Parent Connections is a resource for parents on current education issues and debates.
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We all agree that our nation’s future depends on the quality of the education that our children receive today. While we all appreciate the importance of a great public education system, many people don’t understand how public policy decisions made by state and federal lawmakers can affect our education system –both positively and negatively. Parent Connections will serve as a resource to parents s
o that they can be better informed on educational policy debates such as school funding, testing, school choice and others. In addition, school governance is a subject that is rarely discussed but is of equal importance. Parent Connections will serve as a resource explaining "who does what" in public education.
One of the most prestigious awards for educators is the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year. This year the winner was Theresa Maughan from the East Orange School District. Ms. Maughan spent a few minutes with NJSBA's Ray Pinney to discuss her story and views on teaching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AADOKp3Bxw
Theresa Maughan, a high school social studies teacher at the East Orange STEM Academy in the East Orange School District and the 2021-2022 New Jersey State T...
Many districts see a benefit to late start times for our high schools but making the change is not always easy. In this interview with NJSBA's Ray Pinney, Dr. Christine Burton the superintendent of the Millburn School District discusses how her district navigated some of the obstacles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUqpACfSzQM&t=3s
Dr. Christine Burton, superintendent of Millburn Township Public Schools, speaks with Ray Pinney, director of county activities and member engagement at the ...
Meet the New Jersey 2021-22 School Board Member of the Year. She is a school board member in the Chester Township School District in Morris County.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyj679-MrjI&t=20s
Kerri Wright, the New Jersey School Boards Association's 2021-2022 Board Member of the Year, has an interesting background in that she is also a school board...
More views on being an 8th Grade student during the pandemic. These students are from Gloucester County and it was filmed in Marc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g-kS-4lmvc
What was it like for Eight Graders this pass year to go to school during the pandemic? In a series of interviews in 12 different counties we find out. These students are one group from Atlantic County.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3dbMJWZgRk&t=14s
For years, county school boards associations have held what they called “Eighth-Grade Dialogues” in which they had students from local middle schools discuss...
March is Women's History Month and in honor of that NJSBA wanted to look at some female educational leaders. They focused by looking at one district, Mendham Borough in Morris County whose leadership team is comprised mostly of women. Enjoy this interview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAgAEESV740
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAgAEESV740
While women comprise more than 70% of New Jersey’s education workforce, the number of women in leadership positions is below that figure. In one Morris Count...
With the dramatic increase in the number of students who are accessing their education remotely because of the pandemic it brings with it questions on the important issue of student privacy and rights. In this podcat William Donia a partner in the law firm of Cooper Levenson discusses these issues with NJSBA's Ray Pinney.
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/njsba/2021/02/17/school-law-today-remote-instruction-and-student-privacy
One of the foundations of education law is the protection of students' privacy. With the almost overnight transition from in-person instruction to remote instruction, how are students' rights affected? What are the procedures that districts should follow, and what might be some actions to avoid? In....
In part two of this NJSBA series on Lessons Learned, three very accomplished teachers discuss their experience in the classroom. In this segment they discuss teacher evaluations and student assessment as well as other issues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEUuFEfCcg8&t=1s
In part two of an Education Matters video interview with the NJSBA’s Ray Pinney, three accomplished teachers – T.J. Belasco, the 2019-2020 Cape May County Te...
What is it like to be a teacher during the pandemic? In this first in a two part series of interviews with NJSBA, the two most recent state teachers of the year plus a county teacher of the year discuss the challenges they face, how their students are dealing with the pandemic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bLfx6y74iE
The pandemic has brought dramatic changes to classrooms in New Jersey. In this Education Matters video interview with the NJSBA’s Ray Pinney, three accomplis...
The consolidation and regionalization of New Jersey's school districts has been discussed for years with little change. However in Salem County a feasibility study is being undertaken to look at the possibility of creating a countywide school district. In this video interview with NJSBA's Ray Pinney, Vito Gagliardi Jr. and Kerri Wright Principals with the law firm of Porzio, Bromberg, and Newman discuss the issues they will study along with the process in this study.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3z7iMJAnSE
The Salem Board of Chosen County Commissioners has hired a firm to examine the feasibility of a countywide school district, or some other structure. In this ...
During this pandemic one of the most difficult issues is having in person instruction. In this video we explore the story about how one district is doing it five days a week. Dr. Sforza the superintendent for the Carlstadt - East Rutherford Regional School District discusses the process with NJSBA's Ray Pinney.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBHxwqcwPIA
The pandemic has been a challenge for local school districts to meet not only the academic needs of the students but also their social/emotional needs. In this interview Dr. Kathleen Taylor, the superintendent of the Ocean City School District in Cape May County discusses how her district is addressing those issues with NJSBA's Ray Pinney.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PowmFGcRQm8
The extraordinary demands of the 2020-2021 school year have challenged school district leaders to meet the academic – and social-emotional -- needs of their ...
n a very turbulent time it is easy to forget there is a lot of good in the world and good people. One of those people is Jen Olawski. Listen to her story about how she makes the holiday season a better for all her students. She is truly an inspiring teacher.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsIhuryfcxc
Every year, Jennifer Olawski, a health and phys ed teacher in the New Brunswick School District, makes sure that all her students get an educational gift for...
The experience of leading a school through a pandemic with hybrid and virtual learning is something that educators cannot fall back on previous experience for guidance. In this video interview two superintendents from different ends of New Jersey, Kenyon Kummings from Wildwood City and Sarah Bilotti from North Warren Regional School District discuss their experiences with NJSBA's Ray Pinney. Hope you enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FOInThqaBA
In this Education Matters video interview, superintendents from the northern and southern parts of the state discuss the lessons they learned while dealing w...
What would happen if there was no Homecoming King and Queen? Well the student body of one New Jersey High School decided to do away with that tradition and create their own new tradition. Listen to these students discuss their thought process and reasoning for the change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLX7W3reKpA&t=1s
At West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, student council members were concerned that the traditional “king and queen” of the prom contest had grown outd...
Have a student who is an aspiring film maker? With today's technology students can do great filming with their phone even during the pandemic. In this interview Lauren Concar Sheehy the Executive Director of the Garden State Film Festival discusses an opportunity for students to submit their work. This is in partnership with NJSBA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwanDm1UgeY
The New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) is sponsoring a newer category in the Garden State Film Festival (the state's largest film festival) called ...
With this being election week our thoughts should also focus on local public servants such as school board members. One of the best examples of a devoted public servants is Irene LeFebvre from the Boonton BOE. Irene was named the New Jersey State School Board member of the Year by an independent out of state panel. I sat and talked with Irene about the role of the board member and why she like serving on the school board. We think you will enjoy this interview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKkzZ75vPm4
Irene LeFebvre, from the Boonton Town Board of Education, is New Jersey’s School Board Member of the Year for 2020-2021. In this interview with the NJSBA’s Ray ...
Congratulations to Irene LeFebvre from the Boonton Board of Education in Morris County for being named the 2020-21 New Jersey State School Board Member of the year.
One of the many challenges facing school districts during the pandemic is the providing special education services with social distancing protocols and virtual learning. In this podcast Amy Houck Elco a Partner with the law firm of Cooper Levenson discusses the procedures to follow with NJSBA's Ray Pinney.
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/njsba/2020/09/29/special-education-issues-during-the-pandemic--school-law
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/njsba/2020/09/29/special-education-issues-during-the-pandemic--school-law
Special education practices changed overnight with the onset of the pandemic. Many districts are working to provide services virtually and with social distancing protocols while still following IEPs and adhering to other legal requirements. In this podcast, Amy Houck Elco, a partner with the law fir...
The pandemic had an immediate impact on how board of education meetings were conducted. The virtual component is something that was a rarity before the pandemic but now is a necessity. How does this work with the Open Public Meetings Act? Listen in to this podcast at John Geppert and Carolyn Chaudry from the law firm of Scarinci and Hollenbeck discusses these issues with NJSBA's Ray Pinney.
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/njsba/2020/09/08/the-pandemics-effect-on-board-of-education-meetings
When COVID-19 first hit New Jersey, school board meetings went from being in person to virtual almost overnight. Even though the number of coronavirus cases has diminished recently, many boards are still meeting virtually. How can board meetings run more smoothly and still comply with the requiremen...
The delivering of special education services and instruction is a major challenge during this unprecedented time with the pandemic. Dr. Gerard Crisonino who is both a Director of Special Education in the Jersey City School District as well as a school board member in another district. Discusses how to meet this challenge with NJSBA's Ray Pinney.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ferLJqEbEU&t=1s
Delivering remote instruction to special education students is especially challenging during the pandemic. In this video interview, Dr. Gerard Crisonino, dir...
Governor Murphy's latest Executive Order #175 changes the parameters for the reopening of schools. In this podcast Jonathan Busch from the Busch Group discusses the legal implications for school districts in New Jersey with NJSBA's Ray Pinney.
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/njsba/2020/08/18/school-law-during-the-pandemic-executive-order-175
Since the pandemic began, Executive Orders have governed most of our actions as school districts. What does the most recent—Executive Order 175—mean for school districts and what should they aware of as they move forward? In this interview, Jonathan Busch, of the Busch Law Group, discuss...
One of the biggest challenges in reopening our schools in person is meeting social distancing and health protocols. In this interview Megan Avallone, President of the New Jersey Association of County and City Health Officials (NJACCHO) and Peter Summers a member of the NJACCHO Executive Committee discuss COVID-19 health protocols.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dks49kxLrLI
Many of the guidelines for the reopening of our schools are health guidelines. In this interview Megan Avallone, New Jersey Association of County and City He...
The challenge of reopening schools is falling on local educational leaders. In this interview Dr. Melissa McCooley who is the Superintendent of two school districts Pinelands Regional and Little Egg Harbor discusses how her district is trying to meet the challenge with NJSBA's Ray Pinney.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pONQU--CN_Y&t=3s
One of the biggest concerns that school districts have when we reopen is the social-emotional well being of their students. In this short interview the district of Bloomfield discusses how they are using the Wingman program to help students during this pandemic. Ian Hockley also discusses the value behind the program.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqXvsBK6Bbw
The Wingman program is designed as a social emotion learning SEL program to help students make connections with each other. While it was introduced districtw...
Reopening our schools in September is a daunting challenge. In this interview Dr. Danny Robertozzi the Superintendent for the Clifton Public Schools discusses the challenges with NJSBA's Ray Pinney.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qkHoGmUg6k&t=8s
Before Superintendent Robert Zywicki of the Mount Olive School District sat with Governor Murphy to discuss New Jersey's reopening plans for New Jersey he sat for an interview with NJSBA. In this interview he discusses the options he sees for his district in reopening schools.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AN7ENAfolY
Dr. Robert Zywicki, superintendent of the Mount Olive School District in Morris County, discusses the reopening plans for his district with the NJSBA’s Ray P...
Maybe the biggest challenge facing school districts is how to reopen schools with social distancing restricts. In this important interview Dr. David Aderhold the superintendent at the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District discusses some of the 283 questions he came up with that need to be addressed before we open schools.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfsFo40sJxI
NJSBA's Ray Pinney speaks with David Aderhold, superintendent of the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District, about the current Covid-19 pandemic and the cha...
During this pandemic all students have been affected. Trauma affects education and the closing of schools has had a more negative impact on students of color. Dr. Melissa Sadin discusses the impact of trauma on students and what school districts can do to build more resiliency in their students of color with NJSBA's Ray Pinney.
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/njsba/2020/06/11/building-resilience-in-our-students-of-color
Traumatic events affect the learning process for all children, but children of color face even more obstacles. NJSBA's Ray Pinney interviews Dr. Melissa Sadin, author of a series of books on coping with trauma, and coauthor, with Nathan Levy, of Teachers' Guide to Trauma: 20 Things Kids with Trauma....
Trauma affects our students in the classroom. During this time period of school buildings being closed we know that it will have an impact on our students academically, not to mention their social emotional well being. This is disproportionately true for our students of color. In this podcast NJSBA's Ray Pinney discusses these issues with Dr. Melissa Sadin at 3pm today. Podcast is also recorded so you can listen at your convenience.
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/njsba/2020/06/11/building-resilience-in-our-students-of-color
Traumatic events affect the learning process for all children, but children of color face even more obstacles. NJSBA's Ray Pinney interviews Dr. Melissa Sadin, author of a series of books on coping with trauma, and coauthor, with Nathan Levy, of Teachers' Guide to Trauma: 20 Things Kids with Trauma....
Dr. Lawrence Feinsod, Executive Director of New Jersey School Boards Association sits down to discuss the importance of NJSBA's Special Report; "Searching for the New Normal". Which explores the difficult issues school districts will face when they reopen schools again.
https://youtu.be/MXMvkXazUq8
NJSBA recently released a special report on the possible reopening of schools, “Searching for a New Normal in New Jersey’s Public Schools: How the Coronaviru...
New Jersey's 2020 State Teacher of the Year Kimberly Dickstein Hughes took a few minutes out of her busy schedule to talk to NJSBA's Ray Pinney about teaching during this pandemic and the NJTV Learning Live program which provides valuable instruction to New Jersey's students.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg_dvC1_dS4
The New Jersey State Teacher of the Year Kimberly Dickstein Hughes sat with NJSBA’s Ray Pinney to discuss the challenges that teachers face in delivering rem...
One of the biggest challenges that school districts have in delivering remote instruction is that of meeting the needs of their special education students. Dr. Gerard Crisonino, director of special education at the Jersey City School District, and a school board member in the Berkeley Heights School District, discusses the how his district has addressed this issue with NJSBA’s Ray Pinney.
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/njsba/2020/05/28/conversations-with-educators-on-the-covid-19-front-line-special-ed
Meeting the educational and social-emotional needs of special education students is perhaps the most daunting challenge our districts have faced in the transition from in-person instruction to remote learning. Dr. Gerard Crisonino, director of special education at the Jersey City School District, an...
How did the school district in a diverse community like the Township of Dover handle the switch to remote learning and meal distribution? Check out this NJSBA podcast at 3:30pm today or listen to the archived program at your leisure.
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/njsba/2020/05/26/conversations-with-educators-on-the-covid-19-front-line-dover
The Town of Dover in western Morris County is a diverse community that was hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak. How did the switch to virtual learning affect this district? What were the most difficult challenges in the move and what are the challenges they see as they move forward? In this podcast, D...
In another in the "Conversations with Educators on the COVID-19 Front Line" this afternoon at 3PM Sarah Bilotti, Superintendent of the North Warren Regional School District in rural Warren County discusses how her district dealt with the closing of the school buildings and going virtual with NJSBA's Ray Pinney.
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/njsba/2020/05/19/conversations-with-educators-on-the-covid-19-front-line-north-warren
North Warren Regional School District is a rural 7-12 regional school district in the hills of Warren County. How did the switch to virtual learning affect this sprawling district? What were the most difficult challenges in that transition and what are the challenges they see as they move forward? I...
Going to virtual learning almost over night has been a dramatic challenge for teachers. How does a physical education teacher adjust especially one who is focused on the social emotional needs of her children? In this episode Jennifer Olawski, a P.E teacher in New Brunswick and the Middlesex County Teacher of the year discusses these and other challenges with NJSBA's Ray Pinney.
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/njsba/2020/05/14/conversations-with-educators-on-the-covid-19-front-line-teaching-pe
Teaching physical education virtually is a challenge, but it is a challenge the Middlesex County Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Olawski from New Brunswick, meets everyday. Listen in as NJSBA's Ray Pinney discusses with Jennifer how and the district use physical activity to reduce stress for students....
One of the biggest challenges that school districts faced when the schools went virtual is that of still providing the meals to the students in need. In this "Conversations with Educators on the COVID-19 Front Line" Mark Gengaro, Director of Climate and Security, at the Clifton Public Schools discusses how his district addressed the challenge with NJSBA's Ray Pinney.
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/njsba/2020/05/12/conversations-with-educators-on-the-covid-19-front-line-food-distribution
One of the biggest challenges many school districts faced when schools closed was that they still had to dispense meals to their students. In this podcast, Mark Gengaro, director of climate and security for the Clifton Public Schools, discusses with NJSBA's Ray Pinney how that district organized and...
What is it like to teach AP classes virtually? How do you prepare the students for their exams. Listen in to this podcast as Katherine Poerner a Social Studies teacher at Pinelands Regional High School discusses the challenges of teaching virtually with NJSBA's Ray Pinney. Listen live at 4:30pm or anytime thereafter.
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/njsba/2020/05/07/conversations-with-educators-on-the-covid-19-front-line-teaching-ap-classes
Even if you are a teacher with superb technological skills, moving from in-classroom to virtual instruction is a challenge. Katherine Poerner, who teaches Pre-AP U.S. History I and AP U.S. History II at Pinelands Regional High School, discusses meeting the challenges of virtual learning with her stu...
What is the role of the school principal during this time of virtual learning? Dr. Paul Christopher, the principal of Class Academy High School which is part of the Monmouth County Vocational School District discuss this with NJSBA's Ray Pinney at 3PM. If you can't listen live the program is recorded and you can listen any time thereafter.
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/njsba/2020/05/05/conversations-with-educators-on-the-covid-19-front-line-role-of-the-principal
What is the role of the building principal when the instruction is not occurring in the building? What are the challenges facing principals in making sure instruction is delivered, and the social-emotional needs of the students are met? In this interview, Dr. Paul Christopher, who has more than 30 y...
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