American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, AFL-CIO

Month: August 2022

AFTNJ NewsNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

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 of students outside the classroom, and ensure that security personnel receive training to help them work and communicate effectively with the school community.
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AFTNJ NewsNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

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 any emergency of any size and at any time,” Murphy said from East Brook Middle School in Paramus.…

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AFTNJ NewsDiversity and inclusionHigher Ed NewsNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

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 press release.…

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AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

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, teachers and other educators will be able to deduct up to $300 of their out-of-pocket classroom expenses for 2022 when they file their federal income tax returns next year.…

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AFT NewsAFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

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 AFT national personnel.…

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AFTNJ NewsCOVID-19NewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

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 “believed that there should not be legal limits on classroom conversations about racism and other contentious topics.”…

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AFTNJ NewsCOVID-19NewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

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 continue to adjust to the endemic reality of COVID-19,” Gov.…

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AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsNews
AFTNJ

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 register, click here.…

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AFTNJ NewsGarfieldNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

GFT’s 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 High teacher Victoria Derevyanik: decorating ceiling tiles for Hackensack University Medical Center’s pediatric wing.…

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AFTNJ NewsNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

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.…

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