2022/n-j-doe-to-present-mental-health-webinar-series/) - On May 24, the New Jersey Department of Education will launch a six-part mental health webinar series, which is meant to build upon what’s available in the New Jersey Comprehensive School-Based Mental Health Resource Guide. The initial session is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. on May 24; register online by visiting the N.J. DOE’s
- [AFT joins coalition that’s fighting book bans](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aft-joins-coalition-thats-fighting-book-bans/) - The AFT has teamed up with the American Library Association and other organizations, among them major publishers, to create Unite Against Book Bans. The coalition offers an action toolkit online for amplifying and supporting the campaign that has information on contacting elected officials and media, how to create and circulate a petition, social media resources
- [Watch SML reading webinars for chance at gift cards](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/watch-sml-reading-webinars-for-chance-at-gift-cards/) - Teacher Appreciation Week 2022 officially wrapped up several days ago, but the celebration will continue into early June for select viewers who take part in Share My Lesson’s next three Reading Opens the World seminars. The AFT will randomly choose participants who attend the free live webinars on May 19, May 26 and June 2
- [Try these moves to cultivate independent, questioning thinkers](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/try-these-moves-to-cultivate-independent-questioning-thinkers/) - Empowering students “so that their minds and hearts become the engines that drive learning in our classrooms” is one thing, but giving “too much voice and choice without proper scaffolds” can lead to chaos, writes teacher and educational consultant Paul Emerich France for Edutopia. To cultivate learner agency in the classroom, France suggests trying these
- [Guidance for students’ phone usage in class](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/guidance-for-students-phone-usage-in-class/) - When Tom Harrison purchased a cellphone for his 11-year-old daughter, he put in place rules regarding usage and approved content. He subsequently switched gears, drawing from his research in the field of digital character and values education: “I found that rule-based educational strategies might help my daughter survive in the digital world, but I needed
- [NLGA to award STEM scholarships this summer](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/nlga-to-award-stem-scholarships-this-summer/) - The National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) is now accepting applications for its first STEM Scholarship Program. The NLGA will award up to $1,000 to 12 schools in 12 states and territories to support STEM-related programming, projects, equipment, curriculum and other endeavors. Funding will be awarded directly to schools in summer 2022, with receipt of the
- [RAISE Act would provide tax refunds for educators](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/raise-act-would-provide-tax-refunds-for-educators/) - The Respect, Advancement, and Increasing Support for Educators Act of 2022 (RAISE), recently introduced by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker on behalf of himself, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and others, would provide all eligible early childhood and K-12 educators with a $1,000 refundable tax credit, regardless of the poverty level in the school in which they
- [Local 1940 AFT, Middlesex College students engulf Chambers Hall for informational picket](https://aftnj.org/topics/middlesex-college/2022/local-1940-aft-middlesex-college-students-engulf-chambers-hall-for-informational-picket/) - About 100 Middlesex College full-time faculty, staff and students on May 3 participated in a Local 1940 AFT-led informational picket on the Edison campus in and around Chambers Hall. The event served to put a spotlight on Local 1940 AFT’s two-year quest for a new contract. Sign-toting participants walked outside and through Chambers Hall, then
- [AFT has resources for Mental Health Awareness Month](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aft-has-resources-for-mental-health-awareness-month/) - May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and AFT’s Share My Lesson has nearly 50 resources suitable for PreK-12 students and teachers. To view the offerings, click here.
- [AFT Summer Educator Academy set for July 19-28](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aft-summer-educator-academy-set-for-july-19-28/) - Registration is open for AFT’s Summer Educator Academy 2022, taking place July 19-28 at the Maritime Conference Center in Linthicum Heights, Maryland. As described by the AFT, the summer academy “provides teachers and school support staff with tools, resources and turnkey strategies they can use to help build the professional capacity of their local unions —
- [Tips to control digital distraction in class](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/tips-to-control-digital-distraction-in-class/) - Fourth-grade teacher Justine Hitchcock has witnessed students treating their iPads as if the devices were “an extension of their own arms.” “They seem lost without their devices next to them,” Hitchcock writes for The Educator’s Room. “When it’s there, they can’t help but open it and begin to aimlessly scroll through apps, pages and photos,
- [Turn classroom walls into informative spaces](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/turn-classroom-walls-into-informative-spaces/) - Writing for Edutopia, New Orleans special education math teacher Rachel Fuhrman shares four essentials “that help me make the most of my classroom walls in a way that feels authentic and reflects my students.” Read her story here.
- [These study skills can help teens to learn](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/these-study-skills-can-help-teens-to-learn/) - According to brain scientists, students are in the best place to take in information “if they work in what’s known as the flow state,” writes Hank Pellissier for The 74. “This mindset is reached when their consciousness is fully ‘in the zone,’ entirely focused on activities they find so pleasurable that time flies and all
- [Brookdale adjuncts spread the word about their contract struggles](https://aftnj.org/topics/brookdale-community-college/2022/brookdale-adjuncts-spread-the-word-about-their-contract-struggles/) - The Brookdale Adjunct Faculty Chapter of AFT Local 2222 gathered April 26 near Brookdale Community College’s Bankier Library to engage with students and ask them to support the school’s adjunct professors in their quest for a first contract. BAFC Acting President Joan Carroll and Negotiations Chair Jim Schmitt were joined by AFTNJ President Donna M.
- [Legal weed in N.J. creates quandary for students, schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/legal-weed-in-n-j-creates-quandary-for-students-schools/) - By Donna M. Chiera / AFTNJ President On Nov. 3, 2020, New Jersey residents voted to legalize marijuana, and it took until April 21, 2022, for the first recreational dispensaries to open in the state. So much has happened during the 17 months in between, notably the heated debates about tax rates, governing boards and
- [White House issues guide identifying school infrastructure resources](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/white-house-issues-guide-identifying-school-infrastructure-resources/) - To support the best use of federal funds for school infrastructure needs, the White House recently issued a tool kit that reviews the resources available to local and state agencies. The guide’s section on key tools and resources has information related to indoor air quality, energy efficiency, lead removal and more. To download the guide,
- [Local 1940 AFT members have their say at Middlesex County board meeting](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/local-1940-aft-members-have-their-say-at-middlesex-county-board-meeting/) - On April 21, about 70 members of Middlesex College’s full-time faculty, along with some current students, attended the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners meeting in New Brunswick to support Local 1940 AFT as it continues its efforts for a new contract. Sheema Majiduddin, a counselor at Middlesex College, was the first in a long line
- [Spring issue of AFT Health Care available now](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/spring-issue-of-aft-health-care-available-now/) - In the latest issue of AFT Health Care, Rutgers AAUP-AFT President Rebecca K. Givan writes about improving patients’ care and workers’ conditions. To download the issue, click here.
- [Cardona provides road map for conquering educational challenges](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/cardona-provides-road-map-for-conquering-educational-challenges/) - While acknowledging that the collective effort to address educational disparities throughout the pandemic “has been nothing short of inspiring,” U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona realizes more work needs to done and that “this next chapter in our country’s education history must dwarf those efforts.” In a recent column for EdSurge, Dr. Cardona
- [Virtual conference on school safety begins April 22](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/virtual-conference-on-school-safety-begins-april-22/) - The Harvard Kennedy School’s Taubman Center for State and Local Government will present “A Safe Place to Learn: A Virtual Conference Series on School Safety” from April 22 through June 3. “As students have returned to in-person learning following the COVID-19 pandemic, school staff are now reporting dramatic spikes in physical assaults and mental health
- [Apply for Voya Unsung Heroes grants by April 30](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/apply-for-voya-unsung-heroes-grants-by-april-30/) - All K-12 education professionals employed by an accredited U.S. public school are eligible to apply online for the Voya Unsung Heroes awards program. According to sponsor Voya Financial, each of the 50 finalists will receive an award of $2,000, which “must be used to further the projects within the school or school system.” (Previous Voya
- [Pedagogy gets an assist from technology](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/pedagogy-gets-an-assist-from-technology/) - Over the course of the pandemic, educators’ comfort level in teaching with technology “got a little bit better,” says Jennifer Hall, an educational technology specialist for Atlanta Public Schools, in a story by EdTech’s Erin Brereton. At the same time, the ways in which students learned about new concepts has expanded, says Monica Burns, an
- [New Zoom functions fulfill educators’ requests](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/new-zoom-functions-fulfill-educators-requests/) - Zoom recently introduced a handful of features in response to feedback from educators. Virtual background and blur are now available for Chromebook users, and content with audio can be shared in Zoom Breakout Rooms. For more on these and other new Zoom features, click here.
- [PEN America conducts formal count of school book bans](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/pen-america-conducts-formal-count-of-school-book-bans/) - Responding to the recent surge in book bans in public schools, the New York-headquartered PEN America has collated an Index of School Book Bans. According to PEN America’s website, this index reflects the decisions to ban books in classrooms and school libraries across the country from July 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022. In an
- [Executive officers, VPs elected at AFTNJ 2022 Convention](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/executive-officers-vps-elected-at-aftnj-2022-convention/) - Donna M. Chiera on April 9 was reelected as AFTNJ president at the AFTNJ 2022 Convention in East Brunswick. As for the other AFTNJ executive officers: Dr. Susanna Tardi was reelected as executive vice president/higher education, Pat Paradiso was elected executive vice president/prekindergarten to 12, Leigh-Anne Cobb was elected as secretary, and Jennifer S. Higgins
- [N.J. DOE: Absenteeism increased in 2020-21](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/n-j-doe-absenteeism-increased-in-2020-21/) - Chronic student absenteeism — defined as when an individual misses at least 10 percent of school days — was 13 percent in 2020-21, according to the latest School Performance Reports released by the New Jersey Department of Education. In 2018-19, the last school year when chronic absenteeism was reported, the figure was 11 percent. New
- [Strategies for promoting student wellness](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/strategies-for-promoting-student-wellness/) - Joe Shim, a sixth-grade teacher in California, has come up with three strategies for student wellness that he says are “a valued part of my routine to lessen stress and anxiety and promote positivity and mental well-being for everyone. “Having students who are kinder to each other leads to less conflict in the classroom, resulting
- [Weingarten visits displaced Ukrainian teachers, students in Poland](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/weingarten-visits-displaced-ukrainian-teachers-students-in-poland/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten recently visited three schools in Warsaw, Poland, and met with teachers, students and parents from Ukraine. “The Ukrainian teachers really want to go back home,” Weingarten told Education Week. “And many of the kids really want to be back home.” She added, “The [Ukrainian] kids spoke very good English. And one
- [NTU’s Lagasca receives Milken Educator Award](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/ntus-lagasca-receives-milken-educator-award/) - Sarah Mae Lagasca, a Newark Teachers Union member who teaches music at the city’s Arts High School, on April 1 received a $25,000 Milken Educator Award. On hand for the surprise ceremony were Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, New Jersey’s acting commissioner of education, and Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president for the Milken Educator Awards. “Sarah
- [Gender curbed chances at promotion, say 28 percent of female faculty, staff](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2022/gender-curbed-chances-at-promotion-say-28-percent-of-female-faculty-staff/) - Interviews conducted by Gallup in October 2021 with 10,000-plus active female faculty and staff members nationwide show that 28 percent of all participants feel they were passed over for a promotion based on gender. Broken down by race/ethnicity, 33 percent of Hispanic female faculty and staff say they were passed over due to gender, followed
- [Amos Lee offers teachers free tickets to his concerts](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/amos-lee-offers-teachers-free-tickets-to-his-concerts/) - Singer-songwriter Amos Lee, who years ago was a public school teacher in Philadelphia, is offering a “Tickets for Teachers” giveaway at each stop of his U.S. tour, which begins April 8. Lee is asking students, parents, colleagues and community members to nominate teachers in their area who made a positive impact on them during the
- [Developing students’ academic skills with podcasts](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/developing-students-academic-skills-with-podcasts/) - Podcasts are a good way for students to “develop skills from in-depth research and narrative building to technical know-how and project planning, experts suggest,” writes Lauren Barack for K-12 Dive. “And while these skills can help students in their academic pursuits,” adds Barack, “they can continue to serve learners when they graduate, grow up and
- [Marten, Ingram salute ARP's mark on education in joint Newark visit](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/marten-ingram-salute-arps-mark-on-education-in-joint-newark-visit/) - U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten and AFT Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram visited Newark’s Oliver Street School on March 29 to highlight how American Rescue Plan funds have been implemented in the city’s public schools. “Right here in your school district, you’ve used these ARP funds to provide extra tutoring to students, and that’s accelerating learning, and
- [Carr: NAEP scores likely to drop](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/carr-naep-scores-likely-to-drop/) - Peggy Carr, the commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, is anticipating a drop in National Assessment of Educational Progress scores as fourth- and eighth-grade students take national math and reading tests for the first time in the COVID-19 pandemic era. “The likelihood that the scores would be anything but down is pretty small,” Carr said
- [Biden breaks down his FY2023 budget](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/biden-breaks-down-his-fy2023-budget/) - President Joe Biden held a press conference March 28 to discuss his U.S. budget for fiscal year 2023, one that he says values fiscal responsibility, safety and security, and “investments needed to build a better America.” In terms of education, Biden said, “Let’s provide universal preschool, cap the cost of child care at 7 percent
- [Weingarten, Ingram tapped for bargaining-table program](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/weingarten-ingram-tapped-for-bargaining-table-program/) - Join AFT President Randi Weingarten, Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram and others April 1 for the virtual program “Working for the Common Good at the Bargaining Table and Beyond,” which begins at 11 a.m. The four-hour session will be moderated by Mary Cathryn Ricker, executive director for the Albert Shanker Institute. To register, click here.
- [Report: Mental health is big concern for 2022-23 K-12 school year](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/report-mental-health-is-big-concern-for-2022-23-k-12-school-year/) - Recent research by Rave Mobile Safety has found that student, faculty and staff mental health is a major concern heading into the 2022-23 K-12 school year. Based on the responses of more than 800 K-12 and higher education professionals, other issues for 2022-23 include staff retention, bullying/cyberbullying and crime. “Though COVID-19 will have a lesser
- [‘New normal’ can mean making better versions of ourselves](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/new-normal-can-mean-making-better-versions-of-ourselves/) - By Robert Barbier The HPAE-AFT “Moving Forward. Getting Stronger.” workshop series, designed to meet the mental health needs of our members and conducted by the presentation faculty of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, began this month. One of its coping-resiliency sessions was held March 16, and the opening question posed by workshop host
- [Spring issue of American Educator now available](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/spring-issue-of-american-educator-now-available/) - Articles about building a more supportive education system and preventing the spread of white nationalism in schools can be found in the spring 2022 edition of AFT’s American Educator. To download the issue, click here.
- [Cardona aims to ‘bring people together around education’](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/cardona-aims-to-bring-people-together-around-education/) - The work ahead for the U.S. Department of Education “is going to get different,” said Education Secretary Dr. Miguel A. Cardona in a recent interview with K-12 Dive. By that, Dr. Cardona means a shift from educators’ “heroic work” during the pandemic “to transformative change, to innovation, to really boldly addressing inequities.” “And the challenges
- [Access SXSW EDU 2022 content via the After Pass](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/access-sxsw-edu-2022-content-via-the-after-pass/) - This year’s SXSW EDU is in the books, but access to the content is available for online viewing through April 17 via the After Pass. For $69, the SXSW EDU After Pass allows access to all keynote and featured sessions, 40-plus sessions accredited for continuing professional education credit and much more. (SXSW EDU 2022 and
- [Panelists to discuss future of grading, assessment](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/panelists-to-discuss-future-of-grading-assessment/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education senior writers Beth McMurtie and Beckie Supiano on March 25 for the virtual discussion “Talking About Teaching: The Future of Grading and Assessment.” They’ll be joined by three panelists to answer questions about using proctoring software, better ways to evaluate student learning beyond tests and more. To register for the
- [Share My Lesson keynote to feature Run-DMC legend](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/aftnj-news/2022/share-my-lesson-keynote-to-feature-run-dmc-legend/) - Join Run-DMC co-founder Darryl McDaniels and Nickelodeon’s Makeda Mays Green on March 22 for an online discussion about how spoken-word, interactive media content can be an asset to educators. This Share My Lesson Virtual Conference keynote session is free and available for one hour of PD credit. To register for this session, which begins at 6
- [Tips for inspiring, motivating math students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/tips-for-inspiring-motivating-math-students/) - Flexibility and encouraging fun are among “the essential components of excellence in teaching math,” writes Ranjani Iyer, a high school math teacher, in a recent column for Edutopia. With that in mind, Iyer has put together five strategies she’s used to encourage her students to learn math more effectively. Read about them here.
- [AFTNJ releases 2022-24 sample ballot](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aftnj-releases-2022-24-sample-ballot/) - Voting for 29 AFTNJ positions will take place at the AFTNJ 2022 Convention on April 9 by registered delegates in accordance with the AFTNJ constitution. The 2022-24 sample ballot will be distributed to delegates in their packets by March 26. The uncontested elections are for President, Treasurer, Secretary and the entire Vice Presidents/PreK-12 slate. The
- [CSxFE awards nomination deadline is March 18](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/csxfe-awards-nomination-deadline-is-march-18/) - The nomination deadline for the National Community Schools & Family Engagement Conference Awards, previously March 4, has been extended to March 18 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The award categories are: Community Schools Initiative Leadership, Educator Leadership, Coordinator Leadership, Civic Engagement & Service, Family Engagement District Leadership, and Youth Leadership. Attending the CSxFE conference June 1-3
- [NTU thanks its members with pizza party](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/ntu-thanks-its-members-with-pizza-party/) - The Newark Teachers Union expressed appreciation for the pandemic-era work of its educators and support staff by sponsoring a district-wide pizza party March 9-11. More than 1,000 pizzas from neighborhood pizzerias were delivered to Newark’s public schools, among them the Ann Street Annex (above), during staff lunch hours over the course of the three-day celebration.
- [AFTNJ sets legislative conference schedule, opens registration](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aftnj-sets-convention-agenda-opens-registration/) - Registration is underway for the AFTNJ 2022 Conference on April 9. AFT members and AFT retirees in good standing can register for free here.(There will be a $15 surcharge per guest to offset food and beverage costs.) Registration deadline is April 4 at 5 p.m. ET. The legislative schedule for the event is as follows
- [RPPL examines teacher professional learning myths, truths](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/rppl-examines-teacher-professional-learning-myths-truths/) - In a recent report, the Research Partnership for Professional Learning evaluates common claims about teacher professional learning against research evidence. “Our examination of the research found that, too often, commonly held beliefs about PL were not supported by research findings,” write the report’s three authors in the overview. “We noted anecdotal perceptions that did not
- [Murphy delivers FY23 budget address](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/murphy-delivers-fy23-budget-address/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on March 8 delivered his fiscal year 2023 budget address in Trenton, and education was a recurring theme. Here are highlights from Murphy’s address: • “This budget dedicates roughly 24 percent of its total expenditures to direct aid to education. There are not many states in America that can say that. It
- [AFT and AAUP pursue affiliation to unify faculty voice, advance higher ed](https://aftnj.org/topics/aaup/2022/aft-and-aaup-pursue-affiliation-to-unify-faculty-voice-advance-higher-ed/) - By unanimous vote March 6, the respective governing councils of the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors have agreed to join forces. Pending approval in June by the respective delegate assemblies, the affiliation agreement will bring together more than 300,000 faculty members between the two organizations. “The AFT and AAUP
- [Teacher Quality Partnership grant program seeks to boost educator pipeline, diversity](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/teacher-quality-partnership-grant-program-seeks-to-boost-educator-pipeline-diversity/) - The U.S. Department of Education has issued a notice inviting applications for fiscal year 2022 for the Teacher Quality Partnership program, which will award $35 million to boost teacher preparation programs at the undergraduate or “fifth year” level. “Across the country, we must continue the necessary work of developing a strong, diverse educator workforce for
- [HPAE aims to address the well-being of all workers](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/hpae-aims-to-address-the-well-being-of-all-workers/) - The Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) and the AFT have joined forces to provide virtual emotional-support workshops for workers from all industries. “Too often we focus on the physical ailments associated with COVID-19 and fail to address the emotional and mental strain the virus has had on everyone’s well-being,” said HPAE President Debbie White.
- [Webinar covers how to teach media literacy](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/webinar-covers-how-to-teach-media-literacy/) - Join AFT President Randi Weingarten and NewsGuard co-CEO Steven Brill on March 3 for the media literacy discussion “Countering Misinformation in the Classroom.” Participants will learn about the misinformation trends NewsGuard’s analysts are encountering and the tactics educators can use in the classroom to counter these trends. This hourlong Q&A-style session, to be moderated by
- [AFT’s Share My Lesson has Women’s History Month resources](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/afts-share-my-lesson-has-womens-history-month-resources/) - More than 80 resources related to Women’s History Month are available via AFT’s Share My Lesson, with offerings about Kamala Harris and Aretha Franklin among the choices. Browse the full menu here.
- [University financial oversight takes center stage at latest NJHELC-OSHE meeting](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/university-financial-oversight-takes-center-stage-at-latest-njhelc-oshe-meeting/) - The New Jersey Higher Education Leadership Council on Feb. 25 held its first virtual meeting of 2022 with New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Brian Bridges. On the agenda were pandemic-related safety requirements, funding priorities for the 2022-23 budget and the development of a statewide higher education priority-hiring process for layoff victims, but the
- [Art educators share positive experiences from pandemic-era remote teaching](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/art-educators-share-positive-experiences-from-pandemic-era-remote-teaching/) - Throughout the pandemic, art classes have been “a welcome escape” for some students, while for others, they’ve been “a critical release — an opportunity for self-expression at a time of extreme stress and isolation,” writes Daniel Lempres for EdSurge. “At the forefront are art teachers themselves, who juggle these competing perspectives as they help guide students
- [N.J. DOH issues updated COVID-19 guidance for K-12 schools, child care settings](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/n-j-doh-issues-updated-covid-19-guidance-for-k-12-schools-child-care-settings/) - With the school masking mandate set to expire March 7, the New Jersey Department of Health on Feb. 22 updated its public health guidance for K-12 schools and child care settings. “While masks will not be required by the state, they remain an important part of a layered approach against COVID-19 and are recommended in
- [JeopardyLabs appeals to teachers, younger students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/jeopardylabs-appeals-to-teachers-younger-students/) - Taking its cue from TV’s “Jeopardy!”, JeopardyLabs is a free, online quiz-style game that appeals to younger students as well as teachers, writes Luke Edwards for Tech & Learning. Find out more about how it can be used for teaching here.
- [Tips for teaching novels to resistant readers](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/tips-for-teaching-novels-to-resistant-readers/) - In trying to teach her students “to read great novels while providing lessons that are accessible to [everyone], including those who appear unwilling to read,” high school teacher Ileana Sherry began following a method that allows all “to access the learning regardless of the page number they reach,” she writes for Edutopia. For her five ways to enhance
- [U.S. DOE seeks CGSA program applications](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/u-s-doe-seeks-cgsa-program-applications/) - The U.S. Department of Education has started the application process for the Competitive Grants for State Assessments program. The purpose of the program is to enhance the quality of state assessment systems so they “better reflect the needs and experiences of our nation’s students and communities,” writes Donald Peasley, who leads the assessment team in the department’s
- [AFT Local 1796 issues response to WP professor's anti-union rhetoric](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aft-local-1796-issues-response-to-wp-professors-anti-union-rhetoric/) - A recent online editorial by William Paterson University associate professor Colleen P. Eren — in which she claimed her union contract’s seniority clause that relates to layoffs is “irrational and unjust” — has prompted a detailed response from AFT Local 1796’s executive board. In her piece “Amid Layoffs, Union Contracts Force Public Colleges to Ignore Merit,” Eren
- [Most Photographed Places in Western Europe](https://aftnj.org/topics/europe/2022/most-photographed-places-in-western-europe/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [18 Cities in America that Feel Like Europe](https://aftnj.org/topics/europe/2022/18-cities-in-america-that-feel-like-europe/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [Tips for Celebrating Christmas in Europe](https://aftnj.org/topics/budget/budget-travel/2022/tips-for-celebrating-christmas-in-europe/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [The Beginner’s Guide to Train Travel in Europe](https://aftnj.org/topics/europe/2022/the-beginners-guide-to-train-travel-in-europe/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [The Top Things to Do in San Francisco with Kids](https://aftnj.org/topics/america/2022/the-top-things-to-do-in-san-francisco-with-kids/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [10 Things to Do in Los Angeles (That Aren’t the Hollywood Sign)](https://aftnj.org/topics/america/2022/10-things-to-do-in-los-angeles-that-arent-the-hollywood-sign/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [The Ultimate South America Travel Guide](https://aftnj.org/topics/america/2022/the-ultimate-south-america-travel-guide/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [The Ultimate Guide to Working Holiday Visas in Australia](https://aftnj.org/topics/australia/2022/the-ultimate-guide-to-working-holiday-visas-in-australia/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [15 Easy Tracks for a Beginner That Wants to Go Hiking Alone](https://aftnj.org/topics/australia/2022/15-easy-tracks-for-a-beginner-that-wants-to-go-hiking-alone/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [How Not to Get Lost in a Foreign Country](https://aftnj.org/topics/australia/2022/how-not-to-get-lost-in-a-foreign-country/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [How to Live like a Local in Any Foreign Country](https://aftnj.org/topics/australia/2022/how-to-live-like-a-local-in-any-foreign-country/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [The Best Destinations for Solo Travel](https://aftnj.org/topics/asia/2022/the-best-destinations-for-solo-travel/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [The Best Places to Visit with Children](https://aftnj.org/topics/asia/2022/the-best-places-to-visit-with-children/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [10 Safest Destinations for Solo Female Travelers](https://aftnj.org/topics/asia/2022/10-safest-destinations-for-solo-female-travelers/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [How to Spend a Perfect Weekend in Asia Together](https://aftnj.org/topics/asia/2022/how-to-spend-a-perfect-weekend-in-asia-together/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [The Best Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast](https://aftnj.org/topics/africa/2022/the-best-things-to-do-on-the-amalfi-coast/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [10 Tips for Taking Your First Solo Trip](https://aftnj.org/topics/africa/2022/10-tips-for-taking-your-first-solo-trip/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [10 Things to Do When the Weather Is Awful on Your Trip](https://aftnj.org/topics/africa/2022/10-things-to-do-when-the-weather-is-awful-on-your-trip/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [15 Most Amazing & Beautiful Towns from All Around the World](https://aftnj.org/topics/africa/2022/15-most-amazing-beautiful-towns-from-all-around-the-world/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [Teach media literacy with NewsGuard resources](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/teach-media-literacy-with-newsguard-resources/) - Through AFT’s educational partnership with NewsGuard, Share My Lesson now has media literacy resources suitable for students in grades 6-12. Among the free offerings are a NewsGuard fact sheet, a media literacy guide for educators and a vaccine misinformation quiz. For more, click here.
- [An Amazing Guide for All Outdoor Enthusiasts](https://aftnj.org/topics/america/2022/an-amazing-guide-for-all-outdoor-enthusiasts/) - Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec sagittis aliquam malesuada bibendum. At risus viverra adipiscing at in tellus. Duis at tellus
- [Weingarten visits Newark, awards AFT stipends to students in teacher academy](https://aftnj.org/topics/montclair-state-university/2022/weingarten-visits-newark-awards-aft-stipends-to-students-in-teacher-academy/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten visited Newark’s East Side High School on Feb. 14 to deliver news that the union will be issuing spring and summer stipends of $1,200 and $2,500, respectively, to each student in the school district’s AFT-supported dual-enrollment teacher academy program. “We want to make sure that you can dream your dreams and
- [Survey: Mental health of teachers, students among district leaders’ top concerns](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/survey-mental-health-of-teachers-students-among-district-leaders-top-concerns/) - A RAND Corp. survey released this month has found that as of November 2021, the top three concerns of 359 district leaders in the American School District Panel were the mental health of students, teachers and principals, respectively, write study co-authors Melissa Kay Diliberti and Heather L. Schwartz. Another key finding: Three-quarters of district leaders said
- [Meeting series offers best practices for higher ed professionals](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/meeting-series-offers-best-practices-for-higher-ed-professionals/) - The recently launched For Your Institution is a virtual event series intended to assist collegiate professionals with navigating the higher education landscape. Sessions began Feb. 1, and they will be held every other Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET into early December. On Feb. 15, the student engagement experts at Mongoose, which makes conversational software exclusively
- [Deadline for final round of RRR grants is March 13](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/deadline-for-final-round-of-rrr-grants-is-march-13/) - Applications for the final round of Return, Recover and Reimagine grants for the 2021-22 school year is March 13 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Priority will be given to locals that have not received an AFT Innovation Fund pandemic grant. Proposals can include projects focused on strategies to boost literacy, social and emotional learning strategies and
- [Share My Lesson has Valentine’s Day resources](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/share-my-lesson-has-valentines-day-resources/) - AFT’s Share My Lesson has more than 20 Valentine’s Day-related resources for K-12 students. Among them is a reading of “Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch” by actor Hector Elizondo that’s suitable for grades 2-4. See the full list of options here.
- [HELU winter summit set for Feb. 23-27](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/helu-winter-summit-set-for-feb-23-27/) - Higher Education Labor United will present its winter summit online from Feb. 23-27. The summit will focus on three core tasks. One is coordinating the surge of higher education worker organizing across the country. Another is developing federal policy proposals to reverse trends that have damaged higher education in recent decades. And the third will
- [Complexity of teaching about slavery, race reflected in new poll](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/complexity-of-teaching-about-slavery-race-reflected-in-new-poll/) - In the latest Mood of the Nation poll, “90 percent believe that schools have a responsibility to teach about slavery. That group is split, however, on whether contemporary racial issues should be taught,” write American Public Media Research Lab’s Elisabeth Gawthrop and Craig Helmstetter. Among the other key findings: 66 percent of Republicans believe that
- [Murphy: School mask mandate to end March 7](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/murphy-school-mask-mandate-to-end-march-7/) - Citing a continuing drop in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the omicron variant, Gov. Phil Murphy on Feb. 7 said that the statewide school mask mandate will come to an end March 7. “Masking continues to be an important tool to prevent the spread of COVID; it should be used in many circumstances,”
- [Survey: About half of teachers have footed the bill for classroom ed tech](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/survey-about-half-of-teachers-have-footed-the-bill-for-classroom-ed-tech/) - Close to 50 percent of teachers have personally paid for classroom education-technology lessons and units, while 21 percent say they’ve never used their own money to purchase ed tech for their students, according to a recent EdWeek Market Brief survey. “It’s unclear whether the [846] survey respondents were purchasing these products from an approved list or
- [NCES survey looks at black teachers’ background, school settings](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/nces-survey-looks-at-black-teachers-background-school-settings/) - “Black or African American Teachers: Background and School Settings in 2017-18,” a National Center for Education Statistics survey released online Feb. 3, contained the following findings: Three percent of black or African American teachers in public schools, compared with 29 percent of all public school teachers, were in schools with zero to 24 percent minority
- [AFTNJ Convention is set for April 9 in East Brunswick](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aftnj-convention-is-set-for-april-9-in-east-brunswick/) - The 2022 AFTNJ Convention will take place April 9 from 9-11 a.m. at the Hilton East Brunswick, 3 Tower Center Blvd. in East Brunswick. Nomination Process of Executive Officers and Vice Presidents At the Delegate Assembly meeting held Jan. 31, 2022, the body approved a recommendation put forth by the election committee to suspend the
- [Ingram’s thoughts turn to economic inequity in schools as Black History Month begins](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/ingrams-thoughts-turn-to-economic-inequity-in-schools-as-black-history-month-begins/) - Along with the excellence celebrated during Black History Month, there is also a need for “recognizing the inequity of our history, and changing its trajectory for the better,” writes AFT Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick C. Ingram in a guest blog posted Feb. 1 on the Albert Shanker Institute’s website. He describes school finance as “one of the most
- [Registration is underway for ICTCM 2022](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/registration-is-underway-for-ictcm-2022/) - The 2022 edition of the International Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics will be held virtually March 14, followed by in-person sessions March 24-26 in Orlando, Fla. For more information and to register, click here.
- [Use sounds and visuals to get students’ attention](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/use-sounds-and-visuals-to-get-students-attention/) - A quick flash of the lights and playing a sound effect are two of the attention-getting strategies New Orleans special education teacher Rachel Fuhrman recommends for the classroom in lieu of raising one's voice. For more on these tips along with other audio and visual suggestions, read her Edutopia column here.
- [Cardona outlines his vision for education system](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/cardona-outlines-his-vision-for-education-system/) - In a Jan. 27 speech, U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel A. Cardona spoke in detail about his vision for education in America. Here are some highlights from his speech: • “First, we must make sure our students thrive during, and as we recover from, the pandemic. As I noted earlier, safely reopening schools is the
- [Using Wordle in the classroom](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/using-wordle-in-the-classroom/) - Wordle, a free, browser-based grid word game, can be "used in the classroom to great effect,” writes journalist and educator Erik Ofgang for Tech & Learning. In his story, Ofgang explains how to play Wordle, as well as incorporates the Wordle experiences of school librarian Esther Keller with students at her school in Brooklyn, N.Y.
- [Survey: U.S. parents give top marks to teachers, public schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/survey-u-s-parents-give-top-marks-to-teachers-public-schools/) - A recent national survey by Hart Research Associates and Lake Research Partners shows that 78 percent of parents feel that the quality and performance of their children’s teachers is excellent or good. The survey was conducted online Dec. 15-22, 2021, with 1,308 public school parents who are registered to vote. Among the other findings: 72
- [Virtual talk looks at COVID’s impact on men attending college](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/virtual-talk-looks-at-covids-impact-on-men-attending-college/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education reporter Sarah Brown and Harvard University’s Anthony Jack on Jan. 27 for “The COVID Crisis: Helping First-Gen Men,” a virtual discussion about why fewer men are attending college. The event takes place at 2 p.m. ET on Jan. 27. For more information and to register, click here.
- [New Share My Lesson webinar series tied to AFT’s literacy campaign](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/new-share-my-lesson-webinar-series-tied-to-afts-literacy-campaign/) - The AFT literacy campaign Reading Opens the World has a companion Share My Lesson webinar series that begins Jan. 27 and runs through late April. These webinars are available for one hour of professional development credit. Each session is grounded in the science of reading and is taught by an AFT national trainer. The focus of
- [SXSW EDU registration rate is about to increase](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/sxsw-edu-registration-rate-is-about-to-increase/) - SXSW EDU 2022 is set for March 7-10 in Austin, Texas, as a hybrid event, and the next registration rate increase for online passes and in-person badges is Jan. 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Current prices are $189 (online pass) and $525 (badge). To register and to check out this year's SXSW EDU sessions, speakers
- [Panelists will discuss cybersecurity threats to hybrid campus](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/panelists-will-discuss-cybersecurity-threats-to-hybrid-campus/) - Join a panel of higher education technology experts Jan. 26 for a virtual discussion about cybersecurity threats to college and university campuses. “Cybersecurity Innovations: Addressing the Threats Impacting the Hybrid Campus,” a Chronicle of Higher Education webinar, begins at 2 p.m. ET on Jan. 26. To register, click here.
- [Malinowski hears from AFTNJ, HPAE leaders about COVID concerns](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/malinowski-hears-from-aftnj-hpae-leaders-about-covid-concerns/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera and HPAE Vice President Barbara Rosen were among the participants in a Jan. 24 virtual roundtable with U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski about COVID-related challenges and strategies. Rosen spoke first and delved into staffing shortages: “It’s horrendous in our nursing homes; it’s horrendous in our hospitals. And it’s not a safe
- [Homework gets a makeover in the COVID era](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/homework-gets-a-makeover-in-the-covid-era/) - Among the COVID-19 era’s many effects on education has been rethinking what is “the most effective strategy for assigning and grading homework,” writes Daniel Lempres for EdSurge. Lempres talks with educators around the country about how they’ve shifted their thinking and actions regarding homework assignments during the pandemic. Read more here.
- [Forum examines students’ freedom of expression on campus](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2022/forum-examines-students-freedom-of-expression-on-campus/) - Join Wesleyan University President Michael S. Roth and other experts Jan. 25 for the virtual forum “Students and Freedom of Expression on Campus.” Roth and company will examine the issue as well as share ideas for how colleges can establish an inclusive and diverse environment that also promotes free expression. The session, presented by The Chronicle
- [U.S. DOE offering how-to webinars on K-12 COVID testing](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/u-s-doe-offering-how-to-webinars-on-k-12-covid-testing/) - The U.S. Department of Education will present three how-to webinars to assist school districts with starting and strengthening their school-based COVID-19 testing programs. The webinar dates and times are 1:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 21, 1:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 28 and 1:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 4. Personnel from the Centers for Disease Control
- [Jill Biden, Cardona visit N.J. as $198M in ARP funding heads to higher education](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/jill-biden-cardona-visit-n-j-as-198m-in-arp-funding-heads-to-higher-education/) - First lady Dr. Jill Biden and U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel A. Cardona on Jan. 20 visited Bergen Community College in Paramus to put a spotlight on $198 million in American Rescue Plan funding that’s been designated for higher education, with a focus on supporting the needs of community colleges. “It was refreshing to listen
- [New law allows retired N.J. teachers to work through 2022-23 sans TPAF reenrollment](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/new-law-allows-retired-n-j-teachers-to-work-through-2022-23-sans-tpaf-reenrollment/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Jan. 18 signed S3685/A5576. The new law permits teachers and professional staff members retired from the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund who provide special services to work during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years without TPAF reenrollment. Also on Jan. 18, Murphy signed S4021 and S3764. The former requires school districts
- [Study: Blended-hybrid learning is worst way to teach](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/study-blended-hybrid-learning-is-worst-way-to-teach/) - Combining in-person and remote learning at the same time is the least preferable teaching option “because it’s exhausting for teachers … and all students appear to learn less this way,” writes The Hechinger Report’s Jill Barshay, citing a study published Jan. 6 in the Educational Researcher. “Every teacher in our study was clear that being
- [Chiera talks COVID school safety on CNN](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/chiera-talks-covid-school-safety-on-cnn/) - In a story posted Jan. 17 on New York magazine's website, Jonathan Chait called out liberals for continuing to defend the “failed experiment” of COVID school closures during the 2020-21 school year. CNN's morning hosts on Jan. 18 discussed the issue with AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera and Cleveland-based writer and parent Angie Schmitt. Asked
- [Op-ed: Relevant content is the future of classrooms](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/op-ed-relevant-content-is-the-future-of-classrooms/) - In our everyday lives, people “are surrounded by curated content,” writes former social studies and ELA teacher Noah Dougherty. However, he adds, “the expectation that content could (or should) be relevant to every student often ends at the classroom door.” “The good news is that relevant content, particularly for middle and high school students, is
- [Report: Schools skimp on history of Reconstruction](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/report-schools-skimp-on-history-of-reconstruction/) - U.S. schools “are failing to teach a sufficiently complex and comprehensive history of Reconstruction,” write the three authors of a recent report produced by the nonprofit Zinn Education Project. Ana Rosado, Gideon Cohn-Postar and Mimi Eisen came to their findings through analysis of such criteria as state standards, course requirements and district-level social studies curricula
- [New section of N.J. DOE site has supports for more diverse, inclusive learning environments](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2022/new-section-of-n-j-doe-site-has-supports-for-more-diverse-inclusive-learning-environments/) - The New Jersey Department of Education’s website now has an area called Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Educational Resources to assist school districts with incorporating those three areas into their curriculums. “Our goal is to provide tools that educators can use to develop curriculum that highlights the contributions and experiences of individuals with diverse abilities, cultures,
- [Cardona: More COVID tests are coming soon to public schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/cardona-more-covid-tests-are-coming-soon-to-public-schools/) - U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel A. Cardona appeared Jan. 12 on “CBS Mornings” to talk about millions of additional COVID-19 tests coming soon to public schools nationwide. “You’re going to see distribution of [COVID] tests as early as next week to make sure that our schools can stay open,” Dr. Cardona said. Co-host Tony Dokoupil
- [Opinion: Great Renegotiation is needed in education](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/opinion-great-renegotiation-is-needed-in-education/) - As the American workforce undergoes what’s been dubbed The Great Resignation and The Big Quit, author and former educator Simon Rodberg says a Great Renegotiation is needed in the teaching profession to help prevent a tidal wave of teacher turnover. “We need a system where we can treat teachers and other school staff like adult
- [N.J. Senate, Assembly pass Responsible Collective Negotiations Act](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/n-j-senate-assembly-pass-responsible-collective-negotiations-act/) - The New Jersey Senate and Assembly on Jan. 10 passed S3810/A5862, officially described as the Responsible Collective Negotiations Act. The Senate vote was 23-14, while the Assembly vote was 49-27-1. “This is a big win for our state public unions to develop a system of negotiations without the threat of imposition,” said AFTNJ President Donna M.
- [Notables booked for virtual event honoring MLK](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/notables-booked-for-virtual-event-honoring-mlk/) - U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and NAACP Legal Defense Fund President Sherrilyn Ifill will be among the featured speakers Jan. 13 during a virtual event celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Registration is required for the two-hour event, which begins at 1 p.m. Jan. 13. For more information, click here.
- [Murphy: Mask mandate in N.J. schools will continue](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/murphy-mask-mandate-in-n-j-schools-will-continue/) - The mask mandate for students, teachers and other personnel in New Jersey schools will continue. The mandate, part of last summer’s Executive Order No. 251, was due to expire Jan. 11. “I want to be clear — by the way, with no joy … that the mask mandates in schools and day care centers will continue
- [Webinar looks at how colleges keep adapting in COVID era](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/webinar-looks-at-how-colleges-keep-adapting-in-covid-era/) - Join health experts and college leaders Jan. 12 for the webinar “COVID on Campus, 2022 and Beyond,” presented by The Chronicle of Higher Education. The webinar begins at 2 p.m. ET on Jan. 12. For more information and to register, click here.
- [Abeigon explains NTU’s position on remote learning](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/abeigon-explains-ntus-position-on-remote-learning/) - With the latest round of remote learning in Newark public schools set to end Jan. 18, Newark Teachers Union President John M. Abeigon has issued the following statement: “This pandemic has tested every single person in Newark, and I have an extra degree of empathy for the working parents of the children who attend our
- [Chiera: Extending N.J.'s school mask mandate is a must](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/chiera-extending-n-j-s-school-mask-mandate-is-a-must/) - With Gov. Phil Murphy’s school mask mandate (via Executive Order No. 251) due to expire Jan. 11, AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera has issued the following statement in support of extending the safety measure in New Jersey’s school buildings: “As the omicron variant upends any progress New Jersey has made in the fight against COVID,
- [Share My Lesson offers stress-solutions workshops](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/share-my-lesson-offers-stress-solutions-workshops/) - AFT’s Share My Lesson has a three-part program on stress solutions for educations that begins Jan. 11. In the first session, instructor Catherine Zack will cover why mindfulness is a powerful tool for managing stress and also share three simple, mindful meditation techniques. For more information on all three sessions (taking place Jan. 11, Jan.
- [Chiera discusses COVID’s toll on teachers with N.J. Senate Education Committee](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/chiera-discusses-covids-toll-on-teachers-with-n-j-senate-education-committee/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera was among the speakers Jan. 6 during a virtual meeting with the New Jersey Senate Education Committee, the last session with state Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz as its chair. “COVID has become a political football,” Chiera said, “and depending on which district you’re with or in, if the parents in
- [AFTNJ welcomes staff representative Joe Norris](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/aftnj-welcomes-staff-representative-joe-norris/) - The AFTNJ on Jan. 4 welcomed its new staff representative, Joe Norris, who fills the void left by the retirement of Joanna McAvoy. Norris previously worked for New York-headquartered United Healthcare Workers East/1199 SEIU, the largest health care union in the country, for more than 15 years. “My background at 1199 SEIU has assisted me
- [Rutgers LEARN session to cover mediation, arbitration](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/rutgers-learn-session-to-cover-mediation-arbitration/) - Registration is now open for “Mediation and Arbitration Basics,” the first Union Leadership Academy class of 2022 from Rutgers LEARN. Sessions will be held online at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays from Jan. 11 through Feb. 15. Tuition fee is $90. For more information and to register, click here.
- [NJ DOH issues guidance for test to stay in K-12](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2022/nj-doh-issues-guidance-for-test-to-stay-in-k-12/) - The New Jersey Department of Health on Jan. 1 issued interim guidance for implementing test to stay (TTS) in K-12 schools. TTS, a combination of contact tracing and serial testing, allows for “asymptomatic unvaccinated students who were exposed to a person with COVID-19 in any school setting where students are supervised by school staff …
- [ACE workshop to focus on Latino student success](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/ace-workshop-to-focus-on-latino-student-success/) - The American Council on Education will present a two-part workshop in January and February featuring experts providing information on how to implement and advance policies and programs designed to increase Latino student success. Participants in the “Implementing What Works for Latino Students” sessions will “discuss tools to assess Latino student strengths and needs, identify metrics
- [Rise of AI in K-12 expected to continue](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2022/rise-of-ai-in-k-12-expected-to-continue/) - Whether it’s chatbots, digital assistants or endpoint security, artificial intelligence “is gaining a foothold in [K-12] U.S. classrooms,” writes Natalie Gross for EdTech. Gross takes a look at three AI trends to watch out for in 2022.
- [Educator trends to watch in 2022](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/educator-trends-to-watch-in-2022/) - Abbas Manjee, a co-founder of the education technology platform Kiddom, writes about four educator trends for 2022 in a guest column for SmartBrief. Read Manjee’s column here.
- [Consider these K-12 ed-tech trends in 2022](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/consider-these-k-12-ed-tech-trends-in-2022/) - Following two years of intense educational technology usage, educators are not impressed with “shiny, new ed tech,” writes EdTech’s Rebecca Torchia, adding they are now “seeking tools and learning models that are as impactful as they are sustainable.” Torchia takes a look at five ed-tech trends worth considering in 2022. Read about them here.
- [ICTCM 2022 early registration comes with discount](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/ictcm-2022-early-registration-comes-with-discount/) - Early registration savings end Dec. 31 for the 2022 edition of the International Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics. The virtual Pi Day will be held March 14, followed by the in-person event March 24-26 in Orlando, Florida. For more info and to register, click here.
- [Campaign aims to boost educator diversity in public schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/campaign-aims-to-boost-educator-diversity-in-public-schools/) - The Hunt Institute-led campaign One Million Teachers of Color in November received $1.25 million from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and the funding will be used to drive the campaign's primary goal: “to grow the ranks of our nation’s teachers by 1 million in the next decade.” In a recent story for Education Week, Denisa R.
- [Murphy signs batch of education-related bills](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/murphy-signs-batch-of-education-related-bills/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Dec. 21 signed A2455/S2204, which establishes a pilot program to support robotics programs in school districts. Murphy also signed the following education-related bills into law this week: S108/A169: Concerns speech rights of student journalists at public schools and public institutions of higher education S2834/A5312: Mandates training on culturally responsive teaching for all candidates for teaching certification
- [N.J. Assembly passes bill for school robotics programs](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/n-j-assembly-passes-bill-for-school-robotics-programs/) - By unanimous vote, the full New Jersey Assembly on Dec. 20 passed A2455, which establishes a pilot program to support robotics programs in school districts. Under this bill, up to 12 school districts would be chosen by New Jersey's education commissioner to take part in a three-year pilot program that would encourage schools to set
- [How U.S. teachers have handled this school year](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/how-u-s-teachers-have-handled-this-school-year/) - Witnessing more violence and behavioral issues at their schools as well as reaching a degree of mental exhaustion are among the issues U.S. teachers have experienced so far this school year, write CNN's Alisha Ebrahimji and Christina Zdanowicz. Many of the 700 educators who responded to CNN's inquiry about how they're coping said "this has
- [Updated guidelines reduce quarantine for N.J. students exposed to COVID](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/updated-guidelines-reduce-quarantine-for-n-j-students-exposed-to-covid/) - Per updated state guidelines, students in New Jersey who’ve had close contact with COVID-positive classmates or teachers now only need to quarantine for seven days, provided they test negative on the fifth through seventh day. If no test is taken, then it's 10 days. N.J. Advance Media’s Kelly Heyboer takes a closer look at the
- [AFT task force aims to address teacher, school staff shortages](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aft-task-force-aims-to-address-teacher-school-staff-shortages/) - The AFT on Dec. 16 launched a 23-member national task force “to tackle widespread educator and support staff shortages imperiling the future of public schools and public education,” according to a press release. “Teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions,” AFT President Randi Weingarten said in the release. “Even before COVID, nurses, guidance counselors, teachers,
- [Burton’s latest role will be as host of Scripps spelling bee](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/burtons-latest-role-will-be-as-host-of-scripps-spelling-bee/) - Actor LeVar Burton, who was the longtime host of the educational TV series “Reading Rainbow,” will serve as host of the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee’s semifinals and finals. “I want to normalize the pursuit of knowledge in this culture,” Burton told The Associated Press. “Not just making stuff up and calling it a fact.
- [AFT launches Reading Opens the World initiative](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/aft-launches-reading-opens-the-world-initiative/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten on Dec. 14 visited Malcolm X Elementary School in Washington, D.C., for the launch of Reading Opens the World, a literacy initiative to distribute 1 million free books to children nationwide. “We gotta make sure in the aftermath of this pandemic that all kids have books at home, and that’s part of what
- [Forum to explore future of the inclusive classroom](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/forum-to-explore-future-of-the-inclusive-classroom/) - On Dec. 15, The Chronicle of Higher Education will present the virtual forum “Next Steps for the Inclusive Classroom,” featuring a panel of experts in teaching and learning talking about the future of the inclusive classroom in traditional and hybrid settings. The forum begins at 2 p.m. ET on Dec. 15. To register, click here.
- [Register now for Winter Educator Academy 2022](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/register-now-for-winter-educator-academy-2022/) - Three train-the-trainer courses are available as part of Winter Educator Academy 2022, taking place in late January at the AFT headquarters in Washington, D.C. The dates and courses are as follows: Jan. 21-23: Content-Area Writing Instruction in the 6-12 Classroom (participant only) Meeting Writing Expectations K-5 (train-the-trainer) Jan. 28-30: Creating a Supportive Learning Environment Through
- [Winter ’21-’22 issue of American Educator focuses on science and citizenship](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/winter-21-22-issue-of-american-educator-focuses-on-science-and-citizenship/) - John Cook’s story on teaching about climate crisis and Alyson Miller's feature on using education skills to address controversial topics are among the highlights in the latest issue of AFT’s American Educator. To download a copy, click here.
- [ACE to review the year in higher education policy](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/ace-to-review-the-year-in-higher-education-policy/) - Join Terry Hartle and Jon Fansmith from the American Council on Education’s government relations team Dec. 13 for “Public Policy Pop-Up: The Year in Higher Education Policy.” The Zoom session begins at 1 p.m. on Dec. 13. To register, click here.
- [Two bills addressing N.J. teacher shortages advance](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/two-bills-addressing-n-j-teacher-shortages-advance/) - New Jersey’s Assembly Education Committee on Dec. 9 advanced two bills meant to address teacher shortages in the state. A5292 requires the compilation of data on teacher shortages. Districts would submit reports to New Jersey’s commissioner of education containing vacancies, new and eliminated positions, and anticipated retirements at their schools. A5291 requires educator preparation programs to
- [Making a case for students leading parent-teacher conferences](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/making-a-case-for-students-leading-parent-teacher-conferences/) - The classic parent-teacher conference setup “is often transactional,” writes former grade-school teacher Emily H. Murphy, in which the educator is the “expert,” the parent is a “passive participant,” and the subject of the meeting is not even present. In an article for EdSurge, Murphy — a co-founder of Avem Education Partners — lays out the
- [Playtime can be beneficial in early education](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/playtime-can-be-beneficial-in-early-education/) - Citing recent reports and other sources, EdSource’s Karen D’Souza writes about how “the time on the playground pays off in the classroom” for younger children. “Beyond the realm of mere enjoyment, play can function as what experts call ‘a laboratory of the possible,’ where creativity blossoms and critical thinking is born,” writes D’Souza. “Building a fort
- [Rutgers AAUP-AFT continues push for pay equity, campus equality](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/rutgers-aaup-aft-continues-push-for-pay-equity-campus-equality/) - About an hour before the final Rutgers University board of governors meeting for 2021, Rutgers AAUP-AFT professors on Dec. 7 spoke at length about pay equity and fairness concerns during a virtual press conference. Here are choice comments from two of the speakers: “No matter how much evidence we may marshal, no matter how many
- [Pen Pal Project to unite students nationwide in grades 3-5](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/pen-pal-project-to-unite-students-nationwide-in-grades-3-5/) - The United States Postal Service and WeAreTeachers have joined forces to present The USPS Pen Pal Project, a free program for third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students to improve their writing, communication and collaboration skills. As described by the USPS, 25,000 U.S. classes in grades 3-5 “will each be matched with a partner class across the
- [Study looks at higher education’s disengaged learners](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/study-looks-at-higher-educations-disengaged-learners/) - In a recent survey of 3,000-plus people ages 20-34 who’ve discontinued their pursuit of a college degree, 32 percent named personal or family issues as the reason. Conducted by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association and StraighterLine, the survey also showed that 48 percent of students who recently stopped attending college were extremely or
- [New communities of practice target learning recovery, early school success](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/new-communities-of-practice-target-learning-recovery-early-school-success/) - The U.S. Department of Education on Dec. 2 introduced two communities of practice to assist states in addressing the pandemic’s effects on students. “While the good news is that nearly 100 percent of America’s schools have now returned to in-person instruction, we must provide the necessary supports to nurture all students’ social-emotional well-being, mental health
- [Murphy calls for rules on school shooting drills as part of gun safety bill package](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/murphy-calls-for-rules-on-school-shooting-drills-as-part-of-gun-safety-bill-package/) - With Metuchen High School students in attendance, Gov. Phil Murphy spoke Dec. 2 outside the borough's municipal building to push a series of gun safety bills, one of which pertains to regulating school shooting drills. “We gather today … while nearly halfway across the country, families in Michigan are grappling with the grief and horror
- [NTU members speak out at monthly BOE meeting](https://aftnj.org/topics/newark/2021/ntu-members-speak-out-at-monthly-boe-meeting/) - The Newark Board of Education heard from many voices Nov. 23 during its monthly meeting, among them two Newark Teachers Union members who cited circumstances affecting colleagues and students in New Jersey’s largest school district. Christopher Canik, a math instructor at Newark Vocational High School, said teachers “are treated like we are not professionals.” Yvette Jordan,
- [Submit nominations now for ACE diversity leadership award](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/submit-nominations-now-for-ace-diversity-leadership-award/) - The American Council on Education is accepting nominations through Dec. 1 for the Reginald Wilson Diversity Leadership Award. This award is presented at ACE’s annual meeting; the next one will be March 5-7 in San Diego. According to ACE, the Wilson award “honors individuals who have demonstrated leadership and commitment on a national level to
- [Webinar to address college students’ mental health](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/webinar-to-address-college-students-mental-health/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education senior editor Alexander C. Kafka and others on Dec. 8 for a virtual forum that will look at how universities and colleges can respond to the increased need for mental-health support on campuses. Presented with support from Timely MD, “The Mental-Health Crisis on Campus” will begin at 2 p.m. on Dec.
- [Register by Dec. 12 for AFT’s CSI 2022](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/register-by-dec-12-for-afts-csi-2022/) - The 2022 edition of the AFT’s Center for School Improvement Leadership Institute is set for Jan. 20-22 at the United Federation of Teachers headquarters, 52 Broadway in Manhattan. Under the banner “Supporting Literacy, Equity and Community,” CSI 2022 will focus on: Reviewing the science of reading and helping teams identify what they need to do
- [Healthy food, healthy minds are on the School Meals for All menu](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/healthy-food-healthy-minds-are-on-the-school-meals-for-all-menu/) - With its new School Meals for All campaign, the AFT “aims to expand the federal school meals programs so that all children attending the nation’s public schools will have access to a free, tasty and nutritious breakfast and lunch every school day,” writes Annette Licitra. To read more about the campaign, which launched Nov. 18,
- [N.J. school districts to receive $75M for emergent and capital maintenance needs](https://aftnj.org/topics/garfield/2021/n-j-school-districts-to-receive-75m-for-emergent-and-capital-maintenance-needs/) - Three days after allocating $400 million in capital facilities grant funding for higher education in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy on Nov. 19 said that $75 million will be set aside for school districts statewide to help meet emergent and capital maintenance needs. “Since I signed the state budget in June, the Department of Education and the [New
- [Solidarity aplenty at Local 1796’s layoff protest rally](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/solidarity-aplenty-at-local-1796s-layoff-protest-rally/) - Labor leaders and union members from across New Jersey joined students from William Paterson University on Nov. 19 for AFT Local 1796’s layoff protest rally on the Wayne campus in front of the Marion E. Shea Center for Performing Arts. Here are excerpts from select rally speakers: “Faculty and staff are not being laid off
- [Teacher pivots in effort to bring students up to speed in ‘the reading year’](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/teacher-pivots-in-effort-to-bring-students-up-to-speed-in-the-reading-year/) - Around America, “the first months of school this fall have laid bare what many in education feared: Students are way behind in skills they should have mastered already,” writes Jackie Mader for The Hechinger Report. “Children in early elementary school have had their most formative first few years of education disrupted by the pandemic, years when
- [Share My Lesson has bounty of Thanksgiving-themed resources](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/share-my-lesson-has-bounty-of-thanksgiving-themed-resources/) - A reading of “Turkey Trouble” by Marc Maron and a lesson on expressing gratitude to indigenous peoples are among Share My Lesson’s 38 Thanksgiving-themed resources for PreK-12 students. For more information, click here.
- [Murphy earmarks $400M for revolving bonds supporting higher education](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/murphy-earmarks-400m-for-revolving-bonds-supporting-higher-education/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Nov. 16 said that New Jersey will release $400 million in capital facilities grant funding in a joint solicitation of four revolving bond programs to support the state’s institutions of higher education and its students. “Whether it is a top-notch science lab or a state-of-the-art technology center, we need to ensure our
- [Survey: Faculty mental health concerns higher education presidents](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/survey-faculty-mental-health-concerns-higher-ed-presidents/) - More than half of college and university presidents who participated in a recent American Council on Education survey chose “mental health: faculty and staff” as a pressing concern, with roughly one quarter of those presidents selecting “recruiting new faculty and/or staff” as a pressing issue. The survey, conducted Sept. 27 through Oct. 8, involved 230
- [Webinar explores new Share My Lesson features](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/webinar-explores-new-share-my-lesson-features/) - Join Kelly Booz, director of Share My Lesson, for a webinar Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. ET as she goes over the site’s redesign and new features. To register, click here.
- [Early registration now open for ACE2022](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/early-registration-now-open-for-ace2022/) - Hampton University President William R. Harvey and Latino USA journalist Maria Hinojosa are among the speakers scheduled for ACE2022, set for March 5-7 in San Diego. Early registration is underway; for more details, click here.
- [Local 1060 uses AFT grant to refresh classroom libraries at Robert Fulton](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/local-1060-uses-aft-grant-to-refresh-classroom-libraries-at-robert-fulton/) - As one might expect, The Book Room at Robert Fulton Elementary School in North Bergen is deserving of its name. On the morning of Nov. 9, though, it was the home to many more printed works than usual. On the long, brown tables in the middle of the room were several fresh-from-the-box stacks of books, purchased by
- [Murphy signs bill establishing Kean as a public urban research university](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-signs-bill-establishing-kean-as-a-public-urban-research-university/) - As part of a wave of legislation action Nov. 8, Gov. Phil Murphy signed S3811/A5769, which establishes Kean University as a public urban research university. “Kean University’s commitment to research and serving urban communities before and during the pandemic has been apparent, therefore it has earned — and deserves — the designation of a public urban
- [Senate Education Committee passes several bills](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/senate-education-committee-passes-several-bills/) - New Jersey’s Senate Education Committee passed several bills during its Nov. 8 meeting in Trenton, among them: S3464: Requires instruction on information literacy in curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12. S1219/A3392: Requires student representative be appointed to each board of education of school district that includes high school. S3094/A4856: Requires internet websites and web services of
- [New issue of AFT Health Care is out now](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/new-issue-of-aft-health-care-is-out-now/) - A story about improving care of LGBTQ people of color by Stephanie Bi, Scott C. Cook and Marshall H. Chin is part of the “Building Resilient Communities” theme that runs throughout the latest issue of AFT Health Care. To download a copy, click here.
- [Chiera welcomes regional director Baxter-Jenkins](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/chiera-welcomes-regional-director-baxter-jenkins/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera met Nov. 3 with Stephanie Baxter-Jenkins, AFT’s new Northeast regional director, to provide her with an overview of where things stand with PreK-12 and higher education locals. In her career, Baxter-Jenkins has worked in the AFT legal and human resources departments. From 2010 to October 2021, she served as the executive director for Hillsborough
- [Final push by AFT and N.J. labor precedes Murphy's slim win](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/final-push-by-aft-and-n-j-labor-precedes-murphys-slim-win/) - A few hours before New Jersey polling locations closed, AFT President Randi Weingarten was the closing speaker at a Nov. 2 rally supporting Gov. Phil Murphy at IBEW Local 456 in North Brunswick. “Everybody’s gone through a lot of you-know-what during COVID,” Weingarten said. “There’s anxiety all over the place. … But what you’ve had
- [Physical education may help students with social isolation](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/physical-education-may-help-students-with-social-isolation/) - As allotted time for physical education and recess competes with math and science in schools' efforts to combat learning loss, “studies suggest boosting students’ physical activity time also has an important role,” writes Sarah D. Sparks for Education Week. “It may help students rebound from the social isolation many have experienced during the pandemic,” adds
- [Educators share thoughts on how to teach about slavery](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/educators-share-thoughts-on-how-to-teach-about-slavery/) - In his latest blog entry for Education Week, California high school teacher Larry Ferlazzo asks five educators the following question: How do you teach about slavery in the history of the United States? “Effectively teaching about the history of enslaved people and the practice of chattel slavery in the United States is to tell the
- [Delegate Assembly confirms new VPs Vachon, Carr](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/delegate-assembly-confirms-new-vps-vachon-carr/) - The AFTNJ Delegate Assembly by vote on Oct. 25 confirmed Dr. Todd Vachon and Timothy D. Carr as vice presidents for higher education and prekindergarten to 12, respectively. Vachon (above left), a member of Rutgers AAUP-AFT, is an assistant professor of practice, labor studies and employment relations at Rutgers University-New Brunswick as well the director
- [Teacher stimulates, engages students with her creative course](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/teacher-stimulates-engages-students-with-her-creative-course/) - During the pandemic, Rhode Island educator Marielle Burt took up designing escape rooms as a hobby, and when asked to teach a custom two-week course at her school, she infused her new avocation into her occupation. “In my game design course, students tackled grade-level standards — developing their writing skills as they composed game narratives
- [Credit for fossil-fuel divestment decisions in higher education not always acknowledged](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/credit-for-fossil-fuel-divestment-decisions-in-higher-education-not-always-acknowledged/) - Even though myriad contributors often play a role in getting a college or university to divest from fossil fuels, “one group is seldom credited as the catalyst: student activists,” writes Emma Whitford for Insider Higher Ed. “Many institutions give a nod to activists without elaborating on their efforts. … But in other cases, students get no
- [Finding focus, productivity through outdoor learning](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/finding-focus-productivity-through-outdoor-learning/) - Scavenger hunts to find items connected to that day’s lesson and walks to explore a school’s green spaces are among the outdoor learning activities that also are “easily adaptable to a variety of topics and age levels,” according to Massachusetts first-grade teacher Alissa Alteri Shea. “Being outdoors relieves stress and anxiety, gives kids the freedom to move,
- [Chiera joins Biden in North Plainfield as he promotes Build Back Better Agenda](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/chiera-joins-biden-in-north-plainfield-as-he-promotes-build-back-better-agenda/) - For the second month in a row, President Joe Biden was in New Jersey, this time visiting with preschool-age children Oct. 25 at East End Elementary School in North Plainfield to promote the Build Back Better Agenda, which includes establishing universal preschool. Also at East End were Gov. Phil Murphy and AFTNJ President Donna M.
- [Report explores issues with teacher diversity, school culture](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2021/report-explores-issues-with-teacher-diversity-school-culture/) - “To Be Who We Are: Black Teachers on Creating Affirming School Cultures,” a collaborative report by Teach Plus and the Center for Black Educator Development, delves into “the questions of what affirming school conditions look like and what educational leaders can do to create those conditions,” its introduction reads. Through focus groups conducted in spring
- [Virtual forum to cover the state of diversity, inclusion on college level](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/virtual-forum-to-cover-the-state-of-diversity-inclusion-on-college-level/) - The Chronicle of Higher Education will present the virtual forum “Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in a Changing Time” on Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. ET. Among the questions expected to be addressed: How have those efforts changed, given the current political moment and the continuing pandemic? How well does diversity and inclusion training, based in
- [Engage students by asking quality questions](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/engage-students-by-asking-quality-questions/) - Asking students high-quality questions is key to “sustaining deep learning,” according to Illinois high school teacher Chris Kubic, and so is incorporating one simple, specific query: How do you know? “Asking this follow-up question after a student provides an answer prompts deeper thinking in a number of ways,” Kubic writes for Edutopia. “Students have to not
- [Teacher, students collaborate to make classroom library a shared space](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/teacher-students-collaborate-to-make-classroom-library-a-shared-space/) - When Connecticut middle school teacher Katie Durkin decided her classroom library could use “a serious facelift,” she turned to her students for help. “I’d been researching the benefits of promoting student voice and choice — specifically by allowing them to assist in organizing an in-class library,” Durkin writes for MiddleWeb. “Now I wanted to give
- [New DOE resource supports student mental health](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/new-doe-resource-supports-student-mental-health/) - On Oct. 19, the U.S. Department of Education released “Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs,” a resource meant to supplement the three handbooks from earlier this year related to safe reopening strategies at public schools and colleges. “Many children and students struggle with mental health challenges that impact their full
- [Education community must step up for teachers’ wellness](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/education-community-must-step-up-for-teachers-wellness/) - Teachers are not only supposed to support the social and emotional well-being of students, they are also expected to take care of their own wellness, writes Beth Pandolpho in a column for Education Week. “And we wonder why teacher burnout has been a long-standing issue,” adds Pandolpho, a former high school teacher and an instructional
- [Panelists to discuss how MSIs are preparing for the future](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/panelist-to-discuss-how-msis-are-preparing-for-the-future/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education editor Liz McMillen and a panel of experts for the virtual forum “The Future of Minority-Serving Institutions,” set for Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. ET. For more information and to register, click here.
- [Weingarten, Chiera speak at Murphy-LD 16 rally](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/weingarten-chiera-speak-at-murphy-ld-16-rally/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten and AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera were among the speakers Oct. 16 at the Legislative District 16 Canvass Kickoff in Princeton, attended by Gov. Phil Murphy, Senate candidate Andrew Zwicker, and Assembly candidates Roy Freiman and Sadaf Jaffer. Weingarten, the closing speaker, spent a few minutes addressing recent comments former Gov.
- [Lessons learned from remote teaching](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/lessons-learned-from-remote-teaching/) - Rather than focus on learning loss that may have occurred during the pandemic, South Carolina high school teacher Lauren Gehr would prefer that educators concentrate “on the teaching methods that worked for them and their students when they were forced to be resourceful during an unprecedented health crisis,” she writes for Edutopia. Read her column
- [Weingarten is set to visit Paramus, Princeton on Oct. 16](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/weingarten-is-set-to-visit-paramus-princeton-on-oct-16/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten is coming to Paramus and Princeton on Oct. 16 to campaign for Gov. Phil Murphy’s reelection. Joining Weingarten at both events will be AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. Weingarten, Shuler and Murphy are scheduled to begin their day together by attending the Bergen County CLC Labor Walk, which starts at 8 a.m.
- [Weingarten v. DeVos settled; AFT taps online resource Summer to navigate PSLF process](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/weingarten-v-devos-settled-aft-taps-online-resource-summer-to-navigate-pslf-process/) - The 2019 lawsuit Weingarten v. DeVos, filed by AFT President Randi Weingarten, the AFT and eight other plaintiffs against then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and the Department of Education, was settled Oct. 12. At the root of the lawsuit was holding DeVos and the Department of Education accountable for “gross mismanagement” of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness
- [Holloway talk to close Chronicle’s interview series](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/holloway-talk-to-close-chronicles-interview-series/) - A conversation with Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway on Oct. 18 will close out The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Leadership Interview Series. In his talk with The Chronicle’s Fernanda Zamudio-Suarez, Holloway is expected to discuss how he’s navigated race-related issues on campus as Rutgers’ first black president and what he’s learned being a university president
- [Putting movement into classroom learning](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/putting-movement-into-classroom-learning/) - Incorporating physical activity into classrooms “isn’t just good for kids’ bodies, it’s also a powerful tool for improving learning and focus and reducing classroom management issues,” write former teacher Stephen Merrill and journalist Sarah Gonser for Edutopia. “There are many smart, innovative ways to build movement into lessons,” they add, and among their examples is something
- [AFT gives Share My Lesson a refresh](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aft-gives-share-my-lesson-a-refresh/) - The online resource Share My Lesson has been relaunched, and the updated version “reflects what educators, school staff and families truly need to help all students thrive — socially, emotionally and academically,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “As I travel around the country, I see firsthand how our students are returning with immense needs —
- [Free lessons available for Indigenous Peoples Day](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/free-lessons-available-for-indigenous-peoples-day/) - Oct. 11 is Indigenous Peoples Day, and there are myriad free resources available online suitable for the classroom. AFT’s Share My Lesson has more than 60 resources covering American Indian ways of life, arts and more. As part of its Native Knowledge 360 Education Initiative, the National Museum of the American Indian offers a Teaching
- [Garland launches effort to address school threats](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/aftnj-news/2021/garland-launches-effort-to-address-school-threats/) - In a one-page memo dated Oct. 4, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has directed the FBI and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to meet with law enforcement nationwide to “facilitate the discussion of strategies for addressing threats against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff” within 30 days. “Those who dedicate their time and energy to
- [New law protects N.J. workers from age discrimination](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/new-law-protects-n-j-workers-from-age-discrimination/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Oct. 5 signed A681, which provides protections to New Jersey workers who are age 70 and older. “The legislation closes a loophole that allows governmental employers require an employee to retire when he or she reaches a certain age,” Murphy said during the virtual signing. “The legislation I’m signing would eliminate
- [Sweeney hears about pay inequity at Rutgers-Camden](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/sweeney-hears-about-pay-inequity-at-rutgers-camden/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera and Rutgers AAUP-AFT leaders met Oct. 4 with State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney via Zoom to discuss salary inequity at Rutgers University’s Camden campus. Todd Wolfson, Rutgers AAUP-AFT’s general vice president, pointed out that during the last contract negotiation about three years ago, two glaring disparities surfaced. “One was
- [Survey: COVID stress, risk weigh down about half of K-12 employees](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/survey-covid-stress-risk-weigh-down-about-half-of-k-12-employees/) - More than 50 percent of K-12 employees most commonly reported feeling stressed about COVID-19 at work, according to a survey conducted in May by a MissionSquare Research Institute and Greenwald Research. In addition, 47 percent of K-12 employees feel that in-person work is very or extremely risky. View the full report here.
- [Panel looks at minority-serving institutions’ recent actions](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/panel-looks-at-minority-serving-institutions-recent-actions/) - Join Chronicle of Higher Education assistant managing editor Sara Lipka and Paul Quinn College President Michael J. Sorrell on Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. ET as they moderate the virtual discussion “Politics, COVID, Social Justice, and Minority-Serving Institutions.” Robert Rainbow, vice president of academics at Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, and Vanessa A. Sansone, assistant professor
- [Push to ban certain books tied to critical race theory debate](https://aftnj.org/topics/critical-race-theory/2021/push-to-ban-certain-books-tied-to-critical-race-theory-debate/) - The nonprofit American Library Association this year has experienced a rise in challenges to books about racism and black American history, writes Education Week’s Madeline Will. Many of the complaints cite critical race theory, Will adds, per the ALA’s Deborah Caldwell-Stone, whose Office for Intellectual Freedom tracks objections to books in libraries, K-12 schools and colleges. “In most cases,
- [Rutgers professor stresses purpose, benefits of social-emotional learning](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/rutgers-professor-stresses-purpose-benefits-of-social-emotional-learning/) - In the year ahead, school districts “will receive unprecedented resources and support for social-emotional learning,” yet for most parents and some educators, “it’s not clear exactly what it is,” writes Rutgers University psychology professor Dr. Maurice J. Elias in a guest column for The Star-Ledger. “The [Social Emotional Learning Alliance for New Jersey] is dedicated to
- [PreK-12 leaders troubled by staff shortages, students' lack of social interaction](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/prek-12-leaders-troubled-by-staff-shortages-students-lack-of-social-interaction/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera hosted a virtual roundtable Sept. 28 with prekindergarten-12 leaders for them to share their school-reopening experiences to date. Robin Pinckney-St. John, an AFTNJ PreK-12 vice president, talked about how open enrollment in the Newark school district contributes to the challenges in monitoring COVID-19 contact tracing, with students who are in
- [First issue of Learning for Justice magazine out now](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/first-issue-of-learning-for-justice-magazine-out-now/) - Learning for Justice magazine, a Southern Poverty Law Center project recommended for grades 6-12, has released its first issue. “Educators, students, their families and commu­nities are joining together to demand truth-telling in schools and to counter decisions that censor dialogue around race and injustice in the classroom,” writes Learning for Justice director Jalaya Liles Dunn
- [Enrollment, funding concerns addressed during latest AFTNJ-OSHE meeting](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/enrollment-funding-concerns-addressed-during-latest-aftnj-oshe-meeting/) - After missing the previous two meetings, New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Brian Bridges on Sept. 24 virtually met with AFTNJ higher education leaders. Dr. Susanna Tardi, AFTNJ’s executive vice president/higher education, led off the session with her concerns related to enrollment issues at four-year institutions, using William Paterson University as an example: “The board feels
- [Workshop focuses on preparedness for new teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/workshop-focuses-on-preparedness-for-new-teachers/) - Join author Dr. Tina H. Boogren for a virtual Solution Tree workshop Sept. 29 and Oct. 6 that’s designed for teachers in the early stages of their careers. Among the areas of discussion will be practical strategies for instruction and classroom management as well developing plans for decreasing stress and increasing student achievement. Cost is
- [Weingarten visits North Bergen, praises local’s efforts](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/weingarten-visits-north-bergen-praises-locals-efforts/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten on Sept. 23 visited Robert Fulton Elementary School in North Bergen to meet with district leaders and take a tour of the building. “What you did all last year and in this year in creating a normalcy for kids … kids being back in school is going to heal this nation,”
- [Advice for the post-pandemic faculty generation](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/advice-for-the-post-pandemic-faculty-generation/) - Rethink your grading, embrace the best of technology and see your students for who they are (and how they are): That’s the advice University of Richmond assistant professor Lauren N. Henley has for “rookie faculty members” like her who were hired during the pandemic. “For us, the past year or so was daunting, but it
- [Local 1060’s Toomey talks ‘Off the Page’ book forum](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/local-1060s-toomey-talks-off-the-page-book-forum/) - Following the positive feedback from the book club she started in her district, North Bergen Federation of Teachers (Local 1060) President Carol Toomey thought the concept would work well as part of the AFTNJ’s social justice committee. Hence the creation of “Off the Page, Into the World,” which is open to all AFTNJ members and
- [Rutgers AAUP-AFT’s Givan makes NJBIZ power list](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/rutgers-aaup-afts-givan-makes-njbiz-power-list/) - Rebecca Givan, president of Rutgers AAUP-AFT, has landed on NJBIZ’s latest Education Power 50 list. “The union has tussled with administrators in recent years over spending priorities, a dispute that flared recently with the revelation that the Rutgers athletics program has run up $265 million in debt,” her entry on the list reads. “At the
- [Fall '21 edition of American Educator out now](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/fall-21-edition-of-american-educator-out-now/) - The fall 2021 edition of AFT’s American Educator is available now, featuring the three-part “All Children Thriving” package, with stories by Pamela Cantor, Brooke Stafford-Brizard and Linda Darling-Hammond. To download a copy, click here.
- [Murphy takes action to boost transparency of higher ed’s costs in N.J.](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/murphy-takes-action-to-boost-transparency-of-higher-eds-costs-in-n-j/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on Sept. 16 signed S1877, which “requires public and independent institutions of higher education and proprietary institutions licensed to offer academic degrees to provide a financial aid ‘shopping sheet’ annually to each student enrolled in the institution.” Costs and estimated debt will be among the information contained on this shopping sheet, explains
- [Zoom speculates on future of online learning](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/zoom-speculates-on-future-of-online-learning/) - At the recently wrapped Zoomtopia conference, education-focused Zoom employees shared their thoughts on what the next decade could hold for the videoconferencing platform and online learning. EdSurge’s Stephen Noonoo provides a recap.
- [Grants available to members affected by Ida storm](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/grants-available-to-members-affected-by-ida-storm/) - The AFTNJ-AFT Disaster Support Fund is offering direct grants of up to $250 to members in good standing who sustained significant losses of primary dwelling, personal property and vehicles or mandatory-evacuation expenses due to Tropical Storm Ida. “Because of the pandemic and the unknown, the excitement of a new school year has been replaced with
- [Biden aims to advance educational equity for Hispanic students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/biden-aims-to-advance-educational-equity-for-hispanic-students/) - President Joe Biden on Sept. 13 signed an executive order to advance educational equity, excellence and economic opportunity for Hispanics. Hispanic and Latino students, Biden wrote, “face systemic inequitable barriers in accessing a high-quality education and a fair shot at the American dream.” He goes on to cite such stats as “only 40 percent of Latino
- [NTU’s Moore retires; AFTNJ seeks his PreK-12 VP replacement](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/ntus-moore-retires-aftnj-seeks-his-prek-12-vp-replacement/) - Newark Teachers Union member Jerry Moore has retired from the Newark public school district, and he has also stepped down from his position as an AFTNJ vice president/PreK-12. AFTNJ bylaws outline the following procedures for filling this VP vacancy: Section 7: Vacancies in any other elected office except the presidency shall be filled by selection from
- [Make the most of digital storytelling in class](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/make-the-most-of-digital-storytelling-in-class/) - After the successful implementation of a digital storytelling unit during the most recent school year, Connecticut high school teacher Kimberly Hellerich says digital storytelling “has a permanent place in my classroom.” “As we return to class, digital storytelling can give students access to different interpretations of an art form and enable them to explore the
- [Teachers interviewed students for Imagining September report](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/teachers-interviewed-students-for-imagining-september-report/) - During the spring, more than 200 teachers interviewed 4,000 K-12 students for an Imagining September report to get their thoughts on remote learning and returning to in-person learning. The results can be found in “Healing, Community, and Humanity: How Students and Teachers Want to Reinvent Schools Post-COVID,” and a free webinar about the report will
- [NJ Spotlight News’ virtual conversation series to begin with education](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/nj-spotlight-news-virtual-conversation-series-to-begin-with-education/) - “Election Conversations,” NJ Spotlight News’ five-part series of virtual discussions focusing on key issues leading up to the gubernatorial election, begins Sept. 14 with a talk about education. Rowan University College of Education Dean Dr. Gaetane Jean Marie, NJ Spotlight News founding editor and education writer John Mooney and NJ Spotlight News correspondent Joanna Gagis
- [AFTNJ begins process to provide Ida disaster relief](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aftnj-begins-process-to-provide-ida-disaster-relief/) - One day after President Joe Biden’s visit to flood-ravaged Manville, AFT, AFTNJ and NJ HPAE leaders on Sept. 8 held a virtual meeting to launch plans for providing financial assistance to New Jersey members who experienced property loss and damage due to Tropical Storm Ida. AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera said the criteria for the application
- [AFTNJ looks to fill higher education VP post](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aftnj-looks-to-fill-higher-education-vp-post/) - Rutgers AAUP-AFT’s David Hughes recently stepped down as an AFTNJ higher education vice president, and AFTNJ bylaws outline the following procedures for filling any vacancies on its board: Section 7: Vacancies in any other elected office except the presidency shall be filled by selection from the Delegate Assembly at its next regular meeting after due notice to
- [Building a supportive classroom for teens and tweens](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/building-a-supportive-classroom-for-teens-and-tweens/) - Providing support for teen and tween students can be a challenging task, “particularly for new teachers,” writes Tennessee high school math teacher Ty’ara Jones. “The classroom should be a safe haven where students feel comfortable no matter their level of proficiency,” she writes for Edutopia. “It’s essential that educators build appropriate and trustworthy relationships with students,
- [ACE Engage workshop addresses inclusion for students with disabilities](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/ace-engage-workshop-addresses-inclusion-for-students-with-disabilities/) - Dahlia Shaewitz of the Institute for Educational Leadership will facilitate a two-part American Council on Education workshop about the need to create college and university campuses that are inclusive of all students. As described by ACE, the Sept. 21 and Oct. 5 sessions will be “a deep dive into disability awareness that includes learning about
- [Drive teaching and learning with an outdoor program](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/drive-teaching-and-learning-with-an-outdoor-program/) - According to Mike Chapman, a former instructor with the Cadet Corps Leadership Program at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., “the greatest opportunity that the pandemic provided was the opportunity to teach — and learn — outside.” “For example, at my school, we were fortunate enough to teach all of our classes outdoors for most of this
- [Empower students by having them co-create notes](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/empower-students-by-having-them-co-create-notes/) - There’s an element of risk involved when an educator shares classroom ownership with students, writes special education teacher Rachel Jorgensen for Edutopia. “Teachers must let go of the expert role and understand that students do best when they have the opportunity to take part in meaning-making,” she writes. “Strategies such as co-created notes offer a
- [Resilience will be in the spotlight as new school year begins](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/resilience-will-be-in-the-spotlight-as-new-school-year-begins/) - The start of the 2021-22 academic year “will be an opportunity to impart a skill that will be important no matter where life takes [children]: how to bounce back from a difficult experience,” writes Newsweek’s Adam Piore. He adds, “In the coming months, the actions of teachers — along with coaches, pastors, rabbis and, of course,
- [College employees reevaluate their professional, personal priorities](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/college-employees-reevaluate-their-professional-personal-priorities/) - Through recent interviews with about 60 current and former higher education professionals regarding the pandemic, the fall semester and their attitudes about work, The Chronicle of Higher Education was alerted to “a desire for long-established dynamics that have governed the relationship between colleges and their employees to change in ways big and small,” writes Lindsay Ellis.
- [How teachers can bring their true selves to classrooms](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/how-teachers-can-bring-their-true-selves-to-classrooms/) - Sharing photos of pets and expressing a range of emotions are ways in which teachers can be themselves at school and in the process “enhance the learning environment and improve our overall job satisfaction,” writes longtime Houston educator Crystal Frommert for Edutopia. Read her full teaching strategies column here.
- [Tutoring can serve as a bridge to teaching](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/tutoring-can-serve-as-a-bridge-to-teaching/) - Prior to being a tutor, Keven Tell says he had “never given a serious thought to a career in education.” “Full- or part-time tutoring experiences could have a similar impact on others,” writes Tell, a public school teacher in Minneapolis since 2014, for The Hechinger Report. “In fact, tutoring might be one solution to help address the
- [Murphy humbled and honored by AFTNJ’s endorsement](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-humbled-and-honored-by-aftnjs-endorsement/) - On behalf of its leadership, AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera on Aug. 24 formally announced the union federation’s endorsement of Gov. Phil Murphy for reelection during a gathering held at City Hall Circle in Perth Amboy. “Rights for workers, rights for voters, rights for immigrants: That is what Gov. Murphy stood for and stands for,”
- [Survey: Increasing diversity, fostering equity among college faculty’s top strategic priorities](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/survey-increasing-diversity-fostering-equity-among-college-facultys-top-strategic-priorities/) - Improving and increasing diversity placed as the top strategic priority among college faculty in a survey recently published by the Association of American Colleges & Universities. Finishing second was fostering and ensuring equity and inclusion, followed by expanding and fostering global and community learning. More than 700 higher education professionals from various campus roles and institution
- [Murphy issues vaccination, testing requirement for PreK-12, higher education personnel](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-issues-vaccination-testing-requirement-for-prek-12-higher-education-personnel/) - New Jersey’s prekindergarten though grade 12 personnel and all employees at the state’s public colleges and universities must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 or undergo regular COVID-19 testing, Gov. Phil Murphy said Aug. 23 during his media briefing. “As we move forward over the coming weeks to implement this order, we expect that district
- [Forum covers ways to support college students](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/forum-covers-ways-to-support-college-students/) - Beckie Supiano, a senior writer for The Chronicle of Higher Education, will be among the speakers Aug. 25 at a virtual forum about supporting student learning in the fall. Topics of discussion will include the ways in which the pandemic has reshaped how faculty should approach assignments, assessments and grades. To register for this Zoom
- [Free digital tool helps teachers connect with students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/free-digital-tool-helps-teachers-connect-with-students/) - Provided at no cost by the nonprofit organization Gradient Learning, Along is a digital reflection tool that its creators say “makes it easier for you to check in one-on-one with each student.” In a story for The 74, Tim Newcomb writes about Along’s pilot program and how the tool can be used.
- [NTU’s Cepeda to be featured on webinar panel about student mental health](https://aftnj.org/topics/newark/2021/ntus-cepeda-to-be-featured-on-webinar-panel-about-student-mental-health/) - Mily Cepeda, a bilingual special education teacher at Newark’s Louise A. Spencer School, will be among the panelists during Chalkbeat's student mental health webinar on Aug. 24. The hourlong webinar begins at 4 p.m. ET. To register, click here.
- [AFTNJ Leadership Conference 2021 recap](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aftnj-leadership-conference-2021-recap/) - Under the theme Building Back Stronger, AFTNJ local presidents and members of their leadership teams gathered Aug. 17 in Woodbridge for this year's leadership conference to expand their knowledge of union-related procedures and actions.
- [Culturally inclusive texts can stimulate learning](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/culturally-inclusive-texts-can-stimulate-learning/) - Jaren Maynard, a fourth-grade teacher in Virginia, encourages her fellow elementary educators to put aside tried-and-true skill books in favor of something new. “There are tons of great culturally inclusive texts being published every year that need to be read and discussed in our classrooms,” she writes for Edutopia. “These texts do more than just
- [Teacher-tested strategies for classroom management](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/teacher-tested-strategies-for-classroom-management/) - Classroom disruptions “can be kept to a minimum by employing subtle techniques that work behind the scenes to create a positive classroom culture,” writes Edutopia’s Youki Terada. Planning your environment and picking your battles are among Terada’s tips for teachers to establish a positive culture in class. Read more here.
- [HELC members stress safety concerns in latest AFTNJ-OSHE meeting](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/helc-members-stress-safety-concerns-in-latest-aftnj-oshe-meeting/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera and Dr. Susanna Tardi, AFTNJ’s executive vice president/higher education, spoke at length Aug. 13 about faculty COVID-19 safety concerns at colleges and universities during a virtual meeting with New Jersey’s Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. Standing in once again for Secretary Dr. Brian Bridges was chief of staff Sandra
- [Back to School for All tour makes a stop in Perth Amboy](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/back-to-school-for-all-tour-makes-a-stop-in-perth-amboy/) - The AFT’s Back to School for All campaign rolled through Perth Amboy on Aug. 11, with AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera and Perth Amboy Federation President Pat Paradiso distributing educational books to individuals who received a COVID-19 vaccine that day at the Raritan Bay Area YMCA. More than 30 people were vaccinated during the three-hour
- [Takeaways from the pandemic make their way into teaching programs](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/takeaways-from-the-pandemic-make-their-way-into-teaching-programs/) - The COVID-19 pandemic “is already leaving its fingerprints on the education of future teachers,” writes Kantele Franko of The Associated Press, and that’s evident in the teaching programs that “are giving more emphasis on how to plan and implement quality virtual learning.” “Changes are happening not only in what aspiring educators learn, but how,” Franko
- [Making the most of the first day of school](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/making-the-most-of-the-first-day-of-school/) - There’s a lot at stake for educators on the first day of school, writes Assumption University professor James M. Lang for The Chronicle of Higher Education. “On that first day, I would argue, your students are forming a lasting impression not just of you as a teacher but of your course, too,” Lang writes. “Their
- [Weingarten considering vaccine mandate for teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/weingarten-considering-vaccine-mandate-for-teachers/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten will bring leadership together this week to consider a COVID-19 vaccination mandate for teachers, she told Chuck Todd during the Aug. 8 edition of NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “Since 1850, we’ve dealt with vaccines in schools. It’s not a new thing to have immunization in schools,” Weingarten said. “We need to
- [Chiera is OK with Murphy’s K-12 masking mandate](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/chiera-is-ok-with-murphys-k-12-masking-mandate/) - New Jersey’s K-12 students, educators and staff will have to wear masks in buildings when the 2021-22 school year begins, Gov. Phil Murphy said Aug. 6 from Memorial Elementary School in East Brunswick. “We're announcing that due to the recent and random spread of the Delta variant, the fact that no child under the age
- [Saving valuable time with edtech tools](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/saving-valuable-time-with-edtech-tools/) - To make room for lesson preparation, Minnesota teacher Josiah Torvik recommends taking advantage of edtech tools for such time-consuming tasks as grading and organizing. Writing for eSchool News, Torvik offers six ways edtech tools can benefit teachers who are pressed for time.
- [AFTNJ, Chiera react to death of AFL-CIO’s Trumka](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aftnj-chiera-react-to-death-of-afl-cios-trumka/) - AFl-CIO President Richard Trumka has died at age 72, the union federation confirmed Aug. 5. “We’re all devastated by the passing of our union brother AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka,” said AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera. “He was a visionary leader and a true champion of labor for the public and private sector. He never turned
- [Finding a place for American Indian history in school curriculum](https://aftnj.org/topics/critical-race-theory/2021/finding-a-place-for-american-indian-history-in-school-curriculum/) - According to a 2019 National Indian Education Association study, about 50 percent of fourth graders and 75 percent of eighth graders had teachers who never or rarely incorporated Native American culture or history into their language arts lessons. Chalkbeat’s Kalyn Belsha writes that teachers “worry that their efforts to teach a more accurate version of
- [Cardona booked for final Summer Learning & Enrichment Collaborative session](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/cardona-booked-for-final-summer-learning-enrichment-collaborative-session/) - Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona will converse with a panel of students about summer programs and more during the final virtual session of the Summer Learning & Enrichment Collaborative, taking place Aug. 12 from 3-5 p.m. ET. Representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be on hand to provide updates
- [Educators share best practices for teacher-parent communication](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/educators-share-best-practices-for-teacher-parent-communication/) - With a new school year right around the corner, Paige Tutt has collected advice from educators on how teachers can get off to a strong start interacting with parents, creating back-and-forth communication and more. Read her post for Edutopia here.
- [Share My Lesson marks 9/11 milestone](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/share-my-lesson-marks-9-11-milestone/) - Join Share My Lesson and Jennifer Lagasse and Meredith Ketchmark of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on Aug. 18 for “Anniversary in the Schools: Commemorating 9/11 20 Years Later,” a session on teaching students about the 9/11 attacks and how they continue to impact society. Created by the 9/11 Museum education department, this free program connects students
- [Reading aloud establishes authentic commitment to literacy](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/reading-aloud-establishes-authentic-commitment-to-literacy/) - There are multiple benefits to reading aloud to students on a daily basis, according to longtime teachers Linda Campbell and Christie Rodgers. Not only does it improve reading resilience and motivation, they also say reading aloud builds a sense of community. “Additionally, it allows educators to connect academically, emotionally and socially with students,” they write
- [Teens turn to TikTok to learn about race](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/teens-turn-to-tiktok-to-learn-about-race/) - Thanks in part to a surge in online social interaction during the pandemic, along with “an increasingly politicized social media climate in general,” it has become much easier for teens “to construct their own political identities through platforms like TikTok,” writes Noble Ingram for EdSurge. Ingram adds that while teachers across America “face big questions
- [Boosting SEL for educators](https://aftnj.org/topics/health-care/2021/boosting-sel-for-educators/) - The objective of any social and emotional learning program, writes District Administration’s Chris Burt, “is to keep teachers emotionally physically healthy and lessen the tensions in classrooms that often lead to an increase in poor behavior and a decrease in test scores among students.” With that in mind, he shares five ideas from the Southern
- [Chiera testifies at hearing about N.J.’s ARP fund use](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/chiera-testifies-at-hearing-about-n-j-s-arp-fund-use/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera testified July 28 during the second of two virtual hearings hosted this week by Gov. Phil Murphy regarding the use of New Jersey’s share of American Rescue Plan funds. She began by addressing educators’ concerns about “the health of their buildings: temperature, water, ventilation, air quality. … Students need to
- [Veteran teacher offers advice to newbies](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/veteran-teacher-offers-advice-to-newbies/) - Reflecting on his teaching career, which began in 2007, Jason DeHart has come up with a few points he’d tell his younger self if he had the opportunity. “I share them with you not as a recipe for all success but as starting points for a rich journey of growth,” writes DeHart, an assistant professor of
- [‘Off the Page’ book forums focus on social justice](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/off-the-page-book-forums-focus-on-social-justice/) - The AFTNJ social justice committee will hold virtual book forums Oct. 13 and Nov. 16 through its “Off the Page, Into the World” initiative to bring social justice into working spaces. The book forums will provide a welcoming, nonjudgmental meet-up to exchange ideas on a complex topic, explains committee co-chair Anthony Balzano, a professor of anthropology
- [Choice, flexibility are keys to student engagement](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/choice-flexibility-are-keys-to-student-engagement/) - If there’s one takeaway from the 2020-21 school year that truly stands out, “it’s that teachers have the ability to creatively plan to engage students in any setting,” writes New Jersey middle-school teacher Ron Litz. “The lessons we’ve learned from this year in terms of best practices and the revision of practices used prior to
- [Murphy signs civics education legislation](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/murphy-signs-civics-education-legislation/) - Gov. Phil Murphy on July 23 signed into law S854/S237-A3394, also known as Laura Wooten’s Law, which will require civics education be taught in New Jersey’s middle schools. The law carries the name of the late Laura Wooten, who is believed to be the longest continuously serving poll worker in American history. “Currently, New Jersey
- [Higher education is at the center of ‘The Chair’](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/higher-education-is-at-the-center-of-the-chair/) - Sandra Oh stars in “The Chair,” an upcoming Netflix comedy series set at fictional Pembroke University. Netflix describes the series as such: “At a major university, the first woman of color to become chair tries to meet the dizzying demands and high expectations of a failing English department.” “The Chair,” also starring David Morse, Holland
- [Making a case for studying pandemic’s overall impact on students](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/making-a-case-for-studying-pandemics-overall-impact-on-students/) - Boston University Wheelock College of Education’s Andrew Bacher-Hicks and Joshua Goodman are not among those who are “framing the pandemic as a ‘natural experiment’ for studying specific educational interventions.” Writing for Education Next, they recommend that researchers “focus on helping education leaders understand the overall impact of the pandemic on students, putting particular emphasis on discovering which groups
- [Early childhood educators recall personal, professional stress during the pandemic](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/early-childhood-educators-recall-personal-professional-stress-during-the-pandemic/) - From December 2020 through May 2021, EdSurge followed seven women who work as early childhood educators from around the country. Through interviews, surveys and research, EdSurge learned “what it looks like to teach young learners, engage with families, run businesses and manage personal and professional stress during the pandemic.” Read the oral history here.
- [Ways to make your professional learning personal](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/ways-to-make-your-professional-learning-personal/) - Recovering from the 2020-21 school year will take a while, and one way for educators to move forward is to “let go of what didn’t work and proactively pivot toward learning that ignites curiosity,” write Lauren Kaufman and Stephanie Rothstein. In a July 14 post for Edutopia, Kaufman and Rothstein offer three ways for teachers
- [Making the most of integrated literacy workshops](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/making-the-most-of-integrated-literacy-workshops/) - As a way to “find innovative ways to streamline literacy instruction while offering students opportunities to follow individualized learning paths,” longtime teachers Maria Walther and Karen Biggs-Turner say they have turned to integrated literacy workshops. In an article posted by MiddleWeb, Walther and Biggs-Turner write about what they describe as “actionable ideas to start your
- [Stepping outside can give teachers a recharge](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/stepping-outside-can-give-teachers-a-recharge/) - Being a teacher involves spending most days “under artificial lights in classrooms and offices, our faces illuminated by screens,” writes Ryan Tahmaseb, director of library services at the Meadowbrook School in Weston, Massachusetts. “We don’t go outside unless we need to supervise an outdoor activity or move from one building to another,” he adds. “So
- [Tech practices worth keeping for the long haul](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/tech-practices-worth-keeping-for-the-long-haul/) - Part of “holding on to the positive components” that school districts used during the pandemic has been deciding which technology practices “will remain for the long haul,” according to Jason Borgen, chief technology officer at Santa Cruz County Office of Education in California. Writing for SmartBrief, Borgen delves into six practices that he says are high on
- [Ideas for post-pandemic schooling](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/ideas-for-post-pandemic-schooling/) - Frederick Hess, a former high school social studies teacher and an executive editor at Education Next, writes that now is the time for “fundamentally rethinking how schools make use of instructional talent.” “A half-century ago, when teaching talent was plentiful and the demands on teachers were more uniform, the notion of the do-everything teacher might’ve
- [Finding inspiration from student teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/finding-inspiration-from-student-teachers/) - Dan Rose, a veteran middle-school teacher in New York, credits his recent student teacher for reminding him “that my journey to perfect my teaching should never end — and of the value of opening my heart, mind and classroom to student teachers to begin with.” In a Professional Learning post for Edutopia, Rose offers seven
- [Murphy, Bridges discuss latest round of federal aid for higher education in N.J.](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/murphy-bridges-discuss-latest-round-of-federal-aid-for-higher-education-in-n-j/) - Gov. Phil Murphy spent the early part of his July 12 briefing talking about the nearly $30 million in additional federal support for New Jersey’s higher education sector to help colleges and universities weather the impact of COVID-19. “The bulk of this funding — about $28.5 million — is heading out to nearly three dozen
- [O’Connell, Givan react to delayed Coalition of Rutgers Unions raises](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/oconnell-givan-react-to-delayed-coalition-of-rutgers-unions-raises/) - The Coalition of Rutgers Unions recently started a petition addressed to Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway calling for the administration to pay deferred raises on time to faculty and staff. “We demand that [Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness] Senior Vice President [Vivian] Fernández ensures that these raises are paid with the July 9th paychecks,” the
- [Learning skills related to civics, ethics through video games](https://aftnj.org/topics/life-skills/2021/learning-skills-related-to-civics-ethics-through-video-games/) - The gaming community may have its share of cruelty and other negatives. But at the same time, “there is compassion, too, just as in other kinds of communities, whether school classrooms, town hall meetings or Facebook groups,” writes Karen “Kat” Schrier, a Marist College associate professor and the director of games and emerging media. People
- [CDC: Vaccinated K-12 teachers, students won’t need masks](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/cdc-vaccinated-k-12-teachers-students-wont-need-masks/) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said July 9 that vaccinated K-12 teachers and students will not have to wear masks inside school buildings. The CDC’s revised guidance for K-12 schools also stresses the continuation of ventilation and hand-washing, along with the importance of testing to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks. “Today’s guidance is grounded in
- [Google Workspace tools can benefit students, teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/google-workspace-tools-can-benefit-students-teachers/) - In a July 6 post about technology integration for Edutopia, Kathryn Nieves, an educational technology coordinator in New Jersey, writes about the benefits of using Google Workspace. “The ease of use and collaboration possibilities within Google Workspace have made it a staple for virtual, hybrid and in-person instruction,” Nieves writes. Read her tips here.
- [Weingarten, MSNBC’s Wallace talk about critical race theory](https://aftnj.org/topics/critical-race-theory/2021/weingarten-msnbcs-wallace-talk-about-critical-race-theory/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten stepped away from AFT TEACH 2021 on July 7 to appear in a segment with MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace on critical race theory and how it has become part of what Wallace described as “the culture war.” “I don’t care when the right wing goes after me,” Weingarten said. “You know, we’re
- [Column: USICA doesn’t do enough for STEM](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/column-usica-doesnt-do-enough-for-stem/) - The United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), which would boost science, technology, engineering and math in K-12 and higher education, “is a good start — but it’s incomplete,” writes Mark Schneider, director of the Institute of Education Sciences at the U.S. Department of Education. “Attention to applied education research is missing, meaning the very foundation
- [Helping teachers by building support systems](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/helping-teachers-by-building-support-systems/) - Just like students, teachers also need support systems, and offering peer coaching is one that seems to have worked out well for Kyndal Easter, a co-principal in East Palo Alto, California. “We redeployed existing team members who had been trained in social and emotional learning and wellness practices to set up weekly meetings with teachers to
- [Teacher: Let’s continue to show compassion and grace](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/teacher-lets-continue-to-show-compassion-and-grace/) - In a personal essay for Chalkbeat, Cara Schiavone, who teaches in Washington, D.C., writes that the need remains for what she calls “too nice” teachers. “So as we get ready to throw Zoom and hybrid teaching aside in favor of a return to the classroom next year,” she writes, “let’s remember that our pre-pandemic ‘normal’
- [Professor presents ways to get more teachers of color in K-12 classrooms](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/professor-presents-ways-to-get-more-teachers-of-color-in-k-12-classrooms/) - Funding schools more equitably is one way to get more teachers from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds in public K-12 classrooms, writes Travis Bristol, an assistant professor of education at the University of California, Berkeley. “Some states, like California, have a more progressive, equitable funding formula,” Bristol writes for The Conversation. “Other states, like New
- [Survey: Continued online learning would pose challenges to student-professor dynamic](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/survey-continued-online-learning-would-pose-challenges-to-student-professor-dynamic/) - More than 70 percent of current college students say getting proper instruction from professors or instructors and being able to easily interact with them would be challenging if learning were to continue online, according to a recently released survey. “And while students are overall satisfied with how their institutions managed the online learning transition during
- [AFTNJ endorses Gov. Murphy, Democratic legislative leadership team for reelection](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aftnj-endorses-gov-murphy-democratic-legislative-leadership-team-for-reelection/) - The American Federation of Teachers New Jersey during its June 28 delegate assembly meeting voted to endorse Gov. Phil Murphy and Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver for reelection this fall. The AFTNJ is also endorsing Senate President Steve Sweeney (District 3) and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (District 19) for reelection. “Over the past four years, New
- [Newark teacher Cepeda relies on visuals in her bilingual special education classes](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/newark-teacher-cepeda-relies-on-visuals-in-her-bilingual-special-education-classes/) - Bilingual special education teacher Mily Cepeda, who was born and raised in Newark, was hired in fall 2019 by Newark Public Schools to teach at the Louise A. Spencer School. And once the pandemic hit, Cepeda quickly made the transition to teaching from her home. “After live classes, I would spend several hours each day
- [Using summer to recharge after long school year](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/using-summer-to-recharge-after-long-school-year/) - Kimberly Rues, a PreK-6 librarian in Missouri, has her summer plans in place after finishing what she describes as “the longest year of my teaching career,” she writes in a column for EdSurge. Her agenda includes “time to tend my flowers, lunch with the girls, walks with the dog.” Rues writes, “One thing I know
- [Cardona faces lawmakers and students in separate virtual events](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/cardona-faces-lawmakers-and-students-in-separate-virtual-events/) - U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona recently fielded questions from two very different audiences, both wanting answers about Department of Education policies and plans. “I come to you today with a great sense of urgency,” Dr. Cardona said in his opening comments during a June 24 virtual hearing before the House Committee on
- [AFT joins forces with NAACP, First Book to stamp out racism](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aft-joins-forces-with-naacp-first-book-to-stamp-out-racism/) - The AFT has partnered with the NAACP and First Book for the campaign “Stamping Out Racism and Hate,” which officially launches in July with a special AFT edition of the Jason Reynolds-Ibram X. Kendi book “Stamped.” “The authors lay out the pervasiveness and insidiousness of racism in our lives, even as the history and legacy of racism
- [Report: About half of teen students had opportunity to discuss racism at school](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/report-about-half-of-teen-students-had-opportunity-to-discuss-racism-at-school/) - According to a recent report from the education organization America’s Promise Alliance, 55 percent of U.S. high school students say they had opportunities to discuss race and racism “sometimes” or “a great deal” at school. The survey was administered over a six-week period in March and April, and respondents were students ages 13-19 who were enrolled
- [AFT throws support behind effort to repeal SALT](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aft-throws-support-behind-effort-to-repeal-salt/) - Two days after attending New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s Summer of SALT campaign kickoff in Woodland Park, AFT President Randi Weingarten on June 23 participated in a Washington, D.C., event in support of the Sherrill-led effort to repeal the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap that affects New Jersey and other high-tax states. Also
- [Nowlan testifies for A5862; bill passed by Assembly Budget Committee](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/nowlan-testifies-for-a5862-bill-passed-by-assembly-budget-committee/) - Some notable union figures testified June 22 at the New Jersey Assembly Budget Committee meeting in support of A5862 (the Responsible Collective Negotiations Act, also known as the “Janus 2” bill), among them Patrick Nowlan, Rutgers AAUP-AFT’s executive director. “Expanding the scope of bargaining actually allows us to be more creative in what we’re doing and increases
- [Diversity Dialogue: Building alliances, social justice and the future of unions](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2021/diversity-dialogue-building-alliances-social-justice-and-the-future-of-unions/) - By Anthony Balzano The recent Jane McAlevey book “A Collective Bargain: Unions, Organizing, and the Fight for Democracy” (Ecco/HarperCollins, 2020) acknowledges — although few sources give them credit — how unions fought to defeat a white supremacist candidate and pull Joe Biden across the finish line. This happened while certain politicians incited white nationalist fervor
- [AFTNJ Special Report: Teachers, staff reflect on 2020-21 school year](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/aftnj-special-report-teachers-staff-reflect-on-2020-21-school-year/) - It’s been an academic year defined by wearing masks and performing precautionary tasks, during which the need for sanitizer was eventually upstaged by the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines. It's also been a period of time when “roomies” became “Zoomies,” as Newark Teachers Union President John M. Abeigon was fond of saying. With summer break in
- [Budget transparency, layoff registry among topics covered in latest AFTNJ-OSHE meeting](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/budget-transparency-layoff-registry-among-topics-covered-in-latest-aftnj-oshe-meeting/) - AFTNJ higher education leaders virtually met June 18 with New Jersey’s Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, with chief of staff Sandra Gilot West standing in for Secretary Dr. Brian Bridges. Dr. Susanna Tardi, AFTNJ’s executive vice president/higher education and a William Paterson University professor, asked most of the questions. Among them was, “At
- [Professor came around to liking Zoom](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/professor-came-around-to-liking-zoom/) - Samuel J. Abrams, a professor of politics at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, was skeptical at first about virtual teaching. But after three semesters using Zoom, Abrams realized that the platform “created some wonderful pedagogical moments for me and my students,” he writes in an advice column for The Chronicle of Higher Education. Read
- [Improving the STEM experience for black students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/improving-the-stem-experience-for-black-students/) - James Holly Jr., an assistant professor of urban STEM education at Wayne State University, says now is the time “to generate new teaching practices in STEM that affirm black students in a way that connects with their lives,” he writes for The Conversation. He explains how to improve STEM for black students here.
- [New N.J. law extends special education, related services to select students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/new-n-j-law-extends-special-education-related-services-to-select-students/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on June 16 signed legislation (S3434/A5366) that will offer an additional year of special education and related services to three classes of students with disabilities. “These students would otherwise be aging out of our educational system because they will turn 21 years old during the 2020-21 or the 2021-22 or
- [Survey: Stress higher among K-12 teachers than other workers](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/survey-stress-higher-among-k-12-teachers-than-other-workers/) - A much higher proportion of K-12 teachers reported frequent job-related stress and symptoms of depression than the general adult population, according to a RAND American Teacher Panel survey that was co-funded by the AFT and conducted in January and February. In other key findings, nearly one in four teachers said that they were likely to leave their
- [Repollet testifies on behalf of Kean University Act](https://aftnj.org/topics/kean-university/2021/repollet-testifies-on-behalf-of-kean-university-act/) - Kean University President Dr. Lamont O. Repollet testified during the Senate Higher Education Committee meeting June 15 in support of S3811, also known as the Kean University Act, which would establish Kean as a public urban research university. “So why is this legislation important for the state of New Jersey? The bill before you today
- [Murphy tackles tough questions from AFTNJ](https://aftnj.org/topics/kean-university/2021/murphy-tackles-tough-questions-from-aftnj/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on June 14 virtually met with AFTNJ PreK-12 and higher education leaders to discuss the future of education in the state. “I want to make sure I say this up front: I don’t take our partnership, your support for granted for one second, and I would love the opportunity to
- [Cardona recaps his recent 10-school tour in memo](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/cardona-recaps-his-recent-10-school-tour-in-memo/) - Buildings with outdated ventilation systems and racial disparity in school enrollment were among the subjects Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona covered in a school-reopening memo he sent to Ron Klain, the White House chief of staff. “I saw firsthand during my tour how difficult the school year has been for students, parents, teachers,
- [Recognizing and celebrating Juneteenth](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/recognizing-and-celebrating-juneteenth/) - Juneteenth — which in 2020 became a state and public holiday in New Jersey — “has never been explicitly taught in American history,” writes Dr. Lisa Thomas for the Share My Lesson section of AFT’s website. “June 19, 1865, is the day all people living in the United States, including the formerly enslaved, were officially granted
- [Offshore-wind roundtable discussion to feature Rutgers professor](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/offshore-wind-roundtable-discussion-to-feature-rutgers-professor/) - Dr. Josh Kohut, a professor at Rutgers University’s Center for Ocean Observing Leadership, will be among the panelists June 16 for the virtual roundtable “Offshore Wind in New Jersey: Meeting the State’s Clean Energy and Economic Goals.” For more information and to register for this NJ Spotlight News event, click here.
- [Murphy signs bill with subcontracting protections for N.J.’s higher education workers](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/murphy-signs-bill-with-subcontracting-protections-for-n-j-s-higher-education-workers/) - S2932/A4680, which provides subcontracting protections for workers at New Jersey’s public four-year institutions of higher education, was signed June 11 by Gov. Phil Murphy, his office said. “Working collaboratively leads to results,” said AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera. “I appreciate the efforts of Senate President Steve Sweeney, a primary sponsor of this legislation, which gives workers
- [Castiglione is pleased with choice of Birdsell as new Kean provost, SVP](https://aftnj.org/topics/kean-university/2021/castiglione-is-pleased-with-choice-of-birdsell-as-new-kean-provost-svp/) - Kean University has named Dr. David S. Birdsell as its new provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, effective Aug. 1. “Throughout our thorough and inclusive search process, Dr. Birdsell established himself as an accomplished scholar and visionary leader with a deep respect for and understanding of traditional shared governance and its role in
- [Latest issue of American Educator now available](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/latest-issue-of-american-educator-now-available/) - “Cultivating Opportunities to Thrive” is the theme that runs throughout the summer 2021 edition of AFT’s American Educator. Among the issue’s feature stories are Jennifer Dubin’s “Building Community With Community Schools” and the Julie A. Washington-Mark S. Seidenberg collaboration “Teaching Reading to African American Children.” The summer 2021 edition can be downloaded here.
- [Senate Labor Committee passes ‘Janus 2’ bill](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/senate-labor-committee-passes-janus-2-bill/) - New Jersey’s Senate Labor Committee on June 10 passed S3810, officially described as the Responsible Collective Negotiations Act and nicknamed the “Janus 2” bill. Sponsored by State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney (above center) and state Sens. Dawn Addiego (above left) and Linda Greenstein (above right), S3810 helps to protect the rights of labor unions
- [Building students’ reading fluency in three steps](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/building-students-reading-fluency-in-three-steps/) - By combining repeat reading, paired reading and fluency trackers, elementary school teacher Sonja Cassella finds that students “are more motivated to do that crucial work that builds fluency,” she writes in a June 7 story for Edutopia. Read Cassella’s three-step strategy here.
- [Schools’ mental health providers will be put to the test](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/schools-mental-health-providers-will-be-put-to-the-test/) - Writing for The Hechinger Report, Kate Rix delves into how COVID-19’s impact on the mental health of children “has surged into its own epidemic,” and as students return to school, “the system of mental health supports that [awaits] them remains patchy and overburdened.” Read Rix’s full story here.
- [Wolfson, Wallace react to MSU naming Koppell as its new president](https://aftnj.org/topics/montclair-state-university/2021/wolfson-wallace-react-to-msu-naming-koppell-as-its-new-president/) - Dr. Jonathan Koppell has been chosen as the next president of Montclair State University, its board of trustees said June 8. “Jonathan Koppell was the clear choice for all the trustees, who were impressed with his energy, his passion and his dedication to the ideals of public higher education,” said Dr. Francis M. Cuss, the board
- [Battles have intensified over ‘social studies wars’](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/battles-have-intensified-over-social-studies-wars/) - With America “splintered along political and geographic lines,” social studies has found itself caught in the crossfire — and at the same time, there’s an overall feeling that this set of subjects “has been given short shrift in American schooling,” writes Kelly Field for The Hechinger Report. “As the field has become more politicized, schools have scaled
- [Making the case for paying teachers accordingly](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/making-the-case-for-paying-teachers-accordingly/) - Competitive salaries for teachers “would lower attrition rates and attract fresh talent that would push everyone to do better,” writes Colette Coleman, a former educator in Los Angeles and Indonesia, in a guest essay for The New York Times. “For many teachers, the extra money would allow them to quit second jobs and give their primary
- [Registration is open for ‘Rethinking Our Schools’](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/registration-is-open-for-rethinking-our-schools/) - The virtual symposium “Rethinking Our Schools — From Crisis to Opportunity,” cosponsored by the AFT, will take place June 15-17. Registration closes June 8 for this free event; click here to register.
- [Virtual event delves into higher education’s value](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/virtual-event-delves-into-higher-educations-value/) - Insider Higher Ed’s free virtual event “The Value of Higher Education” will be presented June 9 and 16. Participants will learn how higher education needs to better define the value of postsecondary education, which data needs to be made transparent in order for students to make better college choices, and much more. To register for
- [Helpful strategies for new teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/helpful-strategies-for-new-teachers/) - Writing for Edutopia, longtime educator David Wilson provides tips for new teachers that are meant to provide them with structure on a daily basis as well as support when times are tough. Read his advice here.
- [Column: Teaching history must include ‘controversial’ topics](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/column-teaching-history-must-include-controversial-topics/) - Even though the classroom “has become a minefield of political dos and don’ts,” longtime North Carolina history teacher Valencia Ann Abbott continues to “teach historical truths, to help my students become critical readers and thinkers and skillful and persuasive writers,” she writes in an essay published by Chalkbeat. “Revealing long-ignored history gives students a more comprehensive understanding
- [Updated Share My Lesson resources available for Pride Month](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2021/updated-share-my-lesson-resources-available-for-pride-month/) - June is Pride Month, and the AFT has updated a handful of its LGBTQ-related Share My Lesson resources for 2021 to accompany its existing catalog. Among the revised offerings are two lesson plans for middle school and high school students: “AIDS Memorial Quilt: Raising Awareness a Stitch at a Time,” the story of a community
- [Webinar covers building bonds between educators, community](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/webinar-covers-building-bonds-between-educators-community/) - Join Rethinking Schools and the Bargain for the Common Good Network for an online discussion June 8 on building relationships between educators and community and fighting for social justice in education. To register for “Teacher Unions and Social Justice: Building Power Through Labor and Community Partnerships,” which begins at 7 p.m. ET on June 8, click
- [Get your free Vax Pass to N.J.’s state parks](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/get-your-free-vax-pass-to-n-j-s-state-parks/) - Under its Vax and Visit campaign, which launched May 27, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is offering a free State Parks Vax Pass to all N.J. residents who receive at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose by July 4. The State Parks Vax Pass will allow free access through Dec. 31 to all of N.J.’s state
- [Communal reading-aloud ideas for the classroom](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/communal-reading-aloud-ideas-for-the-classroom/) - In a May 21 article for Edutopia, contributing editor Sarah Gonser writes about three activities that educators recommend as ways to set aside classroom time for communal reading aloud to students. Read more here.
- [Cardona: ‘All means all’ when it comes to access to public education in U.S.](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/cardona-all-means-all-when-it-comes-to-access-to-public-education-in-u-s/) - In a recent Newsweek interview, Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona says the pandemic “didn’t discriminate against students,” so as the United States recovers, every student — citizen or otherwise — should have access to its public schools. “I believe all means all,” Dr. Cardona said. “So when there are students that are here
- [Allen-McMillan breaks down N.J.’s ARP ESSER funds](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/allen-mcmillan-breaks-down-n-j-s-arp-esser-funds/) - Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, acting commissioner of New Jersey’s Department of Education, on May 26 provided an overview of the $2.7 billion New Jersey will receive via the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ARP ESSER). She pointed out that the NJDOE on May 24 published each district’s allocation of this third
- [Tech resources for K-12 classrooms](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/tech-resources-for-k-12-classrooms/) - With K-12 teachers and students back in classrooms across America, EdTech writer Adam Stone points out the need for technology carts, power management solutions and infrastructure as a service (IaaS). Read his take on these resources here.
- [Black educators challenged by ‘racial battle fatigue’](https://aftnj.org/topics/black-lives-matter/2021/black-educators-challenged-by-racial-battle-fatigue/) - For more than a year, black Americans “have experienced a perfect storm of social and emotional stressors,” and during that time, black educators “have been in the awkward positions of having to create lessons around police violence,” writes Peggy Barmore for The Hechinger Report. “There’s a sense of angst among black teachers, and they’re losing
- [Weingarten visits Newark’s First Avenue School](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/weingarten-visits-newarks-first-avenue-school/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten on May 24 visited the First Avenue School in Newark to thank its educators and students “for believing that we were gonna get out of COVID” and to take a tour of the building with AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera and others. It was the 10th school visit in the past month
- [Murphy lifting N.J.’s indoor masking mandate; certain schools among exceptions](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-lifting-n-j-s-indoor-masking-mandate-certain-schools-among-exceptions/) - Effective May 28, New Jersey’s statewide indoor masking mandate will come to an end, but existing masking requirements will continue at public preschool program premises and elementary and secondary schools, Gov. Phil Murphy said May 24. “By the way, this is for a simple reason. Children under the age of 12 are not yet eligible
- [New teaching playbook was co-developed by AFT](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2021/new-teaching-playbook-was-co-developed-by-aft/) - A new Teaching Profession Playbook, co-developed by the AFT, contains tools “for advancing a stable and diverse teaching profession” while also “ensuring that every student in every school is taught by a fully prepared teacher,” according to the guide’s introduction. Published by the Partnership for the Future of Learning, the playbook — subtitled “Building a
- [NJTESOL/NJBE’s Parent Power workshop is scheduled for June 5](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/njtesol-njbes-parent-power-workshop-is-scheduled-for-june-5/) - Parent Power, NJTESOL/NJBE’s free virtual workshop for parents of multilingual learners, is set for June 5 from 8:30 a.m. to noon ET. For more information and to register, click here.
- [Teacher makes the case for video journaling](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/teacher-makes-the-case-for-video-journaling/) - When in-person learning resumed at her elementary school, Nevada teacher Tava Dennis turned to video journaling so she could better connect with her students in a safe, mask-free forum. “From the beginning, the videos offered the only way for me to see my students’ full faces and smiles, and for them to see mine,” Davis
- [Diversity Dialogue: Curriculum on race and slavery is a problem for certain elites](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2021/diversity-dialogue-curriculum-on-race-and-slavery-is-a-problem-for-certain-elites/) - By Anthony Balzano Recent news reports show that political and social elites are having a problem with curriculum on race and the legacy of slavery. One example comes from the parents of children at elite private schools in New York City protesting against “an obsessive focus on race and identity in schools.” These parents send their children
- [What works best in teacher mentorship](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/what-works-best-in-teacher-mentorship/) - The mentorship Misti Kemmer received as a rookie teacher wasn’t ideal, but more than 15 years later, she’s still in the profession and now serves as a mentor herself to new teachers. Kemmer, an elementary school teacher in Los Angeles, and others share mentorship advice in a story by Education Week’s Elizabeth Heubeck.
- [Murphy quotes Weingarten in declaring the end to Executive Order 175](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-quotes-weingarten-in-declaring-the-end-to-executive-order-175/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy opened his May 17 media briefing by saying Executive Order 175 will expire at the end of the current school year. “Through this action we are declaring that all students will be back in school for full-time, in-person instruction for the start of the 2021-2022 school year,” Murphy said. “Further,
- [Free Amplify webinar covers SoR implementation](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/free-amplify-webinar-covers-sor-implementation/) - As part of its free Science of Reading webinar series, Amplify CKLA will present an educator panel May 18 at 3 p.m. ET featuring teachers from around the country who have implemented SoR into their classrooms. To register, click here.
- [Diversity Dialogue: True ballot-box ‘purity’ means no racist voting laws](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2021/diversity-dialogue-true-ballot-box-purity-means-no-racist-voting-laws/) - By Jennifer S. Higgins The recent wave of voting-restriction laws in the Sun Belt of the United States has brought to light why words and a thorough understanding of our nation’s history are necessary for us to continue to work toward creating a more perfect union. In Texas, Rep. Briscoe Cain (shown above) was the
- [Column: School safety starts with prevention](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/column-school-safety-starts-with-prevention/) - Taking a proactive approach to addressing mental health and behavior issues in schools “is one of the best ways to reduce violence,” writes Mark Sullivan, a former Secret Service director, in an opinion piece for K-12 Dive. “My experience has taught me school safety starts with prevention,” adds Sullivan. “As the nation emerges from the pandemic,
- [Black male educators discuss professional challenges](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2021/black-male-educators-discuss-professional-challenges/) - Emir Davis says he hears from black male teachers who have “this deep calling within them” to educate and teach, but having “to deal with the minutia that surrounds them” takes a toll. “That burden to be the culturally competent teacher and the one who expresses love and generosity and dedication to their students, along
- [Murphy signs two education-related bills into law](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/murphy-signs-two-education-related-bills-into-law/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on May 11 signed two education-related bills into law: S2486/A4264 establishes the Clayton Model Pilot Program in DOE to provide school-based emotional learning to students in grades K-5 at certain public schools. S2832/A5295 permits a candidate for a substitute teacher credential who is enrolled in a regionally accredited institution of higher education
- [Tips for teachers on how to support their LGBTQ+ colleagues of color](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-and-inclusion/2021/tips-for-teachers-on-how-to-support-their-lgbtq-colleagues-of-color/) - Using inclusive language and becoming an advocate are two ways in which educators can support their LGBTQ+ colleagues who are from marginalized racial and ethnic groups, writes Israel Tovar, a world history teacher in Washington, D.C., in a May 10 post for Edutopia. “Instead of centering the voices and experiences of queer and trans BIPOC
- [Rutgers professor finds value in arts education for students’ mental wellness](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/rutgers-professor-finds-value-in-arts-education-for-students-mental-wellness/) - The arts are essential for all, according to Rutgers University psychology professor Dr. Maurice Elias, and when it comes to students’ mental wellness, he sees a relationship between arts education and social-emotional learning. “The arts are so important for giving our kids opportunities for expression and feeling just competent during the school day,” Dr. Elias
- [Weingarten’s ‘Return, Recover and Reimagine’ virtual speech set for May 13](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/weingartens-return-recover-and-reimagine-virtual-speech-set-for-may-13/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten on May 13 will outline her vision for public education as the country emerges from the COVID-19 crisis. To register for Weingarten’s virtual speech “Return, Recover and Reimagine: Toward a Renaissance in America’s Public Schools,” which starts at 11 a.m. ET on May 13, click here.
- [Students benefit from Abbott Preschool Program, per study](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/students-benefit-from-abbott-preschool-program-per-study/) - According to a study published in Early Childhood Research Quarterly, students in grades 3-10 who participated in New Jersey’s Abbott Preschool Program scored higher achievement levels in math, science and language/literacy, writes K-12 Dive’s Shawna De La Rosa. Read more here.
- [Care for class pets is another pandemic challenge for teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/care-for-class-pets-is-another-pandemic-challenge-for-teachers/) - In some schools, class pets are as common as books and desks, and during the pandemic, Ohio teachers have turned to students to provide temporary homes for their turtles and other species. Columbus Dispatch writer Megan Henry has more.
- [Abeigon to Sunlight: Newark public schools are open, unlike N.J.’s corporate charters](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/abeigon-to-sunlight-newark-public-schools-are-open-unlike-n-j-s-corporate-charters/) - A recently posted billboard calling out the Newark Teachers Union has not gone unnoticed by Local 481 President John M. Abeigon. Part of a campaign by the Sunlight Policy Center of New Jersey, the grammatically incorrect billboard resides along Route 21 between Market and Lafayette streets in Newark. It makes reference to 430,000 students in
- [Weingarten goes to bat for the 1619 Project](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/weingarten-goes-to-bat-for-the-1619-project/) - In the wake of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s recent letter to the Department of Education opposing the proposed use of 1619 Project-based curriculum in schools, AFT President Randi Weingarten on May 6 defended the New York Times-developed initiative, which takes a broader, deeper look at American slavery’s history. “All of a sudden you’re hearing
- [NTU’s Farley is thankful for student’s kind words in Teacher Appreciation Week story](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/ntus-farley-thankful-for-students-kind-words-in-teacher-appreciation-week-story/) - He’s been a teacher in the Newark public school system for 27 years, and for 17 of them, he’s been teaching health and physical education at Science Park High School. Now Newark Teachers Union member Patrick Farley can add “teacher who couldn’t be stopped during the pandemic” to his resume. That distinction was given to him
- [Increase in faculty workloads, class sizes coincides with budget issues at colleges, universities](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/increase-in-faculty-workloads-class-sizes-coincides-with-budget-issues-at-colleges-universities/) - Across America, colleges and universities “are quietly increasing the number of courses faculty teach and the number of students in them as a way to lower costs,” writes Jon Marcus, The Hechinger Report’s higher education editor. This is taking place “on campuses that largely serve low-income students who often come from poorly resourced public high
- [Cardona on classroom learning this fall: ‘I expect it’](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/cardona-on-classroom-learning-this-fall-i-expect-it/) - Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona spoke about in-person learning, departmental oversight and other topics this week during the 74th annual Education Writers Association national seminar. “I want all students to have the opportunity to learn in person in the spring, but I expect it in the fall,” Dr. Cardona said May 3. “I need all
- [ACE workshop supports student mental health on college campuses](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/ace-workshop-supports-student-mental-health-on-college-campuses/) - As part of its Engage Workshops series, the American Council on Education will present “Lessons From Community Colleges on Improving Student Mental Health” on May 4 and 18. Sponsored by The Mary Christie Institute and The Jed Foundation, the workshop is meant for all college and university leaders and draws on best practices of community
- [Share My Lesson to present free wellness sessions during Teacher Appreciation Week](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/share-my-lesson-to-present-free-wellness-sessions-during-teacher-appreciation-week/) - As part of a month of new virtual sessions, AFT’s Share My Lesson will present three wellness programs during Teacher Appreciation Week, which is May 3-7. The offerings that week are: May 4 at 6 p.m. ET: “For All Abilities: Mindfulness and Yoga With Grand Love”Join DeAnn Albertson-Fontanella to connect with your inner self through
- [Webinar examines how colleges can help students post-pandemic](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/webinar-examines-how-colleges-can-help-students-post-pandemic/) - Alexander Kafka, senior editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education, will be among the speakers during the virtual forum “Post-Pandemic Campus Well-Being” on May 5 at 2 p.m. ET. Experts from around the country will convene to examine how colleges can help students flourish both physically and emotionally. To register for the webinar, click here.
- [Diversity Dialogue: Don’t be idle as our democracy slides toward aristocracy](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-dialogue/2021/diversity-dialogue-dont-be-idle-as-our-democracy-slides-toward-aristocracy/) - By Donna M. Chiera In March, I wrote a blog post on how GOP state legislators realized changing demographics threaten their chances of winning statewide and federal elections. Rather than addressing and adapting their positions to meet the needs of their constituents, they are passing laws to suppress the rights of the voters in these states. At
- [American Families Plan calls for free preschool and community college, support for educators](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/american-families-plan-calls-for-free-preschool-and-community-college-support-for-educators/) - Described by the White House as an investment “to grow the middle class,” President Joe Biden’s American Families Plan will provide free universal preschool for all children ages 3-4 and two years of free community college for all Americans, including DREAMers. The American Families Plan will ensure “that all publicly-funded preschool is high-quality, with low student-to-teacher
- [Panel for GFT-arranged racism talk features George Floyd family attorney](https://aftnj.org/topics/garfield/2021/panel-for-gft-arranged-racism-talk-features-george-floyd-family-attorney/) - “Real Talk About Racism,” an online panel discussion arranged by Garfield Federation of Teachers members Paola Brown and Chris Storms and students at Garfield High School, will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. ET. The panel will include Jeff Storms, brother of Chris Storms and an attorney for the families of George Floyd and Daunte Wright.
- [Latest issue of AFT Health Care is out now](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/latest-issue-of-aft-health-care-is-out-now/) - The spring 2021 issue of AFT Health Care delves into the problem of moral injury among health care professionals, explaining what causes it, offering self-care strategies for providers, and discussing the long-term systemic changes necessary for patients and providers to thrive. Among the issue’s other features: the importance of respectful maternity care for women of color,
- [Webinar looks at how to close the knowledge gap](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/webinar-looks-at-how-to-close-the-knowledge-gap/) - Education journalist and author Natalie Wexler will share her experience in classrooms and what it will take to close the knowledge gap in a free Amplify Education webinar taking place April 29 at 3 p.m. ET. To register, click here.
- [Study: U.S. school meals get good grades for nutritional value](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/study-u-s-school-meals-get-good-grades-for-nutritional-value/) - A recently released Tufts University study of American diets from 2003-04 to 2017-18 shows that 45 percent of children’s meals from grocery stores were of poor nutritional quality. School meals, however, fared much better, with just 24 percent classified as poor quality. “Schools are now the single healthiest place Americans are eating,” said Dariush Mozaffarian,
- [Column: Let’s rewrite rules for teachers’ paid leave](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/column-lets-rewrite-rules-for-teachers-paid-leave/) - Jahdziah St. Julien, a research associate at the Better Life Lab at New America, describes the rules pertaining to teachers’ paid family and medical leave as “convoluted,” saying they “resemble those of a complicated board game specifically designed to make winning nearly impossible.” “To help teachers, we must rewrite the rules of the paid leave
- [Lessons, best practices requested for DOE’s Safer Schools website](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/lessons-best-practices-requested-for-does-safer-schools-website/) - Pre-K to 12 schools, colleges and universities have until September to submit lessons from the field and best practices for safe operations during the pandemic to the U.S. Department of Education for its Safer Schools and Campuses Best Practices Clearinghouse website. Submissions can be substantive materials, sample agreements among partners, ready-to-implement resources and videos. Rhea
- [AFT among supporters of legislation investing $25B in electric school buses](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aft-among-supporters-of-legislation-investing-25b-in-electric-school-buses/) - A bill set to be introduced April 21 would invest $25 billion in electric school buses, covering the purchase of the vehicles as well as the cost for charging stations and training workers, reports Associated Press writer Hope Yen. “Transitioning our school bus fleet to zero-emission vehicles is an essential aspect of building equitable, sustainable
- [Paradiso, Audet speak out ahead of students returning to Perth Amboy classrooms](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/paradiso-audet-speak-out-ahead-of-students-returning-to-perth-amboy-classrooms/) - Perth Amboy Federation (Local 857) President Pat Paradiso and district representative Lynn Audet spoke about scheduling and other concerns during the public portion of April 15’s board of education meeting, 11 days before students are due to return to classrooms for in-person learning. As reported by Katherine Massopust in the April 21 print edition of
- [New Zoom policy means less moderation of college, university usage](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/new-zoom-policy-means-less-moderation-of-college-university-usage/) - Colleges and universities now have more authority when they use Zoom for their virtual events. “For Zoom meetings and webinars hosted by a higher education institution, the Trust and Safety team will only act on reports alleging content-related violations of our Community Standards or Terms of Service that come from the meeting’s host or the
- [Sweeney’s college plan addresses affordability, retaining N.J. students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/sweeneys-college-plan-addresses-affordability-retaining-n-j-students/) - In a guest column for The Star-Ledger, State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney writes about a plan that would guarantee the last two years of college at any of New Jersey’s public higher education institutions are tuition-free for students from qualifying N.J. households based on adjusted gross income. His plan, which he says “uses a similar
- [Mercy and change are at the heart of Many Threads webinar](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/mercy-and-change-are-at-the-heart-of-many-threads-webinar/) - Join Leven “Chuck” Wilson, whose credits include being a partner of the AFT’s teacher diversity program, for the webinar “Courageous Conversation: The Art of Listening, Mercy and Change” on April 22 at 4 p.m. ET. According to the description by co-presenter NYSUT, participants of this Many Threads, One Fabric session will “learn more about the essential art
- [Bridges meets with AFTNJ’s higher education leaders](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/bridges-meets-with-aftnjs-higher-education-leaders/) - Calling it “the first of many meetings,” New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Brian Bridges on April 16 hosted a virtual session with AFTNJ’s higher education leaders. “Our organization has been looking forward to the opportunity to meet with you and share our concerns regarding higher education,” said Dr. Susanna Tardi, AFTNJ’s executive vice
- [Cardona talk is on tap for EdTech Week 2021](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/cardona-talk-is-on-tap-for-edtech-week-2021/) - An interview and Q&A session with Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona is on the agenda for EdTech Week 2021, taking place April 19-22. Registration is free; to RSVP and view the full agenda, click here.
- [Murphy’s new gun reforms include regulating school shooting drills](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/murphys-new-gun-reforms-include-regulating-school-shooting-drills/) - As part of new gun reforms unveiled April 15, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has proposed a measure authorizing the Department of Education to establish trauma-informed and age-appropriate standards for lockdown drills. “I think of the tens of thousands of Newark schoolchildren who returned to their classrooms this week for the first time in a
- [These instructional strategies actively engage students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/these-instructional-strategies-actively-engage-students/) - Cognitive routines, visual routines and discussion protocols are instructional strategies “that can have a big impact on student learning,” writes educational consultant Angela Di Michele Lalor in an April 14 post for Edutopia. “When teachers select instructional strategies that actively engage students and develop those methods as routines for student learning, they’re equipping students with
- [Report explores pandemic’s effect on upcoming kindergartners](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/report-explores-pandemics-effect-on-upcoming-kindergartners/) - School districts can expect greater age differences in kindergarten classrooms this fall and should prepare for wider skill disparities among those children, according to a report by the nonprofit organization NWEA. “Among the many ways in which schools are being transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the change in public school kindergarten enrollment is one likely
- [Save the dates for AFT TEACH 2021 for chance to win VR headset](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/save-the-dates-for-aft-teach-2021-for-chance-to-win-vr-headset/) - This year’s virtual AFT TEACH conference is set for July 6-10, and by saving the dates for the event, you’ll be entered for a chance to win an Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headset and a complimentary conference registration. To save the dates, click here.
- [Weingarten now OK with CDC’s revised distancing guidance for K-12 schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/weingarten-now-ok-with-cdcs-revised-distancing-guidance-for-k-12-schools/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten recently received a letter signed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky and Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona that Weingarten says “has eased my concerns” regarding the CDC’s revised guidance reducing physical distancing in K-12 schools from six feet to three feet. "They responded forthrightly
- [NTU members, Newark students begin part-time in-person learning](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/ntu-members-newark-students-begin-part-time-in-person-learning/) - After more than a year of remote learning, roughly 40 percent of Newark’s PreK-12 students were expected to start part-time in-person instruction on April 12. For Newark Teachers Union (Local 481) member Catia Nascimento, classroom mitigation strategies go hand in hand with behavior conducted outside of school buildings. “We’re trying to provide a very safe environment
- [Jane Fonda booked for AFT climate town hall](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/jane-fonda-booked-for-aft-climate-town-hall/) - In advance of Earth Day, the AFT will present the virtual town hall “Climate Justice, Jobs & Freedom to Thrive” on April 13 at 6:45 p.m. ET. Among the scheduled speakers are actress and Fire Drill Fridays founder Jane Fonda and AFT President Randi Weingarten. For more information and to register, click here.
- [Survey: AFT members getting vaccinated at high rate](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/survey-aft-members-getting-vaccinated-at-high-rate/) - According to a survey conducted by Hart Research Associates, 81 percent of AFT members have either received a COVID-19 vaccine or are scheduled to get one. “Educators are rolling up their sleeves, not only to get vaccinated but to return to in-person schooling with the CDC’s safety guardrails in place,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten
- [CDC’s Walensky: In-person learning for all students in September](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/cdcs-walensky-in-person-learning-for-all-students-in-september/) - The plan for the start of the 2021-22 school year is to have in-person learning for all students, no matter if they have received COVID-19 vaccines, according to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s director. "We should anticipate, come September 2021, that schools should be full-fledged in person and all of
- [Agreement provides job security for Rutgers unions](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/agreement-provides-job-security-for-rutgers-unions/) - Five Coalition of Rutgers Unions locals, among them Rutgers AAUP-AFT (Local 6323) and URA-AFT (Local 1766), recently ratified an agreement with Rutgers University that provides job security, a timetable for raises and other gains for the CRU. “We finally got the administration to change direction and adopt our people-centered approach,” said Todd Wolfson, president of Rutgers AAUP-AFT.
- [Labor-focused virtual town hall with Murphy is set for April 14](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/labor-focused-virtual-town-hall-with-murphy-is-set-for-april-14/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy will hold a virtual town hall with union members April 14 at 5 p.m. ET. Murphy intends to share his vision for the year ahead, and he will be answering questions during the Zoom session. To register, click here.
- [PERS to present webinars for AFTNJ adjuncts](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/pers-to-present-webinars-for-aftnj-adjuncts/) - The Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) will present two workshops in May for AFTNJ adjunct professors who would like more information about pension benefits or are planning to retire. “Understanding Your Pension Benefits,” scheduled for May 12 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET, will cover enrollment criteria, membership tiers, the Member Benefits Online System (MBOS), beneficiary
- [Rutgers personnel among the speakers at education reform conference](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/rutgers-personnel-among-the-speakers-at-education-reform-conference/) - Registration is now open for this year’s Education Reform, Communities and Social Justice Research Conference, taking place via Zoom on June 2, 16 and 30. Elisabeth H. Kim from Rutgers University in Newark has one of the talks set for June 2 under the collective heading Community Schools, School Safety & Restorative Justice. As part
- [Webinars cover vaccine hesitancy, preventing premature births](https://aftnj.org/topics/health-care/2021/webinars-cover-vaccine-hesitancy-preventing-premature-births/) - Health care literacy organization Quizzify will present webinars this month on vaccines and preventing premature births. “Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy” is set for April 7 at 1 p.m. ET. Dr. Christa-Marie Singleton, who holds multiple titles with the CDC, and Dr. Scott Conrad, a medical director for various corporations, will be taking questions. To register, click here. “New
- [What teachers have learned during the pandemic](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/what-teachers-have-learned-during-the-pandemic/) - In an Inverness Institute survey conducted in late January, more than 100 California teachers were asked about what they have learned while working during the pandemic. Results from the project were released in late March. To read some of their ideas, click here.
- [COVID-19’s impact on school construction](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/covid-19s-impact-on-school-construction/) - Contactless features such as touch-free faucets and increasing access to fresh air might play a big part in post-pandemic school construction and redesign, writes Katie Navarra for K-12 Dive. Read more here.
- [Biden’s American Jobs Plan ‘reimagines our schools,’ says Weingarten](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/bidens-american-jobs-plan-reimagines-our-schools-says-weingarten/) - The American Jobs Plan, introduced March 31 by President Joe Biden, is “a down payment on our woefully underinvested infrastructure” that also “reimagines our schools and communities well into the 21st century,” said AFT Randi Weingarten in a press release. “From $100 billion toward K-12 public school infrastructure to $12 billion for community colleges to upgrade
- [William Paterson staff, students star in videos to help prevent layoffs, save programs](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/william-paterson-staff-students-star-in-videos-to-help-prevent-layoffs-save-programs/) - As negotiations continue between William Paterson University administration and AFT Local 1796 over possible cutbacks, WPU’s workers and students are supporting the at-risk personnel and programs with video messages explaining why such reductions would result in long-term, widespread consequences. The initial videos in the series, produced by the Council of New Jersey State College Locals and the AFTNJ,
- [Rutgers, MSU and Rowan land on the latest Best Grad Schools list](https://aftnj.org/topics/montclair-state-university/2021/rutgers-msu-and-rowan-land-on-the-latest-best-grad-schools-list/) - Rutgers University’s business schools in Newark and New Brunswick tied for 44th in that category on the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Grad Schools report for 2022, which was released this week. In the education school category, New Jersey was well represented, with Rutgers (New Brunswick) ranking 47th, Montclair State University tied for 103rd and Rowan
- [Survey: Learning loss is steep for N.J.’s students of color](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/survey-learning-loss-is-steep-for-n-j-s-students-of-color/) - The expected learning loss in math for New Jersey’s black students in grades 3-8 during the first half of the 2020-21 school year is 50 percent, as high as students with individual education plans, according to a survey released March 30 by the Cranford-based advocacy group JerseyCAN. Learning loss in English language arts is 43
- [Weingarten shares her thoughts on disparities in school reopenings](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/weingarten-shares-her-thoughts-on-disparities-in-school-reopenings/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten was interviewed by CBSN’s Nikki Battiste on March 29, and when asked about the disparities in school reopenings, Weingarten cited facilities and trust as the primary factors. “The places that were the hardest to reopen were the places that had the worst conditions, that had the worst facilities,” Weingarten said. “And
- [Comics can be a great teaching tool](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/comics-can-be-a-great-a-teaching-tool/) - Susan McLuckie, who teaches at the Toby Farms Intermediate School in Pennsylvania, describes comics as “a fantastic tool for inspiring student engagement,” she writes for eSchool News. Comics also “level the playing field,” she adds, “because socioeconomic background has little to do with drawing ability — the rich kids and the poor kids are all
- [Perth Amboy teachers, school staff grateful for priority access to vaccines](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/perth-amboy-teachers-staff-grateful-for-priority-access-to-vaccines/) - Since New Jersey’s PreK-12 educators and support staff became eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in mid-March, it hasn’t been easy for Perth Amboy teacher Marie Connor to book an appointment. Connor, a member of the Perth Amboy Federation/Local 857, felt “really anxious and frustrated” after her repeated online attempts to schedule an appointment failed. Everything changed
- [Getting the most out of group work](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/getting-the-most-out-of-group-work/) - Working in small groups is “useful for making connections and deepening the learning process,” no matter if the environment is virtual or in person, writes New York teacher Selena Carrion in a March 24 article for Edutopia. Carrion offers tips for leveraging small-group discussions and more.
- [Murphy expands COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to include higher education workers](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-expands-covid-19-vaccine-eligibility-to-include-higher-education-workers/) - Effective April 5, all educators and staff at New Jersey’s institutions of higher learning will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Phil Murphy said during a press conference held March 26 at Kean University. All New Jerseyans age 55 and older will also be eligible for vaccination starting April 5. “We are equally
- [Weingarten, Cardona discuss standardized testing and more at Share My Lesson conference](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/weingarten-cardona-discuss-standardized-testing-and-more-at-share-my-lesson-conference/) - This year’s Share My Lesson conference attracted more than 60,000 participants, AFT President Randi Weingarten said March 25, and among the programming for 2021 was her conversation that day with Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona. “I have very fond memories of Share My Lesson here in Meriden [Connecticut],” said AFT veteran Dr. Cardona
- [Colleges, universities prepare for freshmen with learning loss](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/colleges-universities-prepare-for-freshmen-with-learning-loss/) - While high school students might not be experiencing learning loss during the pandemic in the same way as K-8 students, “they may still be missing out on educational opportunities that could prepare them for college,” writes Lilah Burke for Inside Higher Ed. Burke looks into what colleges and universities will be doing to help incoming
- [Marten talks summer school during her confirmation hearing](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/marten-talks-summer-school-during-her-confirmation-hearing/) - Summer school and smaller class sizes are ways in which to make up for learning loss due to the pandemic, San Diego Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten said March 24 during her Senate confirmation hearing to become deputy education secretary. Voice of San Diego writer Will Huntsberry takes a look at key moments from the two-hour
- [Survey: All-virtual learning more likely among students of color](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/survey-all-virtual-learning-more-likely-among-students-of-color/) - An Institute of Education Sciences survey shows that in January and February, about 68 percent of Asian students nationwide in fourth through eighth grades experienced only virtual learning. All-remote learning for black students in those grades during that period was 58 percent, while Hispanic students finished third in the survey results at 56 percent. Celine
- [N.J. DOH updates distancing guidance for schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/n-j-doh-updates-distancing-guidance-for-schools/) - The New Jersey Department of Health is releasing updated physical-distancing guidance for local health departments on K-12 in-class operations, Gov. Phil Murphy said March 24 during his media briefing. In touching upon some of the broader points in the revised guidance, Murphy said, “If masking and frequent hand washing can be maintained by students and
- [Poll: Parents concerned about academic, social setbacks due to pandemic](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/poll-parents-concerned-about-academic-social-setbacks-due-to-pandemic/) - Almost 70 percent of U.S. parents are either somewhat or very concerned that their children will fall behind academically due to the pandemic — and nearly the same share those levels of concern regarding social setbacks, according to a recent poll. The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for
- [Weingarten raises questions about new CDC distancing guidance in letter to Cardona, Walensky](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/weingarten-raises-questions-about-new-cdc-distancing-guidance-in-letter-to-cardona-walensky/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten has reached out this week by formal letter to Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky about the CDC’s revised guidance reducing physical distancing in K-12 schools from six feet to three feet. “Our concern is that the cited studies
- [Local 1904’s Sullivan blasts Montclair State’s phishing experiment](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/local-1904s-sullivan-blasts-montclair-states-phishing-experiment/) - A March 16 email sent by Montclair State University to faculty members with a link to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment turned out to be phony and was later described by MSU’s information technology department as a “training message” intended for recipients to “keep your guard up.” The phishing experiment did not go over well
- [Why teachers are turning to TikTok](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/why-teachers-are-turning-to-tiktok/) - In a story about technology integration for Edutopia, Paige Tutt writes about U.S. teachers who are using the social media platform TikTok as an educational tool to reach their students. “TikTok can speak to them in a way that other kinds of lessons haven’t spoken to them,” said Brock University’s Shauna Pomerantz, an associate professor
- [Webinar has strategies for improving reading achievement](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/webinar-has-strategies-for-improving-reading-achievement/) - Learn how to boost reading achievement in the classroom during a webinar presented March 25 by SmartBrief. Among the scheduled speakers for “Reaching Reading Goals: Ways to Lift Students to Success” will be Diana Arya, director of the McEnroe Reading and Language Arts Clinic in California. To register for the hourlong session, which starts at
- [CDC ponders reduction in physical-distancing guidance for school settings](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/cdc-ponders-reduction-in-physical-distancing-guidance-for-school-settings/) - Using recent data from various sources, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering an update to its physical-distancing guidance for schools, possibly reducing the recommended six feet to three feet. Chalkbeat’s Matt Barnum has more.
- [Sign up now for SURJ’s anti-racism training](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/sign-up-now-for-surjs-anti-racism-training/) - AFT's New Jersey members are invited to register for anti-racism training sessions scheduled for March 22 and 30 that were developed by the New Jersey chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) and Rutgers LEARN. Each 90-minute session will address white privilege and white supremacy, and participants will learn how to take action in
- [Murphy: It’s time to return to in-person instruction](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-its-time-to-return-to-in-person-instruction/) - With New Jersey’s digital divide closed and nearly $2.8 billion in federal funding earmarked for education, the time is now “for all of our schools to meaningfully move forward with a return to in-person instruction, whether it be full-time or through a hybrid schedule,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said during his March 17 media
- [Cardona-Weingarten conversation on tap for Share My Lesson conference](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/cardona-weingarten-conversation-on-tap-for-share-my-lesson-conference/) - Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona is scheduled to join AFT President Randi Weingarten for a keynote conversation March 25 as part of this year’s AFT Share My Lesson virtual conference. They’ll discuss the priorities facing America’s students, teachers, school staff and parents. The hourlong talk begins at 5 p.m. ET on March 25.
- [Diversity Dialogue: Voter suppression elsewhere really is an injustice for people everywhere](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-dialogue/2021/diversity-dialogue-voter-suppression-elsewhere-really-is-an-injustice-for-people-everywhere/) - By Donna M. Chiera In my role as a member of the AFT Teachers program and policy council, I sat through many discussions about charters, privatization and changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The discussions were always about somewhere else, so I listened half-heartedly — after all, I work in New Jersey,
- [New issue of AFT’s American Educator out now](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/new-issue-of-afts-american-educator-out-now/) - The spring 2021 issue of AFT’s American Educator is available now. Among the highlights: Jeanne Wanzek’s story on how high school teachers can support students with reading difficulties Eva L. Rivera Lebron’s article on teaching Native American community college students math and to believe in themselves Phia S. Salter’s story on how knowledge increases awareness
- [Garfield High student on panel for pandemic talk](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/garfield-high-student-on-panel-for-pandemic-talk/) - Garfield High School senior Patryk Dziedzic is among the students who will participate in an AFT fireside chat March 16 to talk about how the pandemic has affected and shaped their high school experiences. The session begins at 7 p.m. ET on March 16. To register, click here.
- [Webinar brings together experts in career and technical education](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/webinar-brings-together-experts-in-career-and-technical-education/) - Join the Association for Career and Technical Education’s Michael Connet, UFT’s Sterling Roberson and others March 18 for the webinar “CTE in the Age of COVID-19: What We’ve Learned — Moving Forward.” Participants can learn about free resources and how disparities are being addressed. The webinar begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on March 18. To
- [Murphy, Weingarten praise American Rescue Plan](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-weingarten-praise-american-rescue-plan/) - Joined March 12 by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker at city hall in Elizabeth, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy thanked them and other leaders from the state who supported the American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law March 11 by President Joe Biden. “For New Jersey at the state level,
- [Adapting co-teaching strategies during the pandemic](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/adapting-co-teaching-strategies-during-the-pandemic/) - The concept of co-teaching is not new, “but the pandemic has forced many of us to iterate the model to prepare future teachers,” writes Tom Whisinnand for EdSurge. Whisinnand, a fourth-grade teacher in Nebraska, has adapted seven co-teaching strategies in recent months. Read about them here.
- [Newark teacher Floyd stays connected with her students](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/newark-teacher-floyd-stays-connected-with-her-students/) - Like so many teachers in Newark, Joicki Floyd has faced challenges teaching remotely this school year, and one of hers was attendance for virtual classes. When it was about 50 percent, Floyd, who teaches English at Weequahic High School, had a word with those who’d gone MIA by making calls and visiting homes. “Students need
- [Murphy: N.J.’s digital divide has been closed](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/murphy-n-j-s-digital-divide-has-been-closed/) - An issue that affected hundreds of thousands of New Jersey students in summer 2020 has been resolved. “As of today, New Jersey’s digital divide is no more — it has been closed,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said March 10. “Based on the latest input from our schools and districts, the reported number of students
- [Hughes, Rutgers AAUP-AFT celebrate university’s fossil fuel policy](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/hughes-rutgers-aaup-aft-celebrate-universitys-fossil-fuel-policy/) - Rutgers University on March 9 enacted a policy that prohibits new investments in fossil fuel companies and also divests Rutgers from current fossil fuel investments over the next 10 years. “As somebody who teaches about climate change, I’m particularly proud of this institution for putting its money behind its scholarship,” Rutgers AAUP-AFT member David Hughes
- [Panelists to examine how to address adverse childhood experiences](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/panelists-to-examine-how-to-address-adverse-childhood-experiences/) - NJ Spotlight News health care writer Lilo H. Stainton is set to moderate a virtual roundtable discussion March 11 examining how to address adverse childhood experiences. Joining Stainton for “Adverse Childhood Experiences: Inside New Jersey’s New Plan to Address a Perennial Harm” will be policy leaders and clinical experts who will delve into how COVID-19
- [N.J. is tops in education, per Best States ranking](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/n-j-is-tops-in-education-per-best-states-ranking/) - New Jersey has finished first in the education category of U.S. News & World Report’s Best States rankings for 2021. This ranking “measures how well states educate students in preschool, K-12 and different levels of higher education,” according to the media company. “With our historic investments in education, we're ensuring lifelong success for our students,”
- [U.S. teacher shortage threatens the profession](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/u-s-teacher-shortage-threatens-the-profession/) - According to interviews with leaders in eight of California’s largest school districts, most districts “have found teachers to be in short supply, especially for math, science, special education and bilingual education,” per a new Learning Policy Institute report. Looking at the national teacher shortage, EdSurge’s Stephen Noonoo writes, “It has morphed into a serious, existential
- [Murphy cites importance of arts in N.J.'s schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/murphy-cites-importance-of-arts-in-n-j-s-schools/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy took time during his March 8 media briefing to point out that March is Arts in Our Schools Month, describing the arts as “one of the myriad ways we know our young people are coping and dealing with the stresses they are facing.” “One of my greatest prides is that
- [N.J.'s PreK-12 educators, staff now eligible for COVID-19 vaccines](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/n-j-s-prek-12-educators-staff-now-eligible-for-covid-19-vaccines/) - New Jersey’s prekindergarten through 12 educators and support staff no longer have to wait until March 15 for COVID-19 vaccine eligibility. “Answering the call from the Biden Administration, educators, including support staff, in pre-K through 12th grade, and childcare workers in licensed and registered settings, are now eligible ahead of March 15,” said Dawn Thomas,
- [NJWEC sessions cover workplace hazards, violence prevention](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/njwec-sessions-cover-workplace-hazards-violence-prevention/) - The New Jersey Work Environment Council’s training sessions for March have been scheduled, and among the highlights are the following, as described by NJWEC: March 15 at 4:30 p.m. ET: “Preventing Exposure to Workplace Chemicals.” Employers have a responsibility under OSHA’s HazCom Standard to educate and train employees about the chemicals they work with and how to protect
- [William Paterson professors speak at BOT meeting in support of saving jobs, programs](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/william-paterson-professors-speak-at-bot-meeting-in-support-of-saving-jobs-programs/) - William Paterson University professors spoke March 5 during the WPU board of trustees meeting in support of jobs and programs that are in danger of being eliminated, and they also explained what would result from those losses. Here are excerpts from select speakers: Dr. Danielle Wallace: “This academic year, William Paterson has been faced with a
- [Kean, Montclair State plan in-person graduations](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/kean-montclair-state-plan-in-person-graduations/) - Kean University and Montclair State University have plans to hold in-person graduation ceremonies on their respective campuses this spring. Kean’s commencements will take place May 12-16; Montclair State’s are set for June 7-19. Meanwhile, Rowan University will have a virtual ceremony May 8, followed by small in-person ceremonies May 10-14. Rutgers University will present a
- [Principal delves into ‘warm demander’ concept](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/principal-delves-into-warm-demander-concept/) - Finding a balance of warmth and demandingness “is a perennial challenge in education, and it’s even more challenging in this pandemic,” according to Illinois high school principal Chris Kubic. “Because of the disruption to the ways in which we usually transmit warmth and know what demands to make of students, we’ll have to be more
- [Strong action plan improves breakout-room experience](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/strong-action-plan-improves-breakout-room-experience/) - In a March 1 post for Edutopia, Samantha Shane, an English teacher in New Jersey, shares five strategies that have worked for her to improve the overall breakout-room experience in a remote-learning environment. Read Shane's action plan here.
- [Biden: One coronavirus vaccine shot for every educator by end of March](https://aftnj.org/topics/child-care/2021/biden-one-coronavirus-vaccine-shot-for-every-educator-by-end-of-march/) - President Joe Biden on March 2 issued what he called a “challenge” — for “every educator, school staff member, child care worker to receive at least one shot by the end of the month of March.” He added, “Let’s treat in-person learning like an essential service that it is, and that means getting essential workers [who]
- [Principal connects with students through his videos on social media](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/principal-connects-with-students-through-his-videos-on-social-media/) - Colorado elementary school principal Nick Holtvluwer has used social media to share his passion for education, and during the pandemic, he’s posted videos intended for his students that are meant to “provide encouragement through humor.” “They see what I post regarding my struggles and observations about being a school principal,” he writes for SmartBrief. “It
- [Assembly passes coronavirus-related school supplies bill](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/assembly-passes-coronavirus-related-school-supplies-bill/) - By a vote of 70-0, the full New Jersey Assembly on March 1 passed A4461, a bill that requires the state to enter into contract for coronavirus-related goods and services for purchase by school districts. Insider NJ has more.
- [Cardona confirmed by U.S. Senate](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/cardona-confirmed-by-u-s-senate/) - By a vote of 64-33, the U.S. Senate on March 1 confirmed former AFT member Dr. Miguel A. Cardona as education secretary. Associated Press writer Collin Binkley takes a closer look at the challenges Cardona faces leading the Education Department.
- [Yoga, pranayama covered in AFT webinar](https://aftnj.org/topics/health-care/2021/yoga-pranayama-covered-in-aft-webinar/) - Join Kelly Trautner, AFT’s director of health care, on March 3 for a webinar session on different types of yoga and pranayama practices. This Share My Lesson webinar begins at 5:30 p.m. ET on March 3. To register, click here.
- [Vaccine eligibility for N.J.’s PreK-12 educators, support staff begins March 15](https://aftnj.org/topics/child-care/2021/vaccine-eligibility-for-n-j-s-prek-12-educators-support-staff-begins-march-15/) - Starting March 15, New Jersey’s prekindergarten through 12 educators and support staff will be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines, Gov. Phil Murphy said March 1 during his media briefing. Among the others who will be eligible for vaccines on March 15 are childcare workers as well as public and local transportation workers. “We expect this
- [Weingarten agrees to join Kean discussion about pandemic’s impact on N.J. women](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/weingarten-to-join-kean-discussion-about-pandemics-impact-on-n-j-women/) - In celebration of Women’s History Month, Kean University will present the virtual roundtable discussion “Supporting Women at Work and at Home” on March 5 at 10 a.m. ET. AFT President Randi Weingarten has agreed to join state Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz (the Senate Education Committee chair) and other New Jersey officials to discuss the impact
- [Murphy: N.J. educators in next phase of vaccine rollout](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-n-j-educators-in-next-phase-of-vaccine-rollout/) - New Jersey’s next phase of coronavirus vaccine rollout will take place over the next few weeks, Gov. Phil Murphy said March 1 on MSNBC, and “at the head of that list will be educators and day care.” Watch a video of Murphy’s MSNBC segment here. More details are expected during his March 1 media briefing.
- [Register now for this year’s Share My Lesson conference](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/register-now-for-this-years-share-my-lesson-conference/) - Registration is open for the 2021 Share My Lesson Virtual Conference, taking place March 23-25. This event for PreK-12 teachers and school staff will feature more than 40 free sessions covering such topics as increasing civic engagement and incorporating trauma-sensitive practices. For more information and to register, click here.
- [Murphy signs Community College Opportunity Grant Program into state law](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/murphy-signs-community-college-opportunity-grant-program-into-state-law/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Feb. 26 signed the Community College Opportunity Grant Program into state law during an appearance at Hudson County Community College in Jersey City. Prior to the signing, Murphy acknowledged that New Jersey’s 18 community colleges play “a vital role” in the educational lives of many residents “but also in
- [O’Connell: Rutgers’ priorities need realignment](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/oconnell-rutgers-priorities-need-realignment/) - The Coalition of Rutgers Unions held a virtual press conference Feb. 25 to discuss recent and anticipated layoffs and cutbacks throughout Rutgers University. Among the participants was Rutgers URA-AFT (Local 1766) President Christine O’Connell, who addressed the situation of high-paying administration positions being filled during a hiring freeze. “I think it’s a question of priorities,”
- [Early registration savings for Building Expertise conference ends Feb. 28](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/early-registration-savings-for-building-expertise-conference-ends-feb-28/) - Actor LeVar Burton, host of the PBS series “Reading Rainbow,” is among the scheduled keynote speakers for this year’s Building Expertise Educators Conference, taking place virtually from June 23-25. Presented by Learning Sciences International, this event offers “a proactive plan to increase student engagement, address reluctant learners and meet the social-emotional needs of students as
- [Murphy touts budget investment in N.J.'s schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-touts-budget-investment-in-n-j-s-schools/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy visited Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Fair Lawn on Feb. 25 to highlight the roughly $700 million he set aside for public schools in his fiscal year 2022 budget. “There are many historic investments that we will make in the coming year,” he said, adding that a strong education “is
- [CDC, WHO differ on minimum social distancing](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/cdc-who-differ-on-minimum-social-distancing/) - As schools nationwide work toward reopening for in-person instruction, there is now a significant disparity in health organizations’ recommendations for minimum social distancing. The most recent update on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website about social distancing is dated Nov. 17, and it says the following: “To practice social or physical distancing, stay
- [Chiera testifies in support of A4680](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/chiera-testifies-in-support-of-a4680/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera testified during the virtual New Jersey Assembly Labor Committee Meeting on Feb. 24 in support of A4680, which pertains to subcontracting agreements entered into by four-year public institutions of higher education. “Before I begin with the specifics, I want to remind you that this legislation was the same legislation you
- [Abeigon: Testing Newark students for COVID-19 should be a ‘prerequisite’](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/abeigon-testing-newark-students-for-covid-19-should-be-a-prerequisite/) - John M. Abeigon, president of the Newark Teachers Union (Local 481), is pushing for all middle school and high school students in his district to be tested for COVID-19 when in-person learning resumes in April. “We believe it’s a prerequisite,” Abeigon said in a story by Chalkbeat Newark’s Patrick Wall. “Our concern is asymptomatic kids giving it
- [Professors explore racial segregation in special education](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/professors-explore-racial-segregation-in-special-education/) - Black kindergartners are 3.4 percentage points less likely to be identified for special education than similar white students, according to calculations by four professors writing for Education Next. “Black and Hispanic students are placed in special education more often than their peers when they are in majority-white schools,” write Todd E. Elder, David Figlio, Scott
- [Murphy’s fiscal year 2022 budget ‘invests in America’s best public school system’](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/murphys-fiscal-year-2022-budget-invests-in-americas-best-public-school-system/) - As part of a fiscal year 2022 budget that he says “invests in America’s best public school system,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has earmarked millions to support public schools as well as expand higher education. In his prerecorded budget address that aired Feb. 23, Murphy also spoke about “getting our pension system back to
- [Webinar explores AFT’s new trauma-counseling program](https://aftnj.org/topics/health-care/2021/webinar-explores-afts-new-trauma-counseling-program/) - Learn about the new AFT trauma-counseling program, introduced this year, during a Feb. 25 webinar with AFT President Randi Weingarten and others. Find out how to access the program, the nature of covered incidents and how the program’s counseling differs from traditional counseling or therapy. The webinar begins at 4 p.m. ET on Feb. 25.
- [Biden administration OK’s delays of standardized state testing](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/biden-administration-oks-delays-of-standardized-state-testing/) - States will not be allowed to cancel standardized testing for the 2020-21 school year, the Biden administration said Feb. 22. Instead, they will be permitted to delay the tests until the summer or fall. AFT President Randi Weingarten was among those who wanted the tests canceled. “As the educators in the classroom, we have always
- [Effective ways to create community within remote classrooms](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/effective-ways-to-create-community-within-remote-classrooms/) - For her online classes, Kentucky educator Jettie Payne adapted the workshop model: Her students used technology in working alone and with peers, then they shared their ideas and solutions with the class at-large. “Kids are social learners, and so it’s important to keep this up,” Payne said in a story by K-12 Dive writer Lauren
- [Sweeney-backed bill aims to create K-12 regional, countywide school districts](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/sweeney-backed-bill-aims-to-create-k-12-regional-countywide-school-districts/) - A bipartisan bill to be co-introduced by Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney aims to create K-12 regional and countywide school districts in New Jersey. Insider NJ has more.
- [Weingarten finds positives in safety strategies used by NYC schools, NFL](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/weingarten-finds-positives-in-safety-strategies-used-by-nyc-schools-nfl/) - Asked by “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd on Feb. 21 if a model district exists in terms of how to safely reopen schools across the country, AFT President Randi Weingarten looked to one in her home state. “I mean, there’s no perfect solution but, frankly, I think that New York City has done a
- [Spanish-language virtual town hall covers COVID-19 vaccine facts](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/spanish-language-virtual-town-hall-covers-covid-19-vaccine-facts/) - The New Jersey Department of Health will hold a Spanish-language virtual town hall Feb. 26 featuring medical professionals who will discuss facts, myths and more about the COVID-19 vaccines. For more information, or to view previous editions of this N.J. DOH virtual town hall series, click here.
- [Educator panel among LFA’s virtual events for Public Schools Week](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/educator-panel-among-lfas-virtual-events-for-public-schools-week/) - In celebration of Public Schools Week (Feb. 22-26), Learning First Alliance will present the panel discussion “Speaking Up for Public Schools: Educators Find Solutions in Uncertain Times” on Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. ET. The panel, among Learning First Alliance’s virtual events for this year’s Public Schools Week, can be viewed via LFA’s YouTube page.
- [Murphy, Allen-McMillan discuss Road Forward initiative, request for waiver of statewide testing](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-allen-mcmillan-discuss-road-forward-initiative-request-for-waiver-of-statewide-testing/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Acting Commissioner of Education Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan on Feb. 19 provided details on two new grants that are meant to address learning gaps and mental health issues in New Jersey school districts. The $75 million Learning Acceleration Grant and the $30 million Mental Health Grant are among the efforts
- [Virtual roundtable to address student mental health](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/virtual-roundtable-to-address-student-mental-health/) - NJ Spotlight’s John Mooney will be joined by New Jersey Department of Education Acting Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan and others for a virtual roundtable Feb. 22 about the measures being taken to support mental health for New Jersey’s K-12 students. “Student Mental Health: Ensuring Access to School-Based Care in New Jersey” is set for Feb. 22
- [Rutgers professor lays out a path forward following Capitol attack](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/rutgers-professor-lays-out-a-path-forward-following-capitol-attack/) - For Nikol Alexander-Floyd, the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 have highlighted the significance of education. “Many people, at a very basic level, could not read the signs of [President Donald Trump’s] treachery because they did not understand how our election system works,” writes Alexander-Floyd, an associate professor of political science at Rutgers University
- [Biden still wants fuller week of in-person instruction](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/biden-still-wants-fuller-week-of-in-person-instruction/) - President Joe Biden on Feb. 16 described press secretary Jen Psaki’s recent comments that K-8 schools open one day per week for in-person instruction would count toward his administration’s reopening goal as “a mistake in the communication.” The goal is to have in-person classes for most of the week, Biden said during a CNN-hosted town
- [Survey: Student stress is up, engagement is low](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/survey-student-stress-is-up-engagement-is-low/) - Students continue to experience high levels of stress and pressure, according to a national survey of more than 10,000 U.S. students conducted during fall 2020. “Kids Under Pressure,” a joint effort by school reform nonprofit Challenge Success and NBC News, also found that students’ engagement is low, while their relationships with adults and peers are
- [Webinar to focus on 1619 Project essays](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/webinar-to-focus-on-1619-project-essays/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten, New York Times Magazine reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones and the Pulitzer Center’s Fareed Mostoufi are scheduled to participate in a Feb. 18 webinar discussion focusing on select essays from The 1619 Project. This free Share My Lesson webinar begins at 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 18. To register, click here.
- [AFT webinar has ways to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aft-webinar-has-ways-to-celebrate-dr-seuss-birthday/) - Join the Random House Children’s Books team Feb. 16 to learn how your virtual or in-person school group can celebrate the biggest reading event of the year on March 2, which is the birthday of Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss. This free Share My Lesson webinar takes place Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. ET. To register, click
- [Chiera is encouraged by latest CDC guidance](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/chiera-is-encouraged-by-latest-cdc-guidance/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera is encouraged by the new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Education to assist K-12 schools across the country to safely reopen and stay open for in-person instruction. In a media telebriefing Feb. 12, the CDC emphasized five key mitigation strategies: correct
- [Cardona, Walsh nominations advance to full U.S. Senate](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/cardona-walsh-nominations-advance-to-full-u-s-senate/) - Dr. Miguel A. Cardona is one step closer to becoming education secretary, following a 17-5 vote Feb. 11 by the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to advance his nomination. NBC Connecticut has more. The committee also voted 18-4 to advance Martin J. Walsh’s labor secretary nomination. Roll Call has more.
- [AFT, AAUP launch A New Deal for Higher Education](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aft-aaup-launch-a-new-deal-for-higher-education/) - The AFT and the American Association of University Professors on Feb. 10 rolled out an effort that will advocate for prioritizing teaching, ensuring job security and canceling student debt, among other goals. Dubbed A New Deal for Higher Education, the platform “seeks to recenter our public colleges and universities as a common good” as well as pursue
- [N.J.’s digital divide dwindles to 195 students](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/n-j-s-digital-divide-dwindles-to-195-students/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Feb. 10 that the state’s digital divide stands at 195 students as of Feb. 3. That’s a 52.8 percent decrease from Jan. 27. “We’re getting very close to having the digital divide 100 percent closed, and I know that the team in the department of education will continue their
- [Schools open one day per week for in-person instruction would count under Biden’s pledge](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/schools-open-one-day-per-week-for-in-person-instruction-would-count-under-bidens-pledge/) - White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Feb. 9 said that schools open one day per week for in-person instruction would qualify toward President Joe Biden’s pledge to reopen the majority of K-8 schools within his first 100 days in the Oval Office. “His goal that he set is to have the majority of schools, so
- [Poll: Most Americans would back teachers striking over unsafe schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/poll-most-americans-would-back-teachers-striking-over-unsafe-schools/) - According to a recent HuffPost/YouGov poll, 56 percent of respondents would support a teachers union strike in protest of unsafe school conditions. Additionally, 58 percent rated public school teachers in their community as good or better, and 41 percent said that teachers should not be required to teach in-person classes right now. The poll, conducted
- [Texas principal credits strategic efforts for minimizing COVID-19 cases in his school](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/texas-principal-credits-strategic-efforts-for-minimizing-covid-19-cases-in-his-school/) - Principal Wes Kanawyer attributes the small number of COVID-19 cases among students at Woodgate Intermediate School in Waco, Texas — around 40 have tested positive this academic year, with 85 percent of the student body in the building since January — to Woodgate using a mix of safety protocols from local, state and national agencies. “If
- [Registration closes soon for ACE/AIEA Internationalization Collaborative](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/registration-closes-soon-for-ace-aiea-internationalization-collaborative/) - The registration deadline for ACE/AIEA Internationalization Collaborative 2021 is Feb. 10. This year’s event, set for Feb. 12, will feature the release of “Toward Greater Inclusion and Success: A New Compact for International Students,” a new report from the American Council on Education. Cost is $99 for members and $129 for nonmembers. Register by clicking here.
- [NYT profile explores Weingarten’s passion, purpose](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/nyt-profile-explores-weingartens-passion-purpose/) - In a profile of AFT President Randi Weingarten for The New York Times, Dana Goldstein writes that Weingarten “is considering making a big speech telling teachers that it can be safe to return to work and crucial to do so.” Weingarten is described in the story by union critic Derrell Bradford as “the most savvy actor
- [Making the case for teachers as ‘learning engineers’](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/making-the-case-for-teachers-as-learning-engineers/) - By empowering teachers to be what he calls “learning engineers” who rely on data and insight to be more personal and responsive, the transition can be made to create “competency-based, student-centered models of learning that support each student,” according to DreamBox Learning CEO Jessie Woolley-Wilson. “This new model of schooling is how we should support our teachers and our students,”
- [Newark’s high school teachers struggle to be fair with grades](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/newarks-high-school-teachers-struggle-to-be-fair-with-grades/) - High school teachers in Newark have either been directed not to issue failing grades or to do so only as “a last resort during the pandemic,” writes Chalkbeat Newark’s Patrick Wall, who spoke with a handful of educators in New Jersey's largest school district about how they’re handling their respective situations. “The word has been
- [Repollet, Holloway urge communities of color to get COVID-19 vaccines](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/repollet-holloway-urge-communities-of-color-to-get-covid-19-vaccines/) - Kean University President Dr. Lamont O. Repollet and Rutgers University President Dr. Jonathan Holloway are among the co-authors of an op-ed signed by New Jersey’s Higher Education Presidents of Color in which they encourage “our fellow members of Black and brown communities to receive a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available.” “We believe and trust
- [Department of Education reveals 13 appointees](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/department-of-education-reveals-13-appointees/) - Education equity advocate Dr. Michelle Asha Cooper on Feb. 3 was appointed deputy assistant secretary for postsecondary education, one of 13 Biden administration appointees to the U.S. Department of Education. Cooper recently served as president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy and is a co-author of “Becoming a Student-Ready College: A New Culture of Leadership for Student
- [Two Ruiz-Beach teacher bills get Senate approval](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/two-ruiz-beach-teacher-bills-get-senate-approval/) - The teacher-related bills S2831 and S2832, both sponsored by state Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz (the Senate Education Committee chair) and state Sen. James Beach, recently received New Jersey Senate approval. S2831 would create a pilot program under which the State Board of Examiners could grant reciprocity to teachers with certain out-of-state certificates. It passed by
- [Cardona lays out his U.S. education agenda at confirmation hearing](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/cardona-lays-out-his-u-s-education-agenda-at-confirmation-hearing/) - Dr. Miguel A. Cardona vowed to “boldly address educational inequities head-on” if confirmed as U.S. education secretary, he said Feb. 3 during his Senate confirmation hearing. “Our nation’s educational challenges didn’t begin with the pandemic, but it has exacerbated inequities in our educational system,” Cardona said. “And so it’s our responsibility, and it would be
- [N.J.’s digital divide is down to 413 students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/n-j-s-digital-divide-is-down-to-413-students/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Feb. 3 that the state’s digital divide stands at 413 students as of Jan. 27. That’s a 78.6 percent decrease from Jan. 20. “To be sure, 413 is still 413 too many, but it’s a whole lot better than 231,000,” Murphy said. “We have closed 99.99 percent of what
- [AFT and NEA call for Greene’s removal from education committee](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aft-and-nea-call-for-greenes-removal-from-education-committee/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten and NEA President Becky Pringle have called for the removal of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from the House Committee on Education and Labor. In a joint letter dated Feb. 2 and addressed to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Weingarten and Pringle wrote: “Conspiracy theories do not belong in our schools. Hate,
- [Teacher has tips for helping students establish sustainable habits](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/teacher-has-tips-for-helping-students-establish-sustainable-habits/) - Drawing from James Clear’s bestselling “Atomic Habits,” longtime teacher and Houston middle school instructional coach Crystal Frommert has come up with five tips to help students set, achieve and revise their goals. Read Frommert’s story for Edutopia here.
- [Lessons learned from Zoom fatigue](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/lessons-learned-from-zoom-fatigue/) - During the pandemic, Zoom has morphed from a brand name to a term often used to describe other videoconferencing technology, too. It’s also being used to describe the buildup of mental, physical and technical issues after many video sessions. Inside Higher Ed’s Ray Schroeder takes a closer look at Zoom fatigue, which he describes as
- [Teachers make tough calls on lessons to fit compressed schedules](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/teachers-make-tough-calls-on-lessons-to-fit-compressed-schedules/) - With social distancing and remote learning cutting into the amount of time for actual instruction, teachers nationwide have also been cutting down on their lessons. “I have to make decisions constantly about what material I’m not going to cover because it is impossible to get it all done,” said Pennsylvania biology-chemistry teacher Leigh Foy. “We’ve
- [N.J.’s school bus drivers, cafeteria workers share tales from pandemic’s upheaval](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/n-j-s-school-bus-drivers-cafeteria-workers-share-tales-from-pandemics-upheaval/) - Even though he hasn’t transported students to and from public schools within Newark since March, veteran bus driver Dianand Changur has kept busy since then with other bus-driving tasks, earning the same salary but not working as many hours as before the pandemic. Other school bus drivers in New Jersey, as well as cafeteria workers
- [NMAAHC offers look at its STEM resources in celebration of Black History Month](https://aftnj.org/topics/black-history-month/2021/nmaahc-offers-look-at-its-stem-resources-in-celebration-of-black-history-month/) - As part of its Black History Month programming, the National Museum of African American History & Culture is offering a guided tour Feb. 10 of its online STEM resources for grade 3-12 teachers. The NMAAHC describes its “Education Resources for STEM Educators Information Session” as follows: “Educators will explore upcoming teacher workshops, discover how to
- [Teacher shares his online method for character education](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/teacher-shares-his-online-method-for-character-education/) - In a Jan. 27 article for Edutopia, longtime San Diego educator Thomas Courtney writes that his remote-learning approach to teaching students about character is a lot like the way he does it in the classroom. “I always start by asking students what they want to see from peers and what they want to see in
- [Lesson plan on Gorman’s ‘Climb’ is among AFT’s Black History Month resources](https://aftnj.org/topics/black-history-month/2021/lesson-plan-on-gormans-climb-is-among-afts-black-history-month-resources/) - A recent entry to AFT’s Share My Lesson offerings for Black History Month is a discussion of the Amanda Gorman poem “The Hill We Climb,” which she read at President Joe Biden’s inauguration. The Gorman lesson plan can be downloaded here. Other AFT Share My Lesson resources pertaining to Black History Month are available here.
- [GetCoveredNJ health insurance deadline extended to May 15](https://aftnj.org/topics/health-care/2021/getcoverednj-health-insurance-deadline-extended-to-may-15/) - The enrollment window for GetCoveredNJ, the state-based health insurance marketplace, has been extended through May 15 for uninsured residents through a COVID-19 Special Enrollment Period, per a Jan. 29 email from NJ.gov. For coverage to be in effect Feb. 1, however, New Jerseyans seeking health insurance are encouraged to sign up by Jan. 31. For
- [Fauci discusses vaccines and more in fireside chat](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/fauci-discusses-vaccines-and-more-in-fireside-chat/) - Dr. Anthony Fauci closed his Jan. 28 fireside chat with AFT President Randi Weingarten and NEA President Becky Pringle by acknowledging both the importance and the needs of the educational community during the pandemic. “The only message I can say is, and I mean this sincerely, that the educational community — the teachers and the teams
- [Student equity and success concern college faculty, report reveals](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/student-equity-and-success-concern-college-faculty-report-reveals/) - College faculty cite “significant and persisting concerns” when it comes to student equity and success within their respective courses and across their two-year and four-year institutions, according to the latest report in a series from Tyton Partners done in partnership with Every Learner Everywhere. “Time for Class: COVID-19 Edition, Part 3 — The Impact of
- [Weingarten calls out Rubio for Twitter comment](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/weingarten-calls-out-rubio-for-twitter-comment/) - Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s Twitter comment Jan. 27 referring to an unnamed “national teachers’ union” not wanting to return to work until 2022 did not go unnoticed by AFT President Randi Weingarten. Weingarten’s full response reads as follows: “Marco Rubio is lying. Our union has been talking about reopening since April, in fact I published
- [Sign up now for AFT’s CSI 2021 leadership sessions](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/sign-up-now-for-afts-csi-2021-leadership-sessions/) - Registrations are due Feb. 4 for AFT’s Center for School Improvement Leadership Institute sessions, which will be held virtually from Feb. 9 through April 7. CSI 2021 will focus on public education as a vehicle to social justice and democracy. Teams will learn about the school-improvement elements of centering student identity and culture. For more
- [Murphy: N.J.'s educators are ‘in the on-deck circle’ for COVID-19 vaccines](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-n-j-s-educators-are-in-the-on-deck-circle-for-covid-19-vaccines/) - In an interview with CNN on Jan. 27, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said educators are “in the on-deck circle” for COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, but when they can step up to the proverbial plate was not made clear. “When we add groups, I want to be able to add educators as fast as we can,”
- [N.J.’s digital divide drops below 2K](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/n-j-s-digital-divide-drops-below-2k/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Jan. 27 that the state’s digital divide stands at 1,928 students as of Jan. 20. That’s a 62.9 percent decrease from Jan. 13. “Closing the digital divide has remained a priority for Acting Commissioner Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan and her team,” Murphy said.
- [CDC researchers share encouraging school data related to COVID-19 community spread](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/cdc-researchers-share-encouraging-school-data-related-to-covid-19-community-spread/) - According to three researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rapid spread of COVID-19 found in “congregate living facilities or high-density worksites” was not reported in public schools during the fall semester. “As many schools have reopened for in-person instruction in some parts of the U.S. as well as internationally, school-related cases
- [Weingarten and Shah: COVID-19 testing ‘must become a way of life’ in public schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/weingarten-and-shah-covid-19-testing-must-become-a-way-of-life-in-public-schools/) - Citing efforts made in New York and Colorado schools, AFT President Randi Weingarten and Rockefeller Foundation President Dr. Rajiv J. Shah write in a USA Today op-ed about the need for regular and rapid coronavirus testing so that in-person instruction can resume in America’s public schools. “Even after effective and safe vaccines become more widely
- [Coronavirus takes its toll on N.J. college enrollment](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/coronavirus-takes-its-toll-on-n-j-college-enrollment/) - Two-year and four-year colleges in New Jersey experienced an undergraduate enrollment decline of more than 25,000 students in the fall semester as a result of the pandemic, state statistics show. NJ Advance Media’s Adam Clark has more.
- [Fireside chat with Fauci to cover pandemic, vaccines](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/fireside-chat-with-fauci-to-cover-pandemic-vaccines/) - Dr. Anthony Fauci will join AFT President Randi Weingarten and NEA President Becky Pringle for a fireside chat Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. ET to discuss the pandemic and the coronavirus vaccines. The chat will be streamed on AFT's Facebook page and YouTube channel. AFT members are welcome to submit questions in advance by clicking
- [ACE workshop has tools to assess Latino student strengths and needs](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/ace-workshop-has-tools-to-assess-latino-student-strengths-and-needs/) - “Implementing What Works for Latino Students,” presented by the American Council on Education, is a two-part workshop for higher education faculty and administrators offering tools to assess the strengths and needs of Latino students. The sessions will be held Feb. 2 and 23. Cost is $149 for ACE members and $199 for nonmembers. To register,
- [AFT offers reopening clinics covering school safety](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aft-offers-reopening-clinics-covering-school-safety/) - The AFT has scheduled a series of reopening clinics providing strategies and tools for union leaders to use when talking with members and management about how to reopen schools safely. Clinic dates and times along with AFT's descriptions are as follows for the virtual sessions: Jan. 27 at 3:30 p.m. ET — Expanding Access to Testing
- [Murphy sees college professors, students in ‘same bucket’ for COVID-19 vaccines as those in Pre K-12](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-sees-college-professors-students-in-same-bucket-for-covid-19-vaccines-as-those-in-pre-k-12/) - Near the end of his Jan. 22 media briefing, New Jersey Gov. Murphy was asked where college professors and students fit in with the coronavirus vaccine priority schedule. “I think college professors and students are going to be in the same bucket as educators and students from Pre K through 12, and we want to get
- [Tardi looks to prevent layoffs at William Paterson](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/tardi-looks-to-prevent-layoffs-at-william-paterson/) - As many as 100 faculty positions could be eliminated from William Paterson University, said professor Dr. Susanna Tardi, president of Local 1796, on Jan. 21 during a meeting of the state Senate Higher Education Committee. Preliminary negotiations are underway to save the faculty jobs, said Tardi, AFTNJ’s executive vice president-higher education. She was informed by university
- [Jill Biden, Weingarten seize the moment at event honoring teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/jill-biden-weingarten-seize-the-moment-at-event-honoring-teachers/) - In a virtual event Jan. 21 honoring teachers, first lady Dr. Jill Biden spoke about President Joe Biden’s plan to safely reopen schools nationwide and that working together will be part of the process. “He’s following the science and best practices, and he will be engaging with educators, all of you and your unions,” she
- [Trump’s 1776 Commission terminated, its report withdrawn](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/trumps-1776-commission-terminated-its-report-withdrawn/) - By way of an executive order, President Joe Biden on Jan. 20 terminated the 1776 Commission, and its controversial report has been removed from the White House website. The report — released in the final days of President Donald Trump's term — was intended to be used as a resource for teaching "patriotic education" in
- [Authors discuss ESL teaching strategies in new book](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/authors-discuss-esl-teaching-strategies-in-new-book/) - In their new book, “Reading & Writing With English Learners: A Framework for K-5,” authors Valentina Gonzalez and Melinda Miller write about some of their favorite instructional strategies. One is QSSSA (question, signal, stem, share, assess), which they say “ensures total participation.” “QSSSA supports English learners as they work with peers in a group, listen
- [Jill Biden to thank educators at virtual event](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/jill-biden-to-thank-educators-at-virtual-event/) - First lady Dr. Jill Biden will be joined by AFT President Randi Weingarten and NEA President Becky Pringle for a virtual event Jan. 21 to honor the work of educators. The event begins at 6 p.m. ET. To register, click here.
- [Biden references schools in his inaugural address](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/biden-references-schools-in-his-inaugural-address/) - In his wide-ranging inaugural address, President Joe Biden on Jan. 20 talked about achieving “great things, important things” through unity, among them to “teach our children in safe schools,” as well as overcome the coronavirus, rebuild the middle class and deliver racial justice. “My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us, we’re going to
- [Inauguration, civic education at core of AFT-led talk](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2020/2021/inauguration-civic-education-at-core-of-aft-led-talk/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten is set to moderate a panel discussion Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. ET about the inauguration and the importance of civic education. Rutgers University professor Nikol Alexander-Floyd will be among the panelists. Watch it on on AFT’s Facebook page or YouTube channel.
- [Educators, historians slam 1776 Commission report](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/educators-historians-slam-1776-commission-report/) - A report by The President’s Advisory 1776 Commission, released Jan. 18 by the White House, has been met with criticism from educators and historians. Among them is New York University professor Thomas Sugrue, who wrote on Twitter, “The biggest tell in the 1776 report is that it lists ‘Progressivism’ along with ‘Slavery’ and ‘Fascism’ in its
- [Diversity Dialogue: Inside the socially conscious music and mind of Devon Gilfillian](https://aftnj.org/topics/black-lives-matter/2021/diversity-dialogue-inside-the-socially-conscious-music-and-mind-of-devon-gilfillian/) - By Chris M. Junior It’s been common lately for entertainers to capitalize on an awards-show audience by weaving societal commentary into their acceptance speeches. You won’t hear any of that from singer-guitarist Devon Gilfillian at this year’s Grammy Awards on CBS (recently postponed to March 14 due to COVID-19 cases surging in Los Angeles). That’s because Gilfillian hasn’t
- [Weingarten, Baraka emphasize thorough teaching of black history in K-12 schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/kean-university/2021/weingarten-baraka-emphasize-thorough-teaching-of-black-history-in-k-12-schools/) - It was a Martin Luther King Jr. Day “probably like no other,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten, who spent the holiday at Kean University’s Enlow Recital Hall as part of a panel discussion about teaching African American history in New Jersey’s public K-12 schools. “First and foremost, we need to teach fact versus fiction —
- [Weingarten to visit Kean for MLK Day livestream event](https://aftnj.org/topics/kean-university/2021/weingarten-to-visit-kean-for-mlk-day-livestream-event/) - Join AFT President Randi Weingarten, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Kean University President Dr. Lamont O. Repollet for a Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service livestream panel Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. ET. Weingarten, Baraka and Repollet will gather at Kean University’s Enlow Recital Hall to discuss the importance of teaching African American
- [Online summit looks at COVID-19’s impact on teaching math](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/online-summit-looks-at-covid-19s-impact-on-teaching-math/) - The Education Week online summit “Teaching Math in a Pandemic,” set for Jan. 21, will answer questions about how COVID-19 has affected achievement, instruction, assessment and engagement in math. Areas of discussion will include how to make remote math tests and quizzes meaningful and ways to provide feedback and collaboration when teaching math remotely. The
- [Chiera: Smokers getting COVID-19 vaccines before teachers sends ‘mixed message’](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/chiera-smokers-getting-covid-19-vaccines-before-teachers-sends-mixed-message/) - Regardless of whether New Jersey’s smokers having access to coronavirus vaccines ahead of teachers is akin to “mixing up apples and oranges,” as New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy put it Jan. 15, this decision has captured the attention of educators. “It’s a mixed message from the state,” AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera said in an interview
- [Federal financial aid made available to higher ed](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/federal-financial-aid-made-available-to-higher-ed/) - On the same day the Department of Education made $21.2 billion in COVID-19 relief available to colleges and universities, President-elect Joe Biden on Jan. 14 shared the details of his $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan, which would include another $35 billion for higher education. (Biden has also earmarked $130 billion for public schools.) Inside Higher
- [Looking at the top trends for K-12 in 2021](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/looking-at-the-top-trends-for-k-12-in-2021/) - Coronavirus vaccine navigation and teacher burnout are among the key factors challenging school districts at all levels in the year ahead, according to K-12 Dive writers Roger Riddell, Naaz Modan and Kara Arundel. Read their full breakdown here.
- [N.J. Assembly passes bill for teaching diversity, inclusion in K-12 public schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/n-j-assembly-passes-bill-for-teaching-diversity-inclusion-in-k-12-public-schools/) - By a vote of 46-29, the New Jersey General Assembly on Jan. 11 passed A4454, legislation that would require K-12 public schools in the state to teach diversity and inclusion, starting in 2021-22. NJ Advance Media’s Samantha Marcus has more.
- [Ideas for engaging with students no matter where they are](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/k-12/2021/ideas-for-engaging-with-students-no-matter-where-they-are/) - Varying from “a booming voice and a conspiratorial whisper,” whether in-person or in a remote learning environment, “draws students into the drama of our learning experiences,” write Illinois educator Eric L. Johnson and Baylor University professor Jonathan Eckert for Edutopia. That’s one of five ideas Johnson and Eckert have tested with success on their students
- [AFT town hall to discuss U.S. Capitol insurrection](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aft-town-hall-to-discuss-u-s-capitol-insurrection/) - AFT members are invited to attend a special town hall Jan. 14 about the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Historian-author Anne Applebaum is among the scheduled speakers for the discussion, which will cover how to address this crisis in the classroom. The town hall will be livestreamed on Facebook starting at 6
- [N.J.’s digital divide drops below 8K](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/n-j-s-digital-divide-drops-below-8k/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Jan. 13 that the state’s digital divide stands at 7,717 students as of Jan. 6. That’s a 12.5 percent decrease from Dec. 30. “That’s still 7,717 too many, but we are at about almost 97 percent complete in closing the digital divide, and we are not going to stop
- [AFT has lesson plans for teaching about MLK](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/aft-has-lesson-plans-for-teaching-about-mlk/) - Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Jan. 18, and AFT’s Share My Lesson has plans and resources pertaining to the life and work of the civil rights leader crafted for elementary, middle and high school students. View the offerings here.
- [Murphy recaps education gains in his state address](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-recaps-education-gains-in-his-state-address/) - As part of his 2021 State of the State Address on Jan. 12, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy talked at length about “upholding New Jersey’s reputation for having the best public schools in America,” pointing out recent achievements and key efforts moving forward. “We know we have room to do better and to bring more
- [N.J. Senate passes Ruiz-Turner bill for school PPE](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/n-j-senate-passes-ruiz-turner-bill-for-school-ppe/) - By a vote of 33-0, the New Jersey Senate on Jan. 11 passed S2698, a bill to assist school districts with acquiring personal protection equipment. “Districts around New Jersey have done a tremendous job outfitting their teachers and students with the necessary PPE to provide a safe learning environment, but there is still room for
- [Murphy’s latest executive order alters educator evaluations for 2020-21](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/murphys-latest-executive-order-alters-educator-evaluations-for-2020-21/) - As part of Executive Order 212 signed by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, student growth objectives have been removed as a component from educator evaluations for the 2020-21 school year. “We know our educators have all gone above and beyond this year, whether in an in-person or hybrid classroom or entirely online,” Murphy said during
- [Kean professor stars in N.J. DOH video about coronavirus testing](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/kean-professor-stars-in-n-j-doh-video-about-coronavirus-testing/) - Kean University Professor Frank Argote-Freyre, a member of Local 2187, appears in a brief video for the New Jersey Department of Health urging community members to get tested for the coronavirus. Watch the video here.
- [Op-Ed: Is N.J. public education funding really a priority?](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/k-12/2021/op-ed-is-n-j-public-education-funding-really-a-priority/) - The progress made in New Jersey to erase public education debt was brief, according to David Sciarra, the executive director of the Education Law Center in Newark. “In short order, the state’s debt to public education is now back up to $2 billion, and lawmakers have abandoned their high-sounding rhetoric promising to close the funding
- [Biden picks Boston’s mayor to be labor secretary](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/biden-picks-bostons-mayor-to-be-labor-secretary/) - President-elect Joe Biden on Jan. 8 formally introduced Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as his selection to be the next labor secretary. “Marty understands like I do that the middle class built this country, and unions built the middle class,” Biden said. “Workers need a champion in Washington — and Marty Walsh would be a crucial
- [Remote learning in Newark to continue into April](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/remote-learning-in-newark-to-continue-into-april/) - Newark once again has delayed the reopening of its public schools for in-person learning. Instead of Jan. 25, the district’s buildings will now reopen April 12. “In Newark, we are at a critical stage in the fight against COVID-19, and the health and safety of students and staff remain my top priority,” Superintendent Roger León
- [Betsy DeVos resigns in wake of chaos at Capitol](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/betsy-devos-resigns-in-wake-of-chaos-at-capitol/) - Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on Jan. 7 submitted her resignation, effective Jan 8. In her resignation letter to President Donald Trump, she cited the impact of his rhetoric on the chaos that unfolded Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol, “and it is an inflection point for me.” "That behavior was unconscionable for our country,”
- [Town hall to answer COVID-19 vaccine questions](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/town-hall-to-answer-covid-19-vaccine-questions/) - Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines as health experts answer questions from union members during a town hall taking place Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. ET. To register, click here:
- [Chiera, Weingarten react to chaos at the Capitol](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/chiera-weingarten-react-to-chaos-at-the-capitol/) - AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera and AFT President Randi Weingarten have issued statements in response to the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Donna M. Chiera:“Of all the images capturing the chaos at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, the ones that struck me to the core were those of police with their
- [N.J.’s digital divide is now below 9K](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/n-j-s-digital-divide-is-now-below-9k/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Jan. 6 that the state’s digital divide stands at 8,819 students as of Dec. 30. That’s a 5 percent drop from Dec. 16. Over the summer, the N.J. Department of Education’s initial digital divide was an estimated 231,000 students. “It is a stress-heavy school year, and folks are doing
- [Pandemic is taking an emotional toll on educators](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/pandemic-is-taking-an-emotional-toll-on-educators/) - Although data may be lacking in documenting teachers’ anxiety and depression in recent months, writes Shefali Luthra of The 19th, many have said “their psychological well-being is suffering in ways they’ve hardly ever experienced” due to the pandemic. “I saw that kind of level of strain and stress because of natural disasters creating havoc,” said
- [Op-Ed: Cardona will have his work cut out for him as education secretary](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/op-ed-cardona-will-have-his-work-cut-out-for-him-as-education-secretary/) - Should he be confirmed as the new education secretary, Miguel Cardona “will face the herculean task of clearing away the wreckage left by his predecessor — while helping the states find a safe and equitable path to reopening schools,” writes The Editorial Board of The New York Times. “There is still more to learn about Mr.
- [Diversity Dialogue: Minor’s book shines a light on equity in education](https://aftnj.org/topics/diversity-dialogue/2021/diversity-dialogue-minors-book-shines-a-light-on-equity-in-education/) - By Elizabeth Govea In January 2020, back when the world was “normal,” members of my local and some administrators from our schools had the opportunity to attend the AFT’s Center for School Improvement (CSI) Leadership Institute conference for “Transforming Systems to be Culturally Responsive” in New York City. My local president, who attended the conference with
- [Weingarten talks Phase 1B of vaccine rollout, Cardona and more](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/weingarten-talks-phase-1b-of-vaccine-rollout-cardona-and-more/) - When it comes to teachers receiving coronavirus vaccines as part of Phase 1B, AFT President Randi Weingarten recommends the implementation of a strategy similar to “what Gov. [Andrew] Cuomo was doing in terms of New York.” “I would align [vaccines for teachers] with the schools that are reopening, instead of saying every single teacher —
- [Survey: Most parents would let their K-12 children receive coronavirus vaccine](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/survey-most-parents-would-let-their-k-12-children-receive-coronavirus-vaccine/) - A National Parents Union survey conducted in December reveals that 60 percent of parents would allow their K-12 children to receive one of the COVID-19 vaccines. Also, 50 percent of survey participants said they will not send their children to schools for in-person learning until a coronavirus vaccine is made available to the general public.
- [Murphy praises educators as 2021 begins](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/murphy-praises-educators-as-2021-begins/) - As part of his Jan. 4 coronavirus briefing, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy reemphasized the progress made with closing the digital divide in the state's public schools, adding that the latest numbers will be shared Jan. 6. “To our students back today, whether in person or remote, I wish you a terrific second half of
- [Abeigon urges COVID-19 tests for Newark’s students](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2021/abeigon-urges-covid-19-tests-for-newarks-students/) - John M. Abeigon, president of the Newark Teachers Union (Local 481), is calling for students in the city’s public school district — the largest in New Jersey — to be required to get COVID-19 tests, the same as teachers and support staff. “The Newark Teachers Union has strongly urged the Newark Board of Education and
- [Dates are set for AFT’s Share My Lesson Virtual Conference](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2021/dates-are-set-for-afts-share-my-lesson-virtual-conference/) - The 2021 AFT Share My Lesson Virtual Conference is set for March 23-25. More than 30 webinars will be part of the programming, and AFT President Randi Weingarten will discuss the state of public education in 2021. Enter your contact information now to be among the first to know when registration opens and to be
- [ACE workshop promotes diversity in higher education workforces](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/ace-workshop-promotes-diversity-in-higher-education-workforces/) - “Taking Action on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education” is a two-part American Council on Education workshop for college and university leaders taking place Jan. 19 and Feb. 9. Cost is $149 for ACE members and CUPA-HR members; $199 for nonmembers. To register, click here.
- [AFT’s Share My Lesson staffers pick their 2020 favorites](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/afts-share-my-lesson-staffers-pick-their-2020-favorites/) - Kelly Booz, Andy Kratochvil and other AFT Share My Lesson staff members talk about the resources, communities and authors that made the biggest impressions on them during 2020. Read their recaps here.
- [What mattered to educators before the pandemic](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/what-mattered-to-educators-before-the-pandemic/) - About a month before America went into lockdown, Catherine Castillo of Springfield Public Schools in Missouri wrote about replacing timed tests with math fluency. And a few weeks before that, Leigh Anne Scherer of the North Clackamas School District in Oregon wrote about using Schoolzilla and Star Assessments “to ensure that students remain on a progressive track that
- [Technology takeaways from 2020](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/technology-takeaways-from-2020/) - Teacher-student interaction was much different than ever before, hybrid learning was the norm for a majority of school districts, and high-quality remote learning is hard to do. These were three of the technology-related takeaways in K-12 education during 2020, as determined by Education Week. Click here for more:
- [Study dives into tech tools used by teachers in ’20](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/study-dives-into-tech-tools-used-by-teachers-in-20/) - A LearnPlatform study involving more than 270,000 educators showed that 8,000 tech tools were used by teachers this year. “The data suggest that having to learn and navigate so many digital tools may be contributing to confusion and disengagement, rather than creating more options,” said LearnPlatform CEO Karl Rectanus in a story by District Administration’s
- [Biden taps Cardona to be education secretary](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/biden-taps-cardona-to-be-education-secretary/) - President-elect Joe Biden on Dec. 23 named former AFT member and longtime Connecticut educator Dr. Miguel A. Cardona as his selection to be the next education secretary. “I’m grateful for the chance to take on this responsibility,” Cardona said. “I look forward to getting to work on behalf of America’s children and the families and
- [AFTNJ, Local 1766 call for Rutgers’ Newark, Camden libraries to close as COVID-19 cases climb](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/aftnj-local-1766-call-for-rutgers-newark-camden-libraries-to-close-as-covid-19-cases-climb/) - With COVID-19 cases rising across Newark and Camden, and with the potential of a post-Christmas spike in New Jersey, AFTNJ and Rutgers URA-AFT (Local 1766) are calling for the immediate closing of Rutgers University’s John Cotton Dana and Paul Robeson libraries except for cleaning and maintenance until the start of the spring 2021 semester. Additionally, Rutgers
- [$57B earmarked for K-12 schools through new COVID-19 stimulus bill](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/57b-earmarked-for-k-12-schools-through-new-covid-19-stimulus-bill/) - As part of the $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill passed Dec. 21 by Congress, K-12 schools will receive close to $57 billion in direct aid. Education Week has the details.
- [N.J.’s digital divide cut by more than half](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/n-j-s-digital-divide-cut-by-more-than-half/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Dec. 21 that the state’s digital divide stands at 14,349, down 54 percent from the prior week — the biggest one-week drop since the N.J. Department of Education started collecting such data this school year. School districts continued to cite delivery delays as the reason behind their unfulfilled needs,
- [Rowan adjunct completes coronavirus course](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/rowan-adjunct-completes-coronavirus-course/) - In late spring, when Rowan University’s department of biological sciences offered adjunct professor EJ Karetny a special topics seminar for the fall, it didn’t take him too long to settle on a subject. Karetny says he decided to “dive into the biology of the pandemic” for his weekly Wednesday class, officially classified as BIOL 01445
- [Author discusses the benefits of culturally responsive teaching](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/author-discusses-the-benefits-of-culturally-responsive-teaching/) - Teachers College, Columbia University professor Mariana Souto-Manning is a co-author of “No More Culturally Irrelevant Teaching,” and in an interview with Education Week’s Larry Ferlazzo, she discusses the book and how children of all races can “benefit from a curriculum that centers their ways of knowing.” Read the interview here.
- [N.J. Senate passes two bills tied to education](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/n-j-senate-passes-two-bills-tied-to-education/) - The New Jersey Senate on Dec. 17 overwhelmingly passed two bills tied to education. S2932, sponsored by Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, would prohibit state colleges and universities from entering into subcontracting agreements which may affect the employment of any worker in a bargaining unit during the term of a contract in a collective bargaining unit under
- [Rosenberg to lead COVID-19 discussion for school support staff](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/rosenberg-to-lead-covid-19-discussion-for-school-support-staff/) - Longtime New York high school teacher Sari Beth Rosenberg on Dec. 22 will be the host of a PBS NewsHour Extra discussion about how school support staff have been weathering COVID-19. The Zoom event begins at 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 22. To sign up, click here.
- [Webinar offers strategies to help students with grief, loss](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/webinar-offers-strategies-to-help-students-with-grief-loss/) - Join AFT’s Chelsea Prax on Dec. 21 for a 90-minute webinar to learn five strategies to assist students who are experiencing grief and loss. “Supporting Students with Grief and Loss” begins at 3 p.m. ET on Dec. 21. To register, click here.
- [More candidates rumored for education secretary](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/more-candidates-rumored-for-education-secretary/) - President-elect Joe Biden is expected to fill out his entire Cabinet by Christmas, and the latest candidates being discussed for Secretary of Education are former Howard University dean Leslie T. Fenwick and Connecticut Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona, The Washington Post reports. AFT President Randi Weingarten, who has also been rumored for the post, has
- [Survey: Remote learning will stick around after pandemic](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/survey-remote-learning-will-stick-around-after-pandemic/) - Around two in 10 U.S. school districts “have already adopted, plan to adopt or are considering adopting virtual school as part of their district portfolio” once the COVID-19 pandemic is over, according to a report released by the nonprofit RAND Corporation. Other key findings in the survey, conducted during the fall and involving more than
- [Teacher-turned-comedian Eddie B. provides laughs, stress-relief tips](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/teacher-turned-comedian-eddie-b-provides-laughs-stress-relief-tips/) - Eddie Brown may no longer be a teacher, but as the comedian known as Eddie B., he continues to draw from his experience as an educator to generate laughs — look no further than his What Teachers Really Say docuseries and his clips on YouTube for proof. SmartBrief’s Kanoe Namahoe talks with Brown, who offers
- [Winter edition of American Educator is out now](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/winter-edition-of-american-educator-is-out-now/) - The winter edition of AFT’s American Educator features an article on how to identify and teach students with significant reading problems, a story on systemic support for special education and much more. To download the new issue, click here.
- [What might happen once educators are inoculated](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/what-might-happen-once-educators-are-inoculated/) - The process of administering the coronavirus vaccine to America’s 3 million school teachers may take a while, dragging out until late spring, write Eliza Shapiro and Shawn Hubler for The New York Times. Citing input from experts, Shapiro and Hubler add that even when the number of inoculated educators reaches a point where schools can
- [N.J. public schools need up to $583 per student to safely reopen, per CDC](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/n-j-public-schools-need-up-to-583-per-student-to-safely-reopen-per-cdc/) - The estimated price range per each pre-K to 12 student in New Jersey to implement resources for recommended school-based COVID-19 mitigation strategies is $479 to $583, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New Jersey’s total student enrollment is more than 1.4 million, the CDC says in a report released Dec. 11. For
- [Free subscriptions to In These Times now available](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/free-subscriptions-to-in-these-times-now-available/) - Union members are eligible for a free 12-issue subscription of In These Times, a monthly publication covering politics, culture and the movement for workers’ rights. The offer ends Dec. 18. To sign up, click here.
- [Veteran N.J. adjunct finds that remote learning does work for her and her students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/veteran-n-j-adjunct-finds-that-remote-learning-does-work-for-her-and-her-students/) - Laurie LeFever was against the idea of transitioning to remote learning when the coronavirus pandemic overtook the country. “First of all, I was terrified,” admits LeFever, a longtime adjunct professor at Montclair State University and Raritan Valley Community College. “I was one of those professors, for good or bad, who thought, ‘You know what? I
- [Roundtable to discuss N.J.’s child care challenges](https://aftnj.org/topics/child-care/2020/roundtable-to-discuss-n-j-s-child-care-challenges/) - NJ Spotlight News will present a virtual roundtable Dec. 17 about the economic effect of the state’s child care challenges. Carole Johnson, the commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, is among the scheduled panelists. To register for the free roundtable discussion, click here.
- [Weingarten: Phase 1b of COVID-19 vaccine should include educators, school staff and at-risk students](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/weingarten-phase-1b-of-covid-19-vaccine-should-include-educators-school-staff-and-at-risk-students/) - ABC News reports that AFT President Randi Weingarten wrote in a letter sent last week to the chairman of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that educators, school staff and at-risk students should be included in phase 1b recommendations for the COVID-19 vaccine. “The vaccine must be readily available to
- [Report reveals ‘shifting college completion picture’](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/report-reveals-shifting-college-completion-picture/) - A new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center says the latest data “reveal a shifting college completion picture for the nation as well as states.” “Completing College: National and State Reports,” the ninth edition of the nonprofit’s Completing College series, goes on to say, “We reported last year that the rate of increase
- [COVID-19 Q&A to feature speakers from N.J. DOL](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/covid-19-qa-to-feature-speakers-from-n-j-dol/) - Justin Baker (chief of occupational health) and Gillian Gutierrez (director of strategic planning and outreach) from the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development will be among the guest speakers during a COVID-19 Q&A session scheduled for Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. Topics of discussion will include the coronavirus vaccine rollout and the impact of Gov.
- [Video of TCNJ adjunct’s reaction to student appreciation lights up social media](https://aftnj.org/topics/remote-learning/2020/video-of-tcnj-adjuncts-reaction-to-student-appreciation-lights-up-social-media/) - Part of teaching remotely during a pandemic, says adjunct professor Adam Shrager, is you never know when you’re being filmed. Thanks to the video efforts of a student in one of his statistics courses at The College of New Jersey, Shrager has gained worldwide attention this month via a clip on social media showing his
- [N.J.’s digital divide decreases once again](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/n-j-s-digital-divide-decreases-once-again/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Dec. 9 that the state’s digital divide stands at 31,560 students, down more than 2,000 from last week. “That’s terrific, but as I’ve said many times and I will say until we get that to zero, that’s 31,560 students too many,” Murphy said. He added that “the biggest sticking
- [Biden’s goal: Reopen most schools in his first 100 days as president](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/bidens-goal-reopen-most-schools-in-his-first-100-days-as-president/) - President-elect Joe Biden on Dec. 8 said that it should be “a national priority to get our kids back into school and keep them in school,” adding that he and his team aim to have the majority of U.S. schools reopened within his first 100 days as president. “If Congress provides the funding, we need
- [Educator shares effective tools for remote teaching of special-needs students](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/educator-shares-effective-tools-for-remote-teaching-of-special-needs-students/) - Much to the surprise of Amanda Kipnis, distance learning has made her a better elementary special education teacher. “I have grown more in the last eight months than in the previous eight years,” she writes in a piece for SmartBrief. “I now understand ‘educational technology’ and ‘blended learning’ not just as buzzwords, but as true
- [Column: Time is right for more faculty diversity in U.S. higher education](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/column-time-is-right-for-more-faculty-diversity-in-u-s-higher-education/) - In an op-ed for Inside Higher Ed, Ansley Abraham of the Southern Regional Education Board writes that the time is right for America’s colleges and universities “to reconstruct systems that have been unresponsive, unreceptive or hostile for many students and faculty of color.” “As states face budget cuts during COVID-19 and after it subsides, the
- [Frustrated parents express displeasure with remote learning](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/frustrated-parents-express-displeasure-with-remote-learning/) - Lawsuits are among the ways in which parents across the United States are expressing their frustration with remote learning, which they say “is falling short of state education standards and causing harm to students,” writes Sara Cline for The Associated Press. “At this point I am nervous they won’t return at all this school year,”
- [Local 3977’s Delahanty has his broadcast journalism students hitting their marks](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/local-3977s-delahanty-has-his-broadcast-journalism-students-hitting-their-marks/) - Teaching and coaching often go hand in hand, and that’s certainly been the case so far this school year for Nick Delahanty of the Garfield Federation of Teachers (Local 3977). Delahanty, a television production teacher at Garfield High School, has used some of the same techniques from his experiences coaching bowling, volleyball and softball for
- [ACE Awards nominations now being accepted](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/ace-awards-nominations-now-being-accepted/) - The American Council on Education is accepting nominations for its 2021 ACE Awards through Dec. 18. Among the categories: the ACE State Network Leadership Award (honoring a program for its advancement of women in higher education) and the Reginald Wilson Diversity Leadership Award (named for the founding director of the Office of Minority Concerns). The
- [AFT webinar provides preparation for layoffs, furloughs](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/aft-webinar-provides-preparation-for-layoffs-furloughs/) - Join AFT staffers Lauren Samet, Christianne Runge and others for a Dec. 9 webinar about how to run a campaign against layoffs and furloughs in your workplace. The hourlong “Fighting Forward: Preparing for Layoffs and Furloughs” webinar begins at 4 p.m. ET on Dec. 9. To register, click here.
- [High-needs students facing setbacks without in-person learning](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/high-needs-students-facing-setbacks-without-in-person-learning/) - Extended at-home learning and haphazard school reopenings during the pandemic have advocates for children with disabilities concerned that “the ground lost will be impossible to recover,” writes Carolyn Thompson for The Associated Press. For more, click here.
- [Next Freedom School session to analyze the 2020 election’s racial politics](https://aftnj.org/topics/black-lives-matter/2020/next-freedom-school-session-to-analyze-the-2020-elections-racial-politics/) - The Rutgers AAUP-AFT discussion series Freedom School will hold a virtual session titled “Analyzing the Racial Politics of the 2020 Election” on Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. Among the speakers will be Rutgers University professor Juan D. Gonzalez, a two-time winner of the George Polk Award and a founder of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
- [AFT’s Ingram featured on post-election virtual town hall panel](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/afts-ingram-featured-on-post-election-virtual-town-hall-panel/) - AFT Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram will be among the speakers during the virtual town hall “We Showed Up. We Voted. Now What?” that is set for Dec. 3 at 4:30 p.m. ET. This event, part of NYSUT’s “Many Threads, One Fabric” series, will cover the next steps for activists and strategies to hold elected officials accountable, as
- [Interactive virtual fair previews AFT’s Winter Educator Academy courses](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/interactive-virtual-fair-previews-afts-winter-educator-academy-courses/) - AFT will launch its Winter Educator Academy in January, offering minicourses that provide just-in-time strategies for teaching and learning in the remote world. Union members can preview the courses and meet trainers during an interactive virtual fair on Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. ET. To register, click here.
- [N.J.’s digital divide continues to decline](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/n-j-s-digital-divide-continues-to-decline/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Dec. 2 that the state’s digital divide stands at 33,851 students, a 2 percent drop from last week and down from an estimated 231,000 over the summer. Supply chain or delivery delays are the reasons for students not having what they need, added Murphy. “The department continues its work
- [Professor rejects proposed NAEP reading comp assessment replacement](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/professor-rejects-proposed-naep-reading-comp-assessment-replacement/) - In an open letter to National Assessment of Educational Progress board members, University of Virginia professor and author E.D. Hirsch Jr. requests they not approve the proposed replacement of the NAEP’s reading comprehension assessment, going as far to say “it is hard to imagine any positive result from this innovation.” “It would not accurately report reading
- [Weingarten outlines ‘national blueprint’ for reopening schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/weingarten-outlines-national-blueprint-for-reopening-schools/) - Getting the coronavirus under control, ensuring reasonable accommodations for educators and support staff, and making sure distance and hybrid learning are as effective as possible rank high on AFT President Randi Weingarten’s must-do list when it comes to safely reopening schools nationwide. “Americans must summon the collective will to follow science both in and out
- [NWEA issues report on students’ reading, math growth during pandemic](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/nwea-issues-report-on-students-reading-math-growth-during-pandemic/) - Most students in nearly all grades made some learning gains in both reading and math since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, but math gains were lower on average in fall 2020 than in previous years, according to a review of national data by the Collaborative for Student Growth at the nonprofit NWEA. Cory Turner,
- [Town hall to tackle COVID-19 vaccine questions](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/town-hall-to-tackle-covid-19-vaccine-questions/) - The AFT, along with AFSCME and SEIU, will present a Zoom town hall Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. ET to answer questions about forthcoming COVID-19 vaccines. “This event is designed to provide you with information from credible sources,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “We believe all of the participating panelists are qualified and free from
- [Exhaustion weighs down teachers during pandemic](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/exhaustion-weighs-down-teachers-during-pandemic/) - Educators in New Jersey and other states have cited exhaustion as a byproduct of the pandemic, with Chicago elementary school teacher Dwayne Reed, who is all of 28, admitting to New York Times writer Natasha Singer that he’s resorted to taking naps. Read Singer’s full story here.
- [Murphy calls timeout on N.J.’s indoor youth sports](https://aftnj.org/topics/athletics/2020/murphy-calls-timeout-on-n-j-s-indoor-youth-sports/) - Effective 6 a.m. Dec. 5, all indoor youth and adult sports (practices and competitions) will be paused through Jan. 2, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said during his Nov. 30 coronavirus briefing. “This aligns, by the way, with both the efforts of the NJSIAA and those of our neighboring states,” Murphy said. “We do not
- [Online class covers ways to mobilize the workplace](https://aftnj.org/topics/rutgers-university/2020/online-class-covers-ways-to-mobilize-the-workplace/) - Registration is open now for “The Power in a Union — Mobilizing Your Workplace,” a development program for New Jersey union members and leaders. Learn about internal union organizing and experience discussions that focus on how unions can “unionize” their members to support values and goals. The online course from Rutgers University’s Continuing Studies division costs
- [Register for wellness session for a chance to win an Apple Watch 6](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/register-for-wellness-session-for-a-chance-to-win-an-apple-watch-6/) - By registering for one of the webcasts in the AFT Share My Lesson Health & Wellness series, you’ll be entered for a chance to win an Apple Watch 6. Register here by Dec. 7 to be eligible for the Dec. 10 drawing. For official rules, click here.
- [Virtual retreat offers crisis teaching workshops](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/virtual-retreat-offers-crisis-teaching-workshops/) - College instructors and administrators are invited to attend Course Hero’s “Teaching in Transition” virtual faculty retreat on Dec. 3. The free event will feature crisis teaching workshops along with the latest student and faculty mental health research. To register, click here.
- [‘Distracted’ author looks to help fellow educators capture students’ attention](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/k-12/2020/distracted-author-looks-to-help-fellow-educators-capture-students-attention/) - James M. Lang, an English professor at the Center for Teaching Excellence at Assumption University in Massachusetts, is the author of “Distracted: Why Students Can’t Focus and What You Can Do About It” (Basic Books). In an interview with Inside Higher Ed’s Doug Lederman, Lang discusses his approach to using devices in the classroom, how to cultivate
- [Report: International students in U.S. dropped in 2019-20](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/aftnj-news/2020/report-international-students-in-u-s-dropped-in-2019-20/) - The 2019-20 academic year saw a decline in international students in the United States for the first time in more than 10 years, according to a recent report from the Institute of International Education and the U.S. Department of State. Education Dive takes a closer look at the report.
- [Survey: Most parents, guardians want some classroom instruction for their children](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/survey-most-parents-guardians-want-some-classroom-instruction-for-their-children/) - Around 70 percent of parents and guardians prefer a learning model for their children that has some classroom instruction, according to a Reuters survey of 217 school districts in 30 states. Meanwhile, many districts “have been forced to raid their regular budgets and reserves,” write Kristina Cooke, Benjamin Lesser and M.B. Pell for Reuters, “creating
- [Highlights from Weingarten’s SiriusXM appearance](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/highlights-from-weingartens-siriusxm-appearance/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten spoke by phone Nov. 23 with Zerlina Maxwell, co-host of the “Signal Boost” show on SiriusXM’s Progress channel, about education and the pandemic. Here is some of what Weingarten had to say: “I’m not giving up on the second semester of this year. … We’ve spent all weekend long kind of
- [U.S. schools look to adjust Thanksgiving narrative](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/u-s-schools-look-to-adjust-thanksgiving-narrative/) - As part of her lessons about Thanksgiving, Susannah Remillard, a language arts teacher in East Harwich, Massachusetts, asks her students to write poems from the Pilgrim and Wampanoag points of view. “We carry this Colonial view of how we teach, and now we have a moment to step outside that and think about whether that is harmful
- [Survey: Teachers should have early access to COVID-19 vaccines](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/survey-teachers-should-have-early-access-to-covid-19-vaccines/) - Nearly 90 percent of respondents to a recent EdWeek Research Center survey said teachers should be considered essential workers who receive early access to COVID-19 vaccines. The nationally representative survey of 913 educators (prekindergarten through 12) was conducted this month after Pfizer and Moderna reported promising clinical trial results of their respective vaccines. Finishing second
- [Diving into the data of college degree programs](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/diving-into-the-data-of-college-degree-programs/) - An analysis of federal data by analytics software company Burning Glass Technologies finds that about 50 percent of programs that first graduated students in the 2012-13 or 2013-14 academic years reported five or fewer conferrals in 2018. In “Bad Bets: The High Cost of Failing Programs in Higher Education,” Burning Glass also reports that two-thirds
- [Murphy remains hopeful schools can stay open](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/murphy-remains-hopeful-schools-can-stay-open/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy appeared Nov. 23 on “Good Morning America” to discuss coronavirus restrictions in the Garden State and was asked by George Stephanopoulos whether schools can remain open. “Assuming we can do it safely, and keep our case transmission as low as it has been, I hope we can keep schools open,”
- [Grief, trauma grip educators, students during pandemic](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/grief-trauma-grip-educators-students-during-pandemic/) - As educators navigate the learning and safety challenges related to teaching during the pandemic, they’re also seeing more students who are bearing higher amounts of grief and trauma. NBC News’ Safia Samee Ali writes about how the AFT and others are addressing the issue.
- [Holloway looks at Rutgers’ financial future](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/holloway-looks-at-rutgers-financial-future/) - In a recent Zoom call with The Star-Ledger’s editorial board, Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway addressed Rutgers’ financial concerns should the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic result in more closures across the state. “We don’t want to lay anybody off,” Holloway said. “We don’t want to furlough anybody. But the numbers will not work
- [Murphy stands by data used to keep schools open](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/murphy-stands-by-data-used-to-keep-schools-open/) - During the Q&A portion of his Nov. 20 coronavirus briefing, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy was immediately asked whether he’s downplayed the danger to students and school staff by allowing in-person instruction to continue and if the data he’s using to support keeping schools open is misleading. “Educators are on the pedestal … I can’t
- [Rutgers event explores innovation’s future](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/rutgers-event-explores-innovations-future/) - Members of the Rutgers University community are invited to participate in “The Future of American Innovation & The Role of the University,” an hourlong free event taking place online Dec. 1 at 3 p.m. Biju Parekkadan, a Rutgers associate professor with the Rutgers School of Engineering, will be among the participants in a panel discussion. Andrei
- [Ruiz bill aims to prevent further learning loss](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/ruiz-bill-aims-to-prevent-further-learning-loss/) - State Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz, chair of the Senate Education Committee, on Nov. 19 introduced legislation that would require the Department of Education to put together a learning loss report in relation to the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on students statewide. “If we are genuinely committed to closing the achievement gap, we must acknowledge there was a
- [NJSIAA’s Maguire asks senior athletes to thank school staffs for fall season](https://aftnj.org/topics/athletics/2020/njsiaas-maguire-asks-senior-athletes-to-thank-school-staffs-for-fall-season/) - With the fall 2020 high school sports season coming to a close, Colleen Maguire, the chief operating officer for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, has issued a Thanksgiving challenge of sorts to senior athletes: “Step up on behalf of your team and take the time to thank everyone involved.” “Many people doubted whether
- [COVID-19 takes multilayered toll on U.S. schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/covid-19-takes-multilayered-toll-on-u-s-schools/) - During his Nov. 18 coronavirus briefing, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said that a majority of COVID-19 cases in the Garden State’s public schools were “linked to out-of-school activities.” In her analysis of in-school infection data from across the country, Brown University economics professor Emily Oster has reached a similar conclusion. “I don’t think anyone
- [Poll: N.J. parents want regular teacher access for their children and themselves](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/poll-n-j-parents-want-regular-teacher-access-for-their-children-and-themselves/) - A recent poll of 600 parents of children in New Jersey public schools shows 97 percent said it would be helpful if their children could have regular live access to their teacher, such as through online sessions or phone/video calls. Additionally, 96 percent of the surveyed parents felt the same about having regular contact with
- [Murphy urges COVID-19 test availability for all residential college students](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/murphy-urges-covid-19-test-availability-for-all-residential-college-students/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy opened his Nov. 18 coronavirus briefing by urging all colleges and universities to make COVID-19 testing available to all residential students before they leave for Thanksgiving break, part of a regional effort with New York, Connecticut and other states. Murphy also delved into recent statistics related to prekindergarten through 12
- [Local 6323’s Kumar, Storch and Wolff stand up for pay equity](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/local-6323s-kumar-storch-and-wolff-stand-up-for-pay-equity/) - Deepa Kumar has no interest in applying for jobs merely to have an equity correction made to her salary. Judith Storch sees pay disparity all around her. Nancy Wolff has been waiting 10 months for a response to her pay equity program application. These three Rutgers University professors are among the five female plaintiffs in
- [Webinar resumes talk about COVID-19 challenges](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/webinar-resumes-talk-about-covid-19-challenges/) - As a follow-up to AFT’s Sept. 12 online symposium, AFT President Randi Weingarten and others will continue discussions about the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic in the Nov. 21 webinar “Teaching in the Time of COVID-19: Reassessing How to Keep Students Safe, Well and Engaged.” The focus will be on the latest COVID-19 information
- [Register now for annual ACE meeting](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/register-now-for-annual-ace-meeting/) - Early bird registration is open through Jan. 14 for ACE2021, the annual meeting of the American Council on Education. The virtual meeting is set for March 22-24. CNN political analyst Kirsten Powers and former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele are among the scheduled major speakers. For more information or to register, click here.
- [Webinar helps educators manage emotions](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/webinar-helps-educators-manage-emotions/) - “Permission to Feel” author Dr. Marc Brackett, director of the Yale Center of Emotional Intelligence, will present “How to Be Still in Chaotic Times: Research-Based Strategies for Educators” on Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. ET. In this Share My Lesson webinar, Dr. Brackett will cover research-based strategies to help educators manage their emotions and those
- [Kean fellowship seeks to increase faculty diversity](https://aftnj.org/topics/kean-university/2020/kean-fellowship-seeks-to-increase-faculty-diversity/) - Kean University’s Equity in Action Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is designed to increase the diversity of Kean’s research, teaching and clinical faculty. “This program is personally meaningful to me, not only because it is Kean’s first postdoctoral fellowship program, but because it is a program with a mission to not just talk about equity, but to create equity,” said
- [Murphy addresses recent rumor of schools going all-remote](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/murphy-addresses-recent-rumor-of-schools-going-all-remote/) - At the end of his “Today” show appearance Nov. 12, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy was asked to address the recent rumor that N.J. schools would be closing down and switching to all-virtual learning. “Yeah, that’s not the case,” Murphy said to host Savannah Guthrie. “That’s something that could happen, but at the moment, back
- [Three AFT staffers named to Department of Education transition team](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2020/2020/three-aft-staffers-named-to-department-of-education-transition-team/) - Beth Antunez, Shital Shah and Marla Ucelli-Kashyap on Nov. 10 were named by the Biden-Harris Transition Team to the Department of Education agency review team. The three AFT staffers will serve in a volunteer capacity. According to the Agency Review Teams site, "These teams are composed of highly experienced and talented professionals with deep backgrounds
- [New UI law is a victory for N.J.’s adjuncts](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/new-ui-law-is-a-victory-for-n-j-s-adjuncts/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Nov. 10 signed legislation that will enable adjunct professors in the Garden State to collect unemployment insurance benefits. The new law was met with praise from AFT and AFTNJ leaders. “The passage of this legislation is a perfect example of the positive change that can occur when you elect
- [Rutgers plans limited in-person classes for spring at New Brunswick campus](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/rutgers-plans-limited-in-person-classes-for-spring-at-new-brunswick-campus/) - In order “to be the most responsive to the health and safety of our community,” Christopher J. Molloy, chancellor at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, said in a recent email that all New Brunswick schools will offer limited in-person instruction during the spring semester. Daily Targum writer Hayley Slusser has more.
- [Murphy: More masks for students, school staffs](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/murphy-more-masks-for-students-school-staffs/) - As part of new, wide-ranging COVID-19 safety measures, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Nov. 9 that the New Jersey State Police and the Department of Education are distributing 2.4 million masks to school students, educators and staff. In addition, Murphy said all indoor interstate sports through the high school level are prohibited. He said
- [Education overhaul expected under Biden](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2020/2020/education-overhaul-expected-under-biden/) - President-elect Joe Biden has a lot on his plate in terms of education policies in the United States, among them how to handle student debt and naming a new education secretary. One name being discussed as a replacement for Betsy DeVos: AFT President Randi Weingarten. Washington Post writer Valerie Strauss takes at look at these
- [Professor explains the value of asking ‘authentic questions’](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/professor-explains-the-value-of-asking-authentic-questions/) - University of Pennsylvania professor Angela Duckworth says she’s made a point of asking her undergraduate students “authentic questions” — i.e., those that have “no single simple answer.” “Skipping authentic questions may feel more efficient, and perhaps this is why, in a typical classroom, most of the questions teachers ask are not authentic ones,” writes Duckworth in
- [Chiera, Gonzalez discuss college faculty voices in pandemic plans](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/chiera-gonzalez-discuss-college-faculty-voices-in-pandemic-plans/) - The annual New Jersey American Association of University Professors conference, held via Zoom on Nov. 6, featured a Q&A session with Diana Gonzalez, the state’s interim secretary of higher education. The session concluded with AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera addressing the lack of faculty involvement with college and university administrators in creating the plans for
- [Poll: Teacher morale lower now than pre-pandemic](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/poll-teacher-morale-lower-now-than-pre-pandemic/) - According to an EdWeek Research Center survey, 84 percent of teachers and administrators report that teacher morale is lower now than it had been before the pandemic. The online survey of 1,630 educators was conducted in late October, and its other findings relate to job applications received, student mask requirements and the learning methods being
- [AFT’s post-Election Day stance: Count every vote](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2020/2020/afts-post-election-day-stance-count-very-vote/) - The polls are closed, but the presidential election isn’t over yet, as mail-in ballots continue to be tabulated in several states. The AFT’s stance is very clear: Count every vote. And with that in mind, AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera addresses her members in a video about why it’s important for all votes to be
- [ACE supplement builds upon race, ethnicity report](https://aftnj.org/topics/black-lives-matter/2020/ace-supplement-builds-upon-race-ethnicity-report/) - Join the American Council on Education at noon ET on Nov. 10 for the online release of “Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education: 2020 Supplement.” Building upon “Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education: A Status Report,” this supplement covers such topics as graduate and professional education, student loan debt and repayment, and postsecondary faculty and
- [AFT-backed BookWaves assists rural, remote areas](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/aft-backed-bookwaves-assists-rural-remote-areas/) - BookWaves, a union coalition that includes the AFT, recently donated 3,000 bilingual and Spanish STEM books that were distributed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, part of an effort to provide 100,000-plus free books to students and families in Alaska, Guam and Puerto Rico during the pandemic. “We’re acutely aware of the chaos and inequities facing
- [Essential information for Election Day](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2020/2020/essential-information-for-election-day/) - Nov. 3 has arrived, and for those who have not cast their votes, here is what you need to know on Election Day: Completed ballots can be dropped off at secure drop boxes until 8 p.m. today. Drop boxes are available in all 21 New Jersey counties. For an up-to-date list of locations, click here. Ballots may also be
- [Bringing classrooms to the great outdoors](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/bringing-classrooms-to-the-great-outdoors/) - During the pandemic, some U.S. schools have held classes outside — and in doing so, there’s been creativity within these makeshift environments, such as using tree stumps as desks and chairs. New York Times writer Andrea Morales takes a look at “alfresco” schools in Massachusetts, New York, Arkansas and Wisconsin.
- [Professor: Ethical standards are developed, not mandated](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/professor-ethical-standards-are-developed-not-mandated/) - Ethics are “habits of mind and habits of heart,” writes author and Southern Methodist University professor Rita Kirk, and colleges and universities “must engage in meaningful reflection and action” through first-year orientation sessions and student-to-student interactions, among other experiences. “The discussion of principled responses to what’s happening in the world creates a situational awareness that will
- [AFT, other unions sue OSHA, Department of Labor](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/aft-other-unions-sue-osha-department-of-labor/) - The American Federation of Teachers is among the unions that filed a lawsuit Oct. 29 against the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Department of Labor and Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia. In the suit, the AFT and its fellow plaintiffs are asking the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to require OSHA “to
- [Getting to know higher education secretary nominee Brian Bridges](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/getting-to-know-higher-education-secretary-nominee-brian-bridges/) - Upon being introduced Oct. 30 as New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s selection for secretary of higher education, Dr. Brian Bridges spoke about his experience, family, building relationships and more. Here is some of what Dr. Bridges had to say: “I want to give special recognition to Zakiya Smith Ellis, the previous secretary who continues to
- [Brian Bridges nominated for higher ed secretary](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/brian-bridges-nominated-for-higher-ed-secretary/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil. Murphy has nominated Dr. Brian Bridges to be the state’s secretary of higher education. “Today marks the end of a nationwide search to find an individual who shares our vision, who is experienced and who is fully committed to ensuring that a college education in New Jersey is not just available,
- [Ruiz-Turner bill for school PPE amended](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/ruiz-turner-bill-for-school-ppe-amended/) - S2698, a bill co-sponsored by state Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz and state Sen. Shirley K. Turner to assist New Jersey school districts and county colleges in acquiring personal protective equipment, was amended Oct. 29 ahead of the Senate voting session on Nov. 16. “Superintendents around the state have been struggling to get the PPE they
- [Rutgers professor: ‘More truthful’ sense of nation’s history is needed](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/rutgers-professor-more-truthful-sense-of-nations-history-is-needed/) - In a guest column for The Star-Ledger, Rutgers University professor Beth C. Rubin writes about the importance of a “greater understanding of the past” in school curriculum that would help children on multiple levels. “My students, this country’s future social studies teachers, are thinking about how they can talk about the past with their students
- [Murphy explains reasons for latest executive order](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/murphy-explains-reasons-for-latest-executive-order/) - During his Oct. 29 coronavirus briefing, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy explained the need for signing Executive Order No. 192, which goes into effect Nov. 5 and mandates health and safety protections for New Jersey workers during the pandemic. “We took this step because, yet again, the federal government hasn’t,” Murphy said, adding that the Occupational
- [Rutgers’ Nelson weighs pros, cons of legal recreational marijuana](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2020/2020/rutgers-nelson-weighs-pros-cons-of-legal-recreational-marijuana/) - The wording of Public Question No. 1 on the New Jersey 2020 election ballot is simple enough: Do you approve amending the Constitution to legalize a controlled form of marijuana called “cannabis”? Should it pass, the resulting actions and reactions could become complicated. “We have evidence from other states that have made this change, and like
- [Murphy signs worker protection executive order](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/murphy-signs-worker-protection-executive-order/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Oct. 28 signed Executive Order No. 192, which mandates health and safety protections for N.J. workers at public and private employers during the pandemic. The executive order will go into effect Nov. 5 at 6 a.m. Insider NJ has more.
- [Rowan offers students, employees free COVID-19 tests](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/rowan-offers-students-employees-free-covid-19-tests/) - Rowan University on Oct. 27 said it will provide free coronavirus tests to all of its students and employees prior to Thanksgiving. “By offering testing, we can do our part to keep all members of our extended Rowan University family safe,” said Ali A. Houshmand, Rowan’s president. For more details, click here.
- [AFT resolution defends democratic principles](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2020/2020/aft-resolution-defends-democratic-principles/) - In Protecting American Democracy, an American Federation of Teachers resolution that was unanimously passed by the executive council, the AFT details its dedication to the following four propositions: Every American citizen registered to vote must be able to vote. Every vote must be counted. The electoral verdict of “we the people” must be respected. We
- [Webinar shows new ways to learning about history](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/webinar-shows-new-ways-to-learning-about-history/) - Learn effective methods to use video and other media to teach the history today’s students want to know by attending “Teaching the Untold American History With Multimedia” on Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. ET. To register for this free, hourlong Share My Lesson webinar, click here.
- [Weingarten to AFTNJ: ‘Make sure you have your say’ in the 2020 election](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2020/2020/weingarten-to-aftnj-make-sure-you-have-your-say-in-the-2020-election/) - In a video message to AFTNJ members, AFT President Randi Weingarten touches upon the issues at the forefront of the presidential election and explains why it is important to vote for the union-endorsed New Jersey congressional candidates, among them Amy Kennedy. “Just this week, I spent time with Amy when the AFT Votes [bus] swung
- [AFT ranks high among most powerful unions in U.S.](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/aft-ranks-high-among-most-powerful-unions-in-u-s/) - The American Federation of Teachers has placed third on a list of the 30 most powerful unions in America compiled by the financial website GOBankingRates. As part of its methodology, GOBankingRates ranked the unions in terms of total members, using information available through the Office of Labor-Management Standards’ union reports under Schedule 13. To view
- [Webinar offers strategies in teaching climate change](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/webinar-offers-strategies-in-teaching-climate-change/) - Join Oregon school teacher Nichole Berg, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Anisa Heming and others for “Preparing Students to Lead a Sustainable World Via Climate Education” on Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. ET. To register for this hourlong Share My Lesson webinar, click here.
- [Murphy looks ahead to second marking period](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/murphy-looks-ahead-to-second-marking-period/) - With the first marking period of the 2020-21 academic year winding down, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy was asked during his Oct. 26 media briefing if COVID-19 guidance modifications may be in store for the second marking period. “I don’t anticipate any new guidance, but each of the districts has to coordinate,” he said. Murphy
- [Survey: COVID-19 has amplified need for grief support crisis in schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/survey-covid-19-has-amplified-need-for-grief-support-crisis-in-schools/) - A recent national survey released by the AFT and the New York Life Foundation has found that 75% of educators are in strong agreement that social and emotional support for students has never been more important — and the same percentage says that COVID-19 has opened their eyes to the immense impact of grief and loss.
- [Weingarten, AFT Votes bus travel to N.J.](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2020/2020/weingarten-aft-votes-bus-travel-to-n-j/) - AFT President Randi Weingarten was in New Jersey on Oct. 24 as part of the AFT Votes bus tour’s two Garden State stops, both to rally support for congressional candidate Amy Kennedy. The first stop was in Franklinville, where Weingarten said, “We need a Senate and we need a Congress that work in an audacious
- [NJSBA issues latest coronavirus-related report](https://aftnj.org/topics/covid-19/2020/njsba-issues-latest-coronavirus-related-report/) - The New Jersey School Boards Association on Oct. 23 released the third in a series of special reports on how the coronavirus is changing education across New Jersey. “Reopening Schools: Online Learning and the Digital Divide” delves into solving virtual learning issues, realizing the potential of online learning and more. To view the report, click
- [ELC takes action on N.J. school construction funds, police presence](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/elc-takes-action-on-n-j-school-construction-funds-police-presence/) - Attorney David G. Sciarra, executive director of the Education Law Center, sent a letter this week addressed to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and others regarding the state’s “ongoing failure to authorize additional school construction funding.” NJ Spotlight has comments and statements from Sciarra, the governor’s office and others. Also, the ELC — along with
- [AFT Votes bus to stop in South Jersey on Oct. 24](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2020/2020/aft-votes-bus-to-stop-in-south-jersey-on-oct-24/) - The AFT Votes bus will roll into South Jersey for two stops on Oct. 24. The first is the Vote With Amy Event, set for 5:30 p.m. at 1571 Delsea Drive in Franklinville, in support of Amy Kennedy, who is running for Congress in New Jersey’s second district. Kennedy, AFT President Randi Weingarten, AFT Executive Vice President
- [Abeigon: Newark teachers need more remote-learning support](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/abeigon-newark-teachers-need-more-remote-learning-support/) - In the wake of the Newark Board of Education deciding to extend remote learning for all students until Jan. 25, Newark Teachers Union (Local 481) President John M. Abeigon is standing up for the needs of his educators. “No teacher, especially new teachers, were prepared or trained for this,” Abeigon said in a statement. “If we
- [Rutgers, Montclair State among world’s top colleges](https://aftnj.org/topics/montclair-state-university/2020/rutgers-montclair-state-among-worlds-top-colleges/) - Rutgers University’s New Brunswick and Newark campuses and Montclair State University have landed on U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Global Universities list. Calculations were based on 13 indicators, among them global research reputation and regional research reputation. To see the full list, click here.
- [Newark schools extend remote learning to January](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/newark-schools-extend-remote-learning-to-january/) - Newark public schools will continue with remote learning until Jan. 25, the Newark Board of Education said this week via its website. NJ Advance Media’s Noah Cohen has more.
- [DOE nominee Allen-McMillan looks back and ahead](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/doe-nominee-allen-mcmillan-looks-back-and-ahead/) - Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s nominee for education commissioner, spoke for about nine minutes at her introductory press conference Oct. 20 in South Orange. Here is some of what she said: “Like so many in our society, I believe that our children are our most precious resource. Participating in the education of
- [Chiera reacts to N.J. DOE commissioner nominee](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/chiera-reacts-to-n-j-doe-commissioner-nominee/) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Oct. 20 named Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan as his nominee for commissioner of education during a press conference at Marshall Elementary School in South Orange. Dr. Allen-McMillan will serve in an acting role until her confirmation by the full state Senate. “We welcome Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan as New Jersey’s commissioner
- [UFT retiree Chaykin reaches out to N.J. voters](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2020/2020/uft-retiree-chaykin-reaches-out-to-n-j-voters/) - Technically, he’s retired, but Mark Chaykin has not been one to stay inactive. A few years ago, around the time he moved to New Jersey, Chaykin — who in his career was a teacher in Queens, New York, and director of field services for New York State United Teachers — became more involved with the retired teachers chapter
- [Webinar has tips for teaching controversial topics](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/webinar-has-tips-for-teaching-controversial-topics/) - Learn how to build your skills and confidence talking about controversial subjects with your students through “Tips for Remote Teaching in a Time of Controversy." This Share My Lesson webinar, presented by Lora De Salvo and Aileen McQuillen from iCivics, takes place Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. ET. To register, click here.
- [Family ties to Newark schools run deep for Morales](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/family-ties-to-newark-schools-run-deep-for-morales/) - Before she became a teacher at Newark’s Ridge Street Elementary School, Wirmarie Morales was a student there, starting shortly after her family moved to the city from Puerto Rico. Other family members have worked at Newark public schools, and two of Morales’ children are current students. In an interview with Chalkbeat Newark’s Patrick Wall, Morales
- [Survey: Student mental health is top concern for college, university presidents](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/survey-student-mental-health-is-top-concern-for-college-university-presidents/) - The mental health of students is the top concern of college and university presidents, according to a recent survey by the American Council on Education. About 300 presidents participated in the survey, which was conducted in September. Following the mental health of students (53 percent), the next two major concerns are long-term financial viability (43
- [Rutgers professors in pay inequity suit speak out](https://aftnj.org/topics/rutgers-university/2020/rutgers-professors-in-pay-inequity-suit-speak-out/) - Three of the five female plaintiffs from Local 6323 who filed a lawsuit this week against Rutgers University over pay inequity participated in a virtual press conference Oct. 15. Here are some of their comments: Professor Deepa Kumar: “I will say that I started with a good salary — higher, in fact, than several of these colleagues
- [Female professors sue Rutgers over pay inequity](https://aftnj.org/topics/rutgers-university/2020/female-professors-sue-rutgers-over-pay-inequity/) - Five female Rutgers University professors on Oct. 14 filed a lawsuit against Rutgers, claiming their salaries are significantly lower than male professors with comparable qualifications. “We as professors are working so hard to inspire our students, to expand the knowledge base, and to work with our communities and policymakers to solve social problems, and we
- [Teacher evaluation talks with NJDOE continue](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/teacher-evaluation-talks-with-njdoe-continue/) - Building on talks that began during the summer, AFTNJ pre K-12 vice presidents on Oct. 13 spoke with Pete Mazzagatti from the office of evaluation at the New Jersey Department of Education about teacher evaluation models for this academic year. Sample portfolio observations was among the topics discussed. “As part of the FAQ, we are
- [Congressman Andy Kim to discuss labor issues in virtual forum](https://aftnj.org/topics/election-2020/2020/congressman-andy-kim-to-discuss-labor-issues-in-virtual-forum/) - New Jersey Congressman Andy Kim will participate in a virtual forum Oct. 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET to discuss what’s going on in Washington, D.C., and issues that are important to labor union members. Participants will be able to submit questions directly to Kim. To register for the event, click here.
- [Webinar has resources to address current events](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/webinar-has-resources-to-address-current-events/) - Steve Masyada, Valerie McVey and Christopher Spinale, all of the Lou Frey Institute at the University of Central Florida, will share virtual resources for civics and current events in the webinar “Civics in Real Life: Resources for Virtual Instruction,” set for Oct. 15 at 5 p.m. ET. During this hourlong AFT Share My Lesson webinar, they will cover the
- [‘Celebrando Nuestra Hispanidid’ panel features AFT’s DeJesus](https://aftnj.org/topics/news/2020/celebrando-nuestra-hispanidid-panel-features-afts-dejesus/) - AFT Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus will be among the panelists for “Celebrando Nuestra Hispanidid: A Converation With Latino Leaders,” a Hispanic Heritage Month program presented by AFT and NYSUT. Moderated by NYSUT Secretary Treasurer J. Philippe Abraham, the online discussion takes place Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. ET. For more information, click here.

## Pages

- [Home](https://aftnj.org/) - AFT, AFTNJ leaders back Kean professor who Filed claim over alleged ICE Assault in Newark Posted on August 3, 2026 AFT and AFT New Jersey leaders on Aug. 3 voiced their support... Read More AFT, AFTNJ leaders back Kean professor who Filed claim over alleged ICE Assault in Newark Higgins, White and Wolfson elected AFT
- [Jennifer S. Higgins](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/leadership/executive-officers/jennifer-higgins/) - President In April 2024, Jennifer S. Higgins was elected AFT New Jersey’s president, and she assumed leadership of the state federation on July 1, 2024. Previously, Higgins served three consecutive terms as the state federation’s treasurer. In that position, she supervised the revision of the organization’s chart of accounts, negotiated the lease for its current
- [N.J. AAUP Local Chapters](https://aftnj.org/n-j-aaup-local-chapters-2/)
- [Higher Education Locals and Presidents](https://aftnj.org/higher-education-locals-and-presidents/)
- [Prekindergarten to 12 Locals and Presidents](https://aftnj.org/pre-k-to-12-locals-and-presidents/)
- [Michelle Alves Araujo](https://aftnj.org/michelle-alves-araujo/) - Current job title: Bilingual support teacher / South Street School, Newark Local: Newark Teachers Union / AFT Local 481 Union positions: NTU building rep (2023 to present)NTU vice president (2024 to present)AFT delegate (2025 to present) My union story: I believe there is power in numbers. If someone has an issue, I want to make sure
- [Zachary Spencer](https://aftnj.org/zachary-spencer/) - Current job title: Teacher of social studies, Perth Amboy High School Local: Perth Amboy Federation / AFT Local 857 Union position: PreK-12 vice president for AFTNJ; 2024-26 PAF negotiating team Career highlights/achievements: Experience teaching various student groups across various learning context, design of district midterm and final exams, curriculum building (History of Music, History of
- [Prekindergarten to 12 VPs](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/leadership/prekindergarten-to-12-vps/) - Michelle Alves AraujoMichael BackoNelson BaizaJeff CabreraJohn CunhaTeri HammondMichael IovinoZachary SpencerJanae Taylor-LoyasJosiah SantamariaLaurie TroianoEdgardo Vazquez Executive Officers>> Higher Education Vice Presidents>>
- [Edgardo Vazquez](https://aftnj.org/edgardo-vazquez/) - Current job title: Eighth grade social studies teacher, William C. McGinnis Middle School Local: Perth Amboy Federation / AFT Local 857 Union position: Building representative; executive council member My union story: I have proudly been a member of AFT Local 857 since 1999. Over the past 15 years, I have served as a building representative
- [Janae Taylor-Loyas](https://aftnj.org/janae-taylor-loyas/) - Current job title: High school math and computer science teacher Local: Newark Teachers Union / AFT Local 481 Union position: Vice president of the Newark Teachers Union and NTU Education Foundation chairperson My union story: I proudly serve as vice president of the Newark Teachers Union, advocating for fair working conditions, educator support and student success.
- [Higher Education VPs](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/leadership/vice-presidents-higher-education/) - Susan Baglieri James A. Castiglione Lynne Peterson Cummins Emari DiGiorgio Laurie LeFever Nancy Merrill Christine O'Connell Robert Russo Darlene M. Smith Bill Sullivan Todd Vachon Leonard Winogora Executive Officers>> Prekindergarten to 12 Vice Presidents>>
- [Susan Baglieri](https://aftnj.org/susan-baglieri/) - Current job title: Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning, Montclair State University Local: Montclair State University Federation of Teachers / AFT Local 1904 Union positions: Faculty negotiator (Local 1904); Higher education vice president (AFTNJ) My union story: I have been a union member my entire professional career, first as a high school teacher in N.J. public schools, then
- [2026 Endorsements](https://aftnj.org/2026-endorsements/) - On June 29, 2026, the Delegate Assembly voted to endorse U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, among others, in the 2026 general election. A complete list of AFTNJ endorsements for 2026 can be found here.
- [John Cunha](https://aftnj.org/john-cunha-2/) - Current job title: Physical education and health teacher Local: Newark Teachers Union / AFT Local 481 Union positions: AFTNJ PreK-12 vice president NTU vice presidentNTU building repNTU negotiating team member My union story: My NTU journey began in 1994 when Pietro Petino asked me to run for building rep. It’s been 29 years and counting. I learned a lot from Petino
- [Member Social Grant Reimbursement Application](https://aftnj.org/member-social-grant-reimbursement-application/) - To download a copy of the AFTNJ Member Social Grant Reimbursement Application, click here.
- [Member Social Grant](https://aftnj.org/member-social-grant/) - New members frequently do not attend membership meetings and many do not read meeting minutes. They are members, but all too often, uninformed members. For the 2026-27 academic year, this grant would provide a maximum of $1,000 to each local or chapter unit to have a luncheon, ice cream social, social gathering with snacks and soft
- [AFTNJ Student Internship Grant Criteria and Initial Application](https://aftnj.org/aftnj-student-internship-grant/) - Student interns are being trained to organize students, understand the purpose and function of unions, and develop a liaison between the students and the locals/chapters at each respective college/university. The long-term goals are to establish student unions on each campus and have the student unions mobilize for common interests and concerns, and mobilize with the
- [Constitution](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/constitution/) - ARTICLE I - NAME AND AFFILIATIONSSection 1 — This organization shall be known as AFT New Jersey, AFT, and AFL-CIO. Section 2 — This organization shall affiliate with the American Federation of Teachers and those organizations mandated by its Constitution and By Laws. Download full constitution as a PDF(bylaws amended April 18, 2026)
- [Contact](https://aftnj.org/contact/) - AFT NEW JERSEY STAFF Jennifer S. Higgins: AFTNJ President — jhiggins@aftnj.org Pat Paradiso: Treasurer — pparadiso@aftnj.org Krista Sweeney: Confidential assistant to the president — ksweeney@aftnj.org Ryan Williamson: Executive assistant to the president / field services — rwilliamson@aftnj.org Leon Boone III: Political director — lboone@aftnj.org Shreya Shah: Confidential senior accountant — sshah@aftnj.org Chris M. Junior: Communications director —
- [Dr. Todd Vachon](https://aftnj.org/dr-todd-vachon/) - Current job titles: Assistant Professor of Practice, Labor Studies and Employment RelationsDirector, Labor Education Action Research Network (Rutgers LEARN)Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations Local: Rutgers AAUP-AFT / Local 6323 Union positions: AFTNJ Higher Education Vice PresidentVice President, Middlesex-Somerset Central Labor Council (2018-24)President, Middlesex-Somerset Central Labor Council (2025-present)Executive Committee Member, Rutgers AAUP-AFT (2019-present)Chair, Postdoc Bargaining Unit,
- [Emari DiGiorgio](https://aftnj.org/emari-digiorgio/) - Current job title:Professor of Writing and First-Year Studies, Stockton UniversityPresident, Council of New Jersey State College Locals Locals:Stockton Federation of Teachers (Local 2275) Council of New Jersey State College Locals (Local 9997) Union positions:President, Council of New Jersey State College Locals (Local 9997)President and chair, Stockton Federation of Teachers (Local 2275)Executive vice president, Stockton Federation of Teachers (Local
- [AFTNJ Organizing Reimbursement Application](https://aftnj.org/aftnj-organizing-reimbursement-application/) - To download a copy of the AFTNJ Organizing Reimbursement Application, click here.
- [New Member Organizing Program: Fiscal Year 2025-26](https://aftnj.org/new-member-organizing-program-fiscal-year-2025-26/) - AFTNJ Higher EducationNew Member Organizing Program Fiscal Year 2025-26 1. Any higher education local/chapter that submits an organizing plan in narrative form to the division’s executive vice president and shall receive $500 for submitting an organizing plan, if the plan is approved. This is a one-time-only grant. Locals who revise their plans will not receive a second
- [Protecting Our Members](https://aftnj.org/protecting-our-members/) - • AAUP — Political Attacks on Higher Education (fact sheets on immigration-related rights and campus concerns, DEI in K-12, antisemitism, gender identity and much more) • AFT — Defending Higher Education in 2025 (resources related to Project 2025, accreditation, DEI and more) • AFT and NEA — Guidance on DEI-related court rulings in April 2025 (overview
- [Josephine Nagle](https://aftnj.org/josephine-nagle/) - Recording Secretary Josephine “Jo” Nagle was elected AFTNJ recording secretary in 2024. She has been a member of the Union of Rutgers Administrators-American Federation of Teachers Local 1766 (URA-AFT) since its inception in 2007 and served as a member of the executive board, as well as the finance, health and safety, and communications committees. Nagle
- [Protecting Our Students](https://aftnj.org/protecting-our-students/) - • AFT — Block grants information sheet • AFT — Department of Education talking points memo (effects on higher education) • AFT — Protecting Our Students toolkit (English version) • AFT — Protecting Our Students toolkit (Spanish version) • AFT — Protecting Our Students: Creating a Family Immigration Raid Emergency Plan • AFT — Protecting Our Students: The
- [AFTNJ testimony on the state's budget for fiscal year 2025-26](https://aftnj.org/aftnj-testimony-on-the-states-budget-for-fiscal-year-2025-26/) - Read AFTNJ President Jennifer S. Higgins' full testimony here.
- [Member Benefits](https://aftnj.org/for-members/aft-plus-member-benefits/) - AFT is the name of the member benefit programs available to AFT members and their families. Many of the programs are provided through Union Privilege, the benefit arm of the AFL-CIO; others are unique to AFT and are coordinated directly through AFT PLUS. Explore the site and learn more about the savings and services available
- [Laurie Troiano](https://aftnj.org/laurie-troiano/) - Current job title: High School English teacher Local: North Bergen Federation of Teachers / AFT Local 1060 Union positions: NBFT Executive Vice PresidentAFTNJ PreK-12 Vice President (2024) My union story: I teach in the school district I attended, and my high school teacher invited me to a union meeting. Next thing I knew I was the secretary, then VP and
- [Silvia Pereira](https://aftnj.org/silvia-pereira/) - Executive Vice President, Prekindergarten to 12 Silvia Pereira has been a dedicated educator in the Newark Public Schools system since 2005. She began as a bilingual Portuguese teacher, and for the past six years, Pereira has served as an ESL teacher. During this time, she supported her colleagues through peer coaching, fostering collaboration and growth
- [Teri Hammond](https://aftnj.org/teri-hammond/) - Current job title: K-8 educator / literacy coach Local: North Bergen Federation of Teachers / AFT Local 1060 Union positions: NBFT Vice PresidentAFTNJ Pre-K to 12 Vice President My union story: When I began my teaching career in 2001, the idea of a union already ran through my blood. I honestly knew no other way. My dad was an
- [Josiah Santamaria](https://aftnj.org/josiah-santamaria/) - Current job title: High school English teacher Local: Perth Amboy Federation / AFT Local 857 Union position: District representative for the Perth Amboy Federation My union story: I have served PAF as a building representative, its treasurer and as part of its contract negotiating team.Career highlights/achievements: I have more than a decade of experience in the field of education, and I
- [Weingarten Rights](https://aftnj.org/weingarten-rights/) - Weingarten rights fall under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act, and they are described by the National Labor Relations Board as “the right to request representation during an investigatory interview.” This right was first articulated in 1975 by the Supreme Court as part of the case NLRB v. J. Weingarten Inc. Download a
- [Affordable State Health Benefits for Adjunct Faculty](https://aftnj.org/affordable-state-health-benefits-for-adjunct-faculty/) - The recently released “An Army of Temps: AFT Contingent Faculty — Quality of Work/Life Report 2022” is loaded with troubling statistics, such as: • 68.4 percent of survey respondents have put off/postponed getting dental care/checkups over the past 12 months due to costs • 48 percent of respondents have put off/postponed getting needed health care during that
- [ACTIVE CAMPAIGNS](https://aftnj.org/active-campaigns-2/) - • Affordable State Health Benefits for Adjunct Faculty
- [AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS NEW JERSEY (AFTNJ)](https://aftnj.org/homepage/) - Supporting our members and organized labor across New Jersey. AFT New Jersey represents 30,000-plus PreK to 12 and higher educationfaculty and staff throughout the Garden State,advocating for fair contracts and safe working conditions,backing legislation that benefits education and working families,and standing in solidarity with union affiliates. Uncategorized AFT, AFTNJ leaders back Kean professor who Filed
- [Laurie LeFever](https://aftnj.org/laurie-lefever/) - Current job title: Adjunct professor, communications / Montclair State University and Raritan Valley Community College Locals: Montclair State University Adjuncts (Local 6025) and Raritan Valley Community College Faculty Federation (Local 2375) Union positions: 1st Vice President and Membership Chairperson (Local 6025) Adjunct representative / executive committee (Local 2375) My union story: I am part of the negotiating teams for Local
- [Pat Paradiso](https://aftnj.org/pat-paradiso/) - Treasurer Pat Paradiso has been a teacher in Perth Amboy since 1997, starting as a substitute teacher and eventually being hired full time to teach third grade. During her career, she’s also been an elementary math specialist, an elementary math intervention teacher and a secondary English Language Arts teacher. Paradiso was recruited to be a
- [AFTNJ Student Internship Grant Application](https://aftnj.org/aftnj-student-internship-grant-application/) - To download a copy of the AFTNJ Student Internship Grant Application, click here.
- [FAQ](https://aftnj.org/faq/) - FAQ Help Center Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. I'm thinking of taking a solo trip. Where do I begin? Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, vis an nihil tation doctus, mel ne iriure accusam evertitur. Te omnes repudiandae pri, dolores appetere incorrupte id
- [About Us](https://aftnj.org/about/) - About us Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Hey! I’m Rhonda, I Started This Blog Somewhere In 2012 As An Interesting Means Of Noting, Chronicling And Expressing My Ideas, Projects, Inspirations And Daydreams. Etiam erat velit scelerisque in dictum non. Dictum fusce ut placerat
- [COPE / Political](https://aftnj.org/cope-political/)
- [AFTNJ Higher Education Organizing Documents](https://aftnj.org/aftnj-higher-education-organizing-documents/)
- [Darlene M. Smith](https://aftnj.org/darlene-m-smith/) - Current job title: Program coordinator / PALS-Newark, Rutgers University Local: Rutgers URA-AFT (Local 1766) Career highlights/achievements: Chair, AFTNJ Legal Defense Committee (2012-present); recipient of the Coalition of Labor Union Women’s Clara Day Award (2017); President, New Jersey Coalition of Labor Union Women (2014-present) Why I’m a warrior for social justice: In my career, I have had the honor of working with
- [Committee Member Bios](https://aftnj.org/committee-member-bios/) - Anthony Balzano, chair Christine O'Connell Darlene M. Smith
- [Statement of Principles](https://aftnj.org/social-justice-committee-statement-of-principles/) - As a union of professionals, AFTNJ takes a critical look at promoting social justice in our union, our workplaces and the communities where we live. We do so by organizing working people, community members and alongside organizations with shared values. We commit to promote curriculum, professional practices and progressive legislation on the local, state and federal
- [Christine O'Connell](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj-leadership-vice-presidents-higher-education-christine-oconnell/) - Current job title: President, Union of Rutgers Administrators-American Federation of Unions (URA-AFT) Local: 1766 / Union of Rutgers Administrators Union positions: AFTNJ Higher Education Vice President (2020)Middlesex AFL-CIO Vice President (2020)Executive Board member, Grievance Committee member, Organizing Committee member, Health and Safety Committee member, URA President (2019)Lead Steward Off Campus (2010-19)Steward Off Campus (2010) My union story: As a first-generation
- [Nelson Baiza](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj-leadership-prekindergarten-to-12-vps-nelson-baiza/) - Current job title: Eighth-grade social studies teacher / North Bergen School District Local: 1060 / North Bergen Federation of Teachers Union positions: AFTNJ Pre-K to 12 Vice PresidentLocal 1060 Correspondence Secretary (2017-present)Local 1060 Union representative (2004-17) My union story: As far as I can remember, my father was a member of unions. First he was a member of the porters union and then
- [Leonard Winogora](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/leadership/vice-presidents-higher-education/leonard-winogora/) - Current job title: Adjunct professor, Mercer County Community College Local: 2222 / United Adjunct Faculty of New Jersey Union positions: AFTNJ Higher Education Vice President Mercer County Community College Chapter President, Local 2222 (2017-present) MCCC Chapter President, Local 2222 (2011-17) Treasurer, AFT Adjunct/Contingent Caucus My union story: I was a member of the AAUP at
- [Michael Backo](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/leadership/prekindergarten-to-12-vps/michael-backo/) - Current job title: Math teacher / Garfield High School Local: 3977 / Garfield Federation of Teachers Union position(s): AFTNJ Pre-K to 12 Vice President (2018-present) GFT Grievance Chair (2018-present) GFT Legislative Committee Chair (2016-present) GFT Auxiliary Vice President (2014-18) GFT Constitution Committee (2018-19) GFT Negations Committee (2018-19) My union story: I decided to get involved with the union to make a difference
- [Michael Iovino](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/leadership/prekindergarten-to-12-vps/michael-iovino/) - Current job title: Social studies teacher / Technology High School, Newark Local: 481 / Newark Teachers Union Union positions: AFTNJ Pre-K to 12 Vice President NTU Secretary Treasurer NTU Building Rep NTU Evaluation Implementation Committee NTU Lead Negotiator NTU Academic Specialist NTU Executive Board Vice President (2013-15) My union story: I was hired by Newark the year the state
- [Join the Union](https://aftnj.org/take-action/join-the-union/) - If you work at any of the institutions where AFT represents workers in New Jersey in a bargaining unit position, you still need to affirmatively sign an authorization card to become a full member of the union. Contact us if you are not sure whether you are a signed full union member and we will
- [Bill Sullivan](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/leadership/vice-presidents-higher-education/bill-sullivan/) - Job Title: Professor, Exercise Science & Physical Education Department, Montclair State University Current Positions: Vice President of AFT New Jersey, Higher Education Executive Vice President, Council of New Jersey State College Locals, AFT Vice President for External Affairs, AFT Local 1904 Previous Positions: Acting President, Council of New Jersey State College Locals, AFT Secretary, Council of
- [Darlene M. Smith](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/leadership/vice-presidents-higher-education/darlene-m-smith/) - Current job title: Program Coordinator/DSO / Rutgers University Local: 1766 / Union of Rutgers Administrators Union positions: AFTNJ Higher Education Vice President URA Newark Lead Steward (2020-present) URA Union Steward (2007-present) URA Bargaining Team member (2007-19) URA Newark Vice President (2007-10) URA Executive Vice President (2010-19) URA Grievance Committee Chair (2010-19) My union story: What
- [Lynne Peterson Cummins](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/leadership/vice-presidents-higher-education/lynne-peterson-cummins/) - Current job title: President and Chairperson / Essex County College Adjunct Faculty Federation Local: 2222 / United Adjunct Faculty of New Jersey Union positions: AFTNJ Higher Education Vice President Founding President/Chairperson of the Essex County College Adjunct Faculty Federation Vice President of the United Adjunct Faculty of New Jersey Member of the American Federation of
- [Dr. James A. Castiglione](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/leadership/vice-presidents-higher-education/james-a-castiglione/) - Current job title: Associate Professor of Physics / Kean University, Union Local: 2187 / Kean Federation of Teachers Union positions: AFTNJ Higher Education Vice President KFT President (2008-present) My union story: In 2001, there were major changes brewing at the university, and I recognized that the only group on campus that was taking a moral stand in support of academic
- [Dr. Susanna Tardi](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/leadership/executive-officers/susanna-tardi/) - Executive Vice President, Higher Education Dr. Susanna Tardi, a professor of sociology at William Paterson University, has served as AFTNJ’s executive vice president for higher education since 2011. She has more than 20 years of senior union higher education leadership experience at both the local and state level. Her current roles include the following: chair,
- [Robert Russo](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/leadership/vice-presidents-higher-education/bob-russo/) - Current job title: Adjunct Faculty, Department of Political Science and Law / Montclair State University Local: 6025 / Montclair State University Adjuncts Union positions: AFTNJ Higher Education Vice President Treasurer, Local 6025 Former President, Local 6025 Former Building Rep., Local 481 Former Shop Steward, CWA Local 1037 My union story: I began as a fourth-grade teacher in
- [Charter](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/charter/) - The New Jersey State Federation of Teachers was chartered in 1938 by the American Federation of Teachers. Download letter size .pdf In recent years, the name of the federation was changed to AFT New Jersey.
- [Support the Committee on Political Education (COPE)](https://aftnj.org/political-education/support-the-committee-on-political-education-cope/) - Dear AFTNJ Leaders and Activists, We need your support. The AFTNJ Committee On Political Education (COPE) Fund makes it possible for our state federation to have a voice in the political process. This past November we mobilized like never before to elect education and labor friendly candidates in New Jersey’s most competitive races. Thanks to
- [Political and Legislative](https://aftnj.org/political-education/) - Elections 2019 General Election Endorsements (9/17/19)2018 General Election Endorsements (9/10/18) Tom Malinowski For Congress (8/8/18) Kim Snags Two Union Endorsements (5/10/18) Education, Healthcare Unions Endorse Baraka for Newark Mayor (3/28/18) Murphy for Governor, Labor Candidates and State Legislative Endorsements (6/28/17) Election 2017: Get Involved (9/18/17) Calendar>> Labor Candidates School Members learn the skills necessary to win a campaign from
- [United Adjuncts of NJ, Local 2222](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/higher-education-locals/united-adjuncts-of-nj-local-2222/) - United Adjunct Faculty of New Jersey Chapters Bergen County College Chapter Camden County College Chapter County College of Morris Chapter Essex County College Adjunct Faculty Chapter Hudson County College Adjunct Faculty Federation Mercer County Community College Chapter Middlesex County Community College Passaic County Community College Adjunct Faculty Chapter Sussex County Chapter Union County College
- [Locals and Presidents](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/locals/) - AFTNJ has three types of locals: Higher Education Locals and Presidents PreK to 12 Locals and Presidents Retiree locals AFTNJ is a federation of education workers from the former NJ State Federation of Teachers' locals with AFT Rutgers and the College Council. The Council of New Jersey State College Locals, AFT, AFL-CIO represents faculty, adjunct faculty,
- [AFTNJ Executive Officers and Vice Presidents](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/leadership/) - Executive officers Higher Education Vice Presidents Prekindergarten to 12 Vice Presidents
- [About](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/) - The American Federation of Teachers New Jersey (AFTNJ) is a federation of unions representing 30,000 education workers in prekindergarten to 12 school districts, private, religious and charter schools. AFTNJ is the largest higher education union in the state, with locals representing full-time and part-time faculty, all levels of administrative, professional and supervisory staff, graduate
- [For Members](https://aftnj.org/for-members/) - American Federation of Teachers New Jersey members can stay up to date on issues pertaining to the union in the state and across the country along with education and labor-related news by signing up for the AFTNJ Educator Express newsletter. (To view a recent edition, click here.) Contact AFTNJ communications coordinator Chris M. Junior at
- [Executive Officers](https://aftnj.org/about-aftnj/leadership/executive-officers/) - Name Title Executive Officers Jennifer S. Higgins President Susanna Tardi, Ph.D. Executive Vice President, Higher Education Silvia Pereira Executive Vice President, Prekindergarten to 12 Josephine Nagle Recording Secretary Pat Paradiso Treasurer Higher Education Vice Presidents>> Prekindergarten to 12 Vice Presidents>>
- [Mission](https://aftnj.org/mission/) - 1. Promote statewide organization and unionization of teachers and all other personnel engaged in education in order to carry out the program and policies of the AFTNJ and the AFT. 2. Obtain for teachers and all other educational workers all the rights to which they are entitled as citizens and workers in a democracy and
- [Calendar](https://aftnj.org/calendar/) - Wider view. Use the "Event Link" in the event description to register for events. Events Calendar 42 events found. Events Notice There were no results found for this view. Jump to the next upcoming events. Notice There were no results found for this view. Jump to the next upcoming events. August 2026 Calendar of Events
- [Form a Union](https://aftnj.org/form-a-union/) - AFTNJ's objective is to promote statewide organization and unionization of public and private school teachers, paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and staff; other workers organized in conformity with this constitution; and other employees who may be members of any AFT New Jersey State Federation affiliate whose constitution so permits. Organizing is the
- [Prekindergarten - 12](https://aftnj.org/aftnj-news/prekindergarten-12/) - From the state's largest school district to small privates, AFTNJ stands up for New Jersey's students. Our members teach early childhood education to prepare kids for school, special education and every topic from music to math. AFTNJ is a leader in working for meaningful school reform that helps students and is fair to educators.
- [Higher Education](https://aftnj.org/aftnj-news/higher-education/) - The American Federation of Teachers New Jersey is the largest higher education union in the state, representing full and part-time faculty, all levels of administrative, professional and supervisory staff, graduate workers, and postdoctoral researchers.
- [Take Action](https://aftnj.org/take-action/) - The American Federation of Teachers New Jersey can work with you to organize all educational staff — private, public and charter schools, as well as higher education — into the AFTNJ state federation. JOIN THE UNION FORM A UNION

## Venues

- [DoubleTree by Hilton, Monroe](https://aftnj.org/venue/doubletree-by-hilton-monroe/)
- [Rutgers Labor Education Center](https://aftnj.org/venue/rutgers-labor-education-center/)
- [Zoom](https://aftnj.org/venue/zoom/)
- [AFTNJ office](https://aftnj.org/venue/aftnj-office/)

## Organizers

- [Krista Sweeney](https://aftnj.org/organizer/krista-sweeney/)

## Events

- [Officers meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/officers-meeting-4/) - Virtual meeting via Zoom.
- [Officers meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/officers-meeting-3/) - Virtual meeting via Zoom.
- [Officers meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/officers-meeting-2/) - Virtual meeting via Zoom.
- [Officers meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/officers-meeting/) - Virtual meeting via Zoom.
- [Executive Council meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/executive-council-meeting-4/) - Location TBD.
- [Executive Council meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/executive-council-meeting-3/) - Virtual meeting via Zoom.
- [Executive Council meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/executive-council-meeting-2/) - Virtual meeting via Zoom.
- [Executive Council meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/executive-council-meeting/) - Location TBD.
- [Delegate Assembly meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/delegate-assembly-meeting-4/) - Location TBD.
- [Delegate Assembly meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/delegate-assembly-meeting-2/) - Virtual meeting via Zoom.
- [Delegate Assembly meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/delegate-assembly-meeting-3/) - Virtual meeting via Zoom.
- [Delegate Assembly meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/delegate-assembly-meeting/) - Location TBD
- [AFTNJ Executive Council Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-executive-council-meeting-11/)
- [CD 7 Candidate Forum](https://aftnj.org/event/cd-7-candidate-forum/) - Join AFT New Jersey and OneNJ7 at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg for a forum featuring candidates running in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District. Rep. Tom Kean and the Democratic candidates running for the seat have been invited. Confirmed to participate are Brian Varela, Tina Shah, Michael Roth, Rebecca Bennett and Beth Ellen Adubato.
- [DIRE Rapid Response training session](https://aftnj.org/event/dire-rapid-response-training-session/) - To register, click here.
- [Know Your Rights training sessions](https://aftnj.org/event/know-your-rights-training-sessions/) - Join the N.J. State AFL-CIO and its Central Labor Councils for one of two training sessions covering rapid response, mutual aid and nonviolent civil resistance. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the Heldrich Hotel and Conference Center, 10 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick. RSVP with the training date
- [Meeting the Moment: Building Solidarity Through Training & Community](https://aftnj.org/event/meeting-the-moment-building-solidarity-through-training-community/) - Rutgers Labor Education Center, 50 Labor Center Way in New Brunswick Register here.
- [AFTNJ Convention and Legislative Conference](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-convention-and-legislative-conference-2/)
- [AFTNJ Delegate Assembly Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-delegate-assembly-meeting-12/) - Location TBD
- [AFTNJ Delegate Assembly Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-delegate-assembly-meeting-11/)
- [AFTNJ Delegate Assembly Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-delegate-assembly-meeting-10/)
- [AFTNJ Delegate Assembly Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-delegate-assembly-meeting-9/) - Location TBD
- [AFTNJ Executive Council Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-executive-council-meeting-10/)
- [AFTNJ Executive Council Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-executive-council-meeting-9/)
- [AFTNJ Executive Council Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-executive-council-meeting-8/) - Location TBD
- [AFTNJ Officers Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-officers-meeting-4/)
- [AFTNJ Officers Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-officers-meeting-3/)
- [AFTNJ Officers Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-officers-meeting-2/)
- [AFTNJ Officers Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-officers-meeting/)
- [Know Your Rights! How to Protest Safely & Peacefully](https://aftnj.org/event/know-your-rights-how-to-protest-safely-peacefully/) - Mass mobilization training featuring presentations led by representatives from AFT national and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey.
- [AFTNJ Delegate Assembly Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-delegate-assembly-meeting-8/) - In person at the Rutgers Labor Education Center, 50 Labor Center Way in New Brunswick.
- [AFTNJ Legislative Conference](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-legislative-conference/) - DoubleTree by Hilton, 390 Forsgate Drive in Monroe Township
- [N.J. Work Environment Council Awards Dinner](https://aftnj.org/event/n-j-work-environment-council-awards-dinner/) - Details to come; click here for related information.
- [Healthy Schools Now Spring Conference](https://aftnj.org/event/healthy-schools-now-spring-conference/) - Details to come; check here for related information.
- [AFTNJ Executive Council Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-executive-council-meeting-7/) - Meeting place/format (in person or virtual) is TBD; time may change as a result.
- [AFTNJ Summer Strategic Planning Workshops](https://aftnj.org/event/summer-strategic-planning-workshops/) - Rutgers Labor Education Center50 Labor Center Way, New Brunswick Breakout groups will discuss PreK-12 contract campaigns, adjunct health care and public higher education reorganization. Click here to register by noon on Aug. 5.
- [AFTNJ Delegate Assembly Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-delegate-assembly-meeting-7/) - Meeting will be held virtually using Zoom.All delegates will receive meeting notices and supporting documentation via email.
- [AFTNJ Delegate Assembly Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-delegate-assembly-meeting-6/) - Meeting will be held virtually using Zoom.All delegates will receive meeting notices and supporting documentation via email.
- [AFTNJ Delegate Assembly Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-delegate-assembly-meeting-5/) - Meeting place/format (in person or virtual) is TBD; time may change as a result.All delegates will receive meeting notices and supporting documentation via email.
- [AFTNJ Executive Council Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-executive-council-meeting-6/) - Meeting will be held virtually using Zoom.
- [AFTNJ Executive Council Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-executive-council-meeting-5/) - Meeting will be held virtually using Zoom.
- [AFTNJ Executive Council Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-executive-council-meeting-4/) - Meeting place/format (in person or virtual) is TBD; time may change as a result.
- [N.J. State AFL-CIO WILD Conference](https://aftnj.org/event/n-j-state-afl-cio-wild-conference/) - Hilton East Brunswick Hotel & Executive Meeting CenterEast Brunswick
- [AFT Higher Education Professional Issues Conference](https://aftnj.org/event/aft-higher-education-professional-issues-conference/) - Free for AFT and AFT/AAUP members
- [AFTNJ Delegate Assembly Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-delegate-assembly-meeting-4/) - At the Labor Education Center, 50 Labor Center Way, New Brunswick
- [AFTNJ Executive Council meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-executive-council-meeting-3/) - The Zoom link and the agenda will be sent out a few days prior to the meeting.
- [AFT Convention](https://aftnj.org/event/aft-convention/) - George R. Brown Convention CenterHouston Arrival day is July 21.
- [AFTNJ Convention and Legislative Conference](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-convention-and-legislative-conference/) - DoubleTree by Hilton, 390 Forsgate Drive in Monroe Township
- [AFTNJ Delegate Assembly Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-delegate-assembly-meeting-3/) - The Zoom link and the agenda will be sent out a few days prior to the meeting.
- [AFTNJ Executive Council Meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-executive-council-meeting-2/) - The Zoom link and the agenda will be sent out a few days prior to the meeting.
- [AFTNJ Delegate Assembly meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-delegate-assembly-meeting-2/) - The Zoom link and the agenda will be sent out a few days prior to the meeting.
- [AFTNJ Executive Council meeting](https://aftnj.org/event/aftnj-executive-council-meeting/) - The Zoom link and the agenda will be sent out a few days before the meeting.

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/uncategorized/)
- [AAUP](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/aaup/)
- [Academic freedom](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/academic-freedom/)
- [Africa](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/africa/)
- [AFT Convention 2020](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/aft-convention-2020/)
- [America](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/america/)
- [Artificial intelligence](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/artificial-intelligence/)
- [Asia](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/asia/)
- [Athletics](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/athletics/)
- [Australia](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/australia/)
- [Black History Month](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/black-history-month/)
- [Black Lives Matter](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/black-lives-matter/)
- [Bloomfield College](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/bloomfield-college/)
- [Book censorship](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/book-censorship/)
- [Brookdale Community College](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/brookdale-community-college/)
- [Budget](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/budget/)
- [Budget travel](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/budget/budget-travel/)
- [Career and technical education (CTE)](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/career-and-technical-education-cte/)
- [ChatGPT](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/chatgpt/)
- [Child care](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/child-care/)
- [Climate change](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/climate-change/)
- [COVID-19](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/covid-19/)
- [Critical race theory](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/critical-race-theory/)
- [Democracy](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/democracy/)
- [Diversity and inclusion](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/diversity-and-inclusion/)
- [Diversity Dialogue](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/diversity-dialogue/)
- [Election 2020](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/election-2020/)
- [Election 2024](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/election-2024/)
- [Europe](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/europe/)
- [Garfield](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/garfield/)
- [Health care](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/health-care/)
- [In Action](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/action/)
- [Kean University](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/kean-university/)
- [Life skills](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/life-skills/)
- [Luxury travel](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/budget/luxury-travel/)
- [Media](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/media/)
- [Mental health](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/mental-health/)
- [Middlesex College](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/middlesex-college/)
- [Montclair State University](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/montclair-state-university/)
- [N.J. HELC](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/n-j-helc/)
- [New Jersey City University](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/new-jersey-city-university/)
- [New Jersey Department of Education](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/new-jersey-department-of-education/)
- [Newark](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/newark/)
- [News](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/)
- [NJIT](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/njit/)
- [North Bergen](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/north-bergen/)
- [Pensions](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/pensions/)
- [Perth Amboy](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/perth-amboy/)
- [Photos](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/action/photos/)
- [Political Education](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/cope/)
- [Pre-K to 12 News](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/k-12/)
- [Press Clips](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/media/aftnj-in-the-news/)
- [Press releases](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/media/press-releases/)
- [Remote learning](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/remote-learning/)
- [Rider University](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/rider-university/)
- [Rowan University](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/rowan-university/)
- [Rutgers University](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/rutgers-university/)
- [Salary](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/salary/)
- [School safety](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/school-safety/)
- [SEL](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/sel/)
- [Share My Lesson](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/k-12/share-my-lesson/)
- [Social justice](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/social-justice/)
- [Special education](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/special-education/)
- [STEM](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/stem/)
- [Stockton University](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/stockton-university/)
- [SXSW EDU](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/sxsw-edu/)
- [Take Action](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/take-action/)
- [Teacher Evaluation](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/k-12/teacher-evaluation/)
- [Teacher shortage and retention](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/teacher-shortage-and-retention/)
- [TeachRock](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/teachrock/)
- [Technology](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/technology/)
- [Tenure](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/k-12/tenure/)
- [Testimony](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/cope/testimony-cope/)
- [The College of New Jersey](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/the-college-of-new-jersey/)
- [Thomas Edison State University](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/thomas-edison-state-university/)
- [Type of Trip](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/type-of-trip/)
- [Videos](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/action/videos/)
- [William Paterson University](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/william-paterson-university/)
- [Women's History Month](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/womens-history-month/)
- [Adventure travel](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/type-of-trip/adventure-travel/)
- [AFT News](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/aft-news/)
- [AFTNJ News](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/aftnj-news/)
- [Baraka for Mayor](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/k-12/baraka2014/)
- [Business Travel](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/type-of-trip/business-travel/)
- [Climate Justice](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/cope/climate-justice/)
- [Council Voice](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/aftnj-news/council-voice/)
- [Couples travel](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/type-of-trip/couples-travel/)
- [Eco travel](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/type-of-trip/eco-travel/)
- [Family Travel](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/type-of-trip/family-travel/)
- [Higher Ed News](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/higher-education/)
- [HPAE](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/aft-news/hpae/)
- [Labor News](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/labor-news/)
- [Merger](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/higher-education/merger/)
- [Newark Teachers Union](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/k-12/ntu-contract/)
- [Reclaim Rutgers](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/higher-education/reclaim-rutgers/)
- [Sandy Relief](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/aftnj-news/sandy-relief/)
- [Solo Travel](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/type-of-trip/solo-travel/)
- [Student debt](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/higher-education/student-debt/)
- [Trenton Report](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/aftnj-news/trenton-report/)
- [Tuition Equity](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/higher-education/tuition-equity/)
- [Yovnello](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/aftnj-news/yovnello/)
- [2016 Convention](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/aftnj-news/2016-convention/)
- [2018 Conference and Convention](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/aftnj-news/2018-conference-and-convention/)
- [2019 Legislative Conference](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/aftnj-news/2019-legislative-conference/)
- [Adjunct Issues](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/higher-education/adjunct-issues/)
- [AFT Retirees Newsline](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/aftnj-news/aft-retirees-newsline/)
- [Bond](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/higher-education/bond/)
- [College Council Contract](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/higher-education/college-council-contract/)
- [Farahi](https://aftnj.org/topics/category/news/higher-education/farahi/)

## Tags

- [#OccupyWallStreet](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/occupywallstreet/)
- [Adrienne Eaton](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/adrienne-eaton/)
- [AFSCME](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/afscme/)
- [Angela Bodino](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/angela-bodino/)
- [Ann Twomey](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/ann-twomey/)
- [Ariadne Catoe](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/ariadne-catoe/)
- [Asbury Park Press](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/asbury-park-press/)
- [Associated Press](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/associated-press/)
- [Becky Hodd](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/becky-hodd/)
- [Bergen Community College](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/bergen-community-college/)
- [Bergen Record](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/bergen-record/)
- [Bill Sullivan](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/bill-sullivan/)
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- [Bob Russo](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/bob-russo/)
- [Brave New Films](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/brave-new-films/)
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- [Bruce Baker](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/bruce-baker/)
- [Camden County Community College](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/camden-county-community-college/)
- [Capitol Quickies](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/capitol-quickies/)
- [Carolyn Foote](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/carolyn-foote/)
- [Catherine A. Lugg](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/catherine-a-lugg/)
- [Center for Women and Work](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/center-for-women-and-work/)
- [Charlesetta Bynes](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/charlesetta-bynes/)
- [Charlie Murphy](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/charlie-murphy/)
- [charlie w](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/charlie-w/)
- [Cheryl Skeete](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/cheryl-skeete/)
- [Cheryl Skeete-Carey](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/cheryl-skeete-carey/)
- [Chris Christie](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/chris-christie/)
- [Chris Estevez](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/chris-estevez/)
- [Christine O'Connell](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/christine-oconnell/)
- [Christine Szeliga](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/christine-szeliga/)
- [Claudia Beckman](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/claudia-beckman/)
- [Concerned Parents of Paterson Head Start](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/concerned-parents-of-paterson-head-start/)
- [Council of NJ State College Locals](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/council-of-nj-state-college-locals/)
- [County College of Morris](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/county-college-of-morris/)
- [Courier-Post](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/courier-post/)
- [CWA](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/cwa/)
- [Daily Record](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/daily-record/)
- [Daily Targum](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/daily-targum/)
- [Dan O'Connor](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/dan-oconnor/)
- [Darlene Smith](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/darlene-smith/)
- [Dawood Farahi](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/dawood-farahi/)
- [Deborah Howlett](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/deborah-howlett/)
- [Democracy Now](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/democracy-now/)
- [Diane Ravitch](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/diane-ravitch/)
- [Dierdre Glenn Paul](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/dierdre-glenn-paul/)
- [Domenick Stampone](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/domenick-stampone/)
- [Dominick Stampone](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/dominick-stampone/)
- [Donna Chiera](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/donna-chiera/)
- [Dorian Grumet](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/dorian-grumet/)
- [Dorothy Grauer](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/dorothy-grauer/)
- [Dr. Alan Wan](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/dr-alan-wan/)
- [Dr. Barbara Wheeler](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/dr-barbara-wheeler/)
- [Dr. Jay Tischfield](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/dr-jay-tischfield/)
- [Dr. Jeff Keefe](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/dr-jeff-keefe/)
- [Dr. Susanna Tardi](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/dr-susanna-tardi/)
- [Eddie Guerra](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/eddie-guerra/)
- [education commissioner](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/education-commissioner/)
- [Education Law Center](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/education-law-center/)
- [Education Week](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/education-week/)
- [Elaine Bobrove](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/elaine-bobrove/)
- [Elizabeth Gray](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/elizabeth-gray/)
- [Elizabeth Lynch](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/elizabeth-lynch/)
- [Englewood on the Palisades Charter School](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/englewood-on-the-palisades-charter-school/)
- [Essex County College](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/essex-county-college/)
- [Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting - FAIR](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/fairness-and-accuracy-in-reporting-fair/)
- [Farrukh Salikhov](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/farrukh-salikhov/)
- [Fun](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/fun/)
- [Funding](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/he-funding/)
- [Garfield Federation of Teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/garfield-federation-of-teachers/)
- [Ginny Caputo](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/ginny-caputo/)
- [Greater Monsignor Donovan Community Federation of Teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/greater-monsignor-donovan-community-federation-of-teachers/)
- [Hartford Courant](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/hartford-courant/)
- [health](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/health/)
- [health insurance](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/health-insurance/)
- [Healthcare Professionals and Allied Employees HPAE](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/healthcare-professionals-and-allied-employees-hpae/)
- [Huffington Post](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/huffington-post/)
- [Inside Higher Ed](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/inside-higher-ed/)
- [James Castiglione](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/james-castiglione/)
- [Janet Golden](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/janet-golden/)
- [Jeff Trifari](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/jeff-trifari/)
- [Jersey Journal](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/jersey-journal/)
- [Joe Amabile](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/joe-amabile/)
- [Joel Bloom](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/joel-bloom/)
- [John Krimmel](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/john-krimmel/)
- [John Muth](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/john-muth/)
- [Jon Erickson](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/jon-erickson/)
- [Joseph Del Grosso](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/joseph-del-grosso/)
- [Joyce Sagi](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/joyce-sagi/)
- [Karen White](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/karen-white/)
- [Kathryn Neal](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/kathryn-neal/)
- [Katie Keeran](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/katie-keeran/)
- [Kean Federation of Teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/kean-federation-of-teachers/)
- [Kean Higher Education Task Force](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/kean-higher-education-task-force/)
- [Kelly McNeal](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/kelly-mcneal/)
- [Koch Brothers](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/koch-brothers/)
- [Latino Action Network (LAN)](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/latino-action-network-lan/)
- [Laurie Troiano](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/laurie-troiano/)
- [ledger](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/ledger/)
- [Lucye Millerand](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/lucye-millerand/)
- [Maria DeFilippis](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/maria-defilippis/)
- [Michael McGarvey](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/michael-mcgarvey/)
- [Michael Putnam](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/michael-putnam/)
- [Mieke Paulsen](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/mieke-paulsen/)
- [Mike Ballard](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/mike-ballard/)
- [Mike Holland](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/mike-holland/)
- [Mike Spina](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/mike-spina/)
- [Montclair State University](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/montclair-state-university/)
- [New England Cable News](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/new-england-cable-news/)
- [New Jersey City University Federation of Teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/new-jersey-city-university-federation-of-teachers/)
- [New Jersey institute of Technology NJIT](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/new-jersey-institute-of-technology-njit/)
- [Newark Teachers Union NTU](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/newark-teachers-union-ntu/)
- [NJ AFL-CIO](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/nj-afl-cio/)
- [NJ Spotlight](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/nj-spotlight/)
- [NJ State AAUP](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/nj-state-aaup/)
- [North Bergen Federation of Teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/north-bergen-federation-of-teachers/)
- [Occupy Wall Street](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/occupy-wall-street/)
- [Ocean County College](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/ocean-county-college/)
- [Paid Family Leave Program](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/paid-family-leave-program/)
- [Pat Paradiso](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/pat-paradiso/)
- [Patrick Nowlan](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/patrick-nowlan/)
- [Paul L. Tractenberg](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/paul-l-tractenberg/)
- [Perth Amboy Federation](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/perth-amboy-federation/)
- [Peter Lamprakos](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/peter-lamprakos/)
- [Peter Shulman](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/peter-shulman/)
- [Philadelphia Inquirer](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/philadelphia-inquirer/)
- [Politicker NJ](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/politicker-nj/)
- [Press of AC](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/press-of-ac/)
- [Randi Weingarten](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/randi-weingarten/)
- [Raritan Valley Community College Federation of Teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/raritan-valley-community-college-federation-of-teachers/)
- [Regina Morin](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/regina-morin/)
- [Rich Wolfson](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/rich-wolfson/)
- [Rowan Retirees](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/rowan-retirees/)
- [Rowan University](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/rowan-university/)
- [Rugers Labor Coalition](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/rugers-labor-coalition/)
- [Rutgers](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/rutgers/)
- [Rutgers 1](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/rutgers-1/)
- [Rutgers 1 Coalition](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/rutgers-1-coalition/)
- [Rutgers AAUP-AFT](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/rutgers-aaup-aft/)
- [Rutgers University](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/rutgers-university/)
- [Rutgers-Camden](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/rutgers-camden/)
- [Sarah-Ann Harnick](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/sarah-ann-harnick/)
- [Save our Schools](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/save-our-schools/)
- [Senator Theresa Ruiz](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/senator-theresa-ruiz/)
- [Seth Anderson-Oberman](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/seth-anderson-oberman/)
- [Star Ledger](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/star-ledger/)
- [Stockton Federation of Teachers](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/stockton-federation-of-teachers/)
- [Sussex County Community College](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/sussex-county-community-college/)
- [teacher effectiveness](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/teacher-effectiveness/)
- [teacher evaluations](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/teacher-evaluations/)
- [The Chronicle of Higher Education](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/the-chronicle-of-higher-education/)
- [The College of New Jersey](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/the-college-of-new-jersey/)
- [The Home News and Tribune](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/the-home-news-and-tribune/)
- [The Huffington Post](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/the-huffington-post/)
- [The Nation](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/the-nation/)
- [The New York Times](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/the-new-york-times/)
- [The Record](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/the-record/)
- [Tony Velez](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/tony-velez/)
- [travel](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/travel/)
- [Trenton Times](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/trenton-times/)
- [tuition](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/tuition/)
- [umdnj](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/umdnj/)
- [Union County College](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/union-county-college/)
- [Union County LocalSource](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/union-county-localsource/)
- [Union County Navigator](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/union-county-navigator/)
- [union of rutg](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/union-of-rutg/)
- [Union of Rutgers Administrators](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/union-of-rutgers-administrators/)
- [United Adjunct Faculty of NJ](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/united-adjunct-faculty-of-nj/)
- [United Council of Academics at NJIT UCAN](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/united-council-of-academics-at-njit-ucan/)
- [United Students Against Sweatshops](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/united-students-against-sweatshops/)
- [University of Medicine and Dentistry UMDNJ](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/university-of-medicine-and-dentistry-umdnj/)
- [Wall Street Journal](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/wall-street-journal/)
- [Westfield Leader](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/westfield-leader/)
- [William Lipkin](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/william-lipkin/)
- [William Paterson University](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/william-paterson-university/)
- [Wisconsin](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/wisconsin/)
- [Work Environment Council](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/work-environment-council/)
- [Working In These Times](https://aftnj.org/topics/tag/working-in-these-times/)