American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, AFL-CIO

Month: September 2021

AFTNJ NewsNewsRutgers University
AFTNJ

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 ensuring everyone in New Jersey clearly understands the purpose and benefits of social-emotional learning,” writes Dr.…

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AFTNJ NewsCOVID-19GarfieldNewarkNewsNorth BergenPerth AmboyPre-K to 12 NewsRemote learning
AFTNJ

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 the same family attending multiple schools.…

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AFTNJ NewsNewsPre-K to 12 NewsSocial justice
AFTNJ

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 in her Perspectives opener.…

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AFTNJ NewsCOVID-19Higher Ed NewsNewsWilliam Paterson University
AFTNJ

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 that fewer students, fewer faculty.”…

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AFTNJ NewsNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

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 $689; to register, click here.…

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AFT NewsAFTNJ NewsNewsNorth BergenPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

Weingarten visits North Bergen, praises local’s 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,” Weingarten said to those assembled in the auditorium.…

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AFTNJ NewsCOVID-19Higher Ed NewsNews
AFTNJ

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 was also liberating,” she writes for The Chronicle of Higher Education.…

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AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsNewsNorth BergenPre-K to 12 NewsSocial justice
AFTNJ

Local 1060’s 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 aims to bring social justice into working spaces.…

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AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsNewsRutgers University
AFTNJ

Rutgers AAUP-AFT’s 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 same time, the school is freezing salaries and imposing furloughs in the face of tight budgets.…

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AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsNews
AFTNJ

Murphy takes action to boost transparency of higher ed’s 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 InsiderNJ.…

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AFT NewsAFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

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 stress — and for many AFTNJ colleagues, Tropical Storm Ida added to that stress,” said AFTNJ President Donna M.…

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AFTNJ NewsNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

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 children participate in preschool education programs” (with whites at 53 percent) and “only 19 percent of Latino adults have at least a bachelor’s degree compared with 1 in 3 overall, and just 6 percent have completed graduate or professional degree programs, versus 13 percent nationally.”…

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AFTNJ NewsNewark Teachers UnionNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

NTU’s 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 the Delegate Assembly at its next regular meeting after due notice to all member affiliates.…

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