The decree will require either proof of vaccination or regular testing for school employees

Today, Gov. Phil Murphy announced he will issue an executive order requiring New Jersey public employees, including school employees, to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or undergo regular testing for screening for COVID-19 in the next school year. It had previously issued a similar executive decree covering healthcare workers and certain other employees in collective care facilities. This new executive order extends this requirement to a much larger group of adults in New Jersey.

NJEA President Marie Blistan, Vice President and President-elect Sean M. Spiller, Secretary-Treasurer and Vice-President-elect Steve Beatty and Secretary-Treasurer-elect Petal Robertson made the statement:

“Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have called for following the advice of public health officials to ensure the safety of students and staff in our public schools. Governor Murphy has been a great partner in this effort to ensure that our students continue to learn and grow while remaining as protected as possible. Today’s executive order, which requires school employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo regular COVID-19 tests, is another example of Governor Murphy’s unwavering commitment to the health and safety of NJEA members and the students we serve.

“For months now, the NJEA has strongly supported and publicly promoted immunization for all eligible people. Last spring, we ran ads featuring our members talking about the importance of immunization. COVID-19 vaccines are the best tool we have to better protect our schools and communities against this pandemic and the terrible toll it continues to take. Public health experts agree on the importance of widespread vaccination. That is why we strongly agree that Governor Murphy’s Order in Council is appropriate and responsible under the current conditions.

“We will continue to urge all who are eligible and able to get vaccinated. Along with COVID-19 masking and other security measures, this is the best way to keep all of our communities safe and to get New Jersey through this pandemic. “

Global lessons know no borders. This fall, thanks to the NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship, 49 public school educators will embark on a journey to deepen their understanding of issues of global importance and their ability to bring them into the classroom.

New Jersey is extremely proud of New Jersey State Teacher of the Year 2020 and Haddonfield High School Teacher Kimberly Dickstein Hughes and Bergen County Vocational and Technical — Teterboro Campus Teacher , Jonathan Lancaster, for being chosen to represent our great state, as the NEA Global Learning Fellows, when they travel to South Africa in 2022.

“I am extremely proud that the NEA Foundation has appointed Kimberly Dickstein Hughes and Jonathan Lancaster as Fellows for their Global Learning Program,” said NJEA President Sean M. Spiller. “Our country and our world are constantly changing and our educators are constantly adapting teaching so that our students can be prepared to understand and thrive through global competence and cultural literacy. Knowing how passionate and committed these two educators are, this is an incredible opportunity for them to gain better knowledge and have a general impact on student learning by entrusting them to their colleagues. Preparing our students to succeed globally is of critical importance and New Jersey’s public schools will continue to lead the way in this area. Once again, I congratulate Kimberly and Jonathan on this immense honor.

“I am grateful to all the teachers at the New Jersey Education Association, the New Jersey Department of Education, Rutgers University, Eastern Regional High School, Voorhees Township and the Borough of Haddonfield who have told me. have learned that the world is our classroom, ”said Dickstein Hughes. . “Cultural competence and global literacy have a place in every school, and I am excited to learn and grow with the 2022 Global Learning Fellows. Thanks to the NEA Foundation for making this possible. On the way to a year of study together and next summer in South Africa!

“I am grateful and honored to have this opportunity to continue to incorporate global skills and global perspectives into my classroom,” said Lancaster. “I am delighted to share this experience with my school, my community and, above all, my students. “

Through the NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship, Dickstein Hughes and Lancaster will develop their knowledge and skills to integrate global competence into their daily classroom teaching, advocate for global competence in their schools and districts, and help students to thrive in our increasingly interconnected world. Fellows transform their classrooms to give students a global perspective.

Over the course of the year, Dickstein Hughes and Lancaster will participate in a professional development program that includes in-person workshops, online courses, webinars led by leading experts, peer learning and international experience in field study.

“It was a powerful experience for me as an individual and as a teacher… All educators should realize the power of holistic thinking.”

Dickstein Hughes and Lancaster will then have the opportunity to apply their global professional development training through hands-on international study experience. In their country of field study, Dickstein Hughes and Lancaster will interact with local educators, students, administrators and policy makers; make school visits; and hear from business and nonprofit leaders. The NEA Foundation partners with EF Educational Tours, a global leader in international education, to design transformative field study experiences for scholarship recipients.

Dickstein Hughes and Lancaster, as well as educators from 42 states and a Department of Defense school will join a learning network of more than 300 educators, developing their expertise through workshops, peer collaboration and study. in the field. With teachers of color representing a third of scholarship recipients and more than half teaching in Title 1 schools, the 2022 scholarship recipients reflect the diversity of the educator community. They also serve a wide range of students in several fields. Get to know all of the NEA Foundation’s 2022 Global Learning Fellows by visiting neafoundation.org.

Enrich your classroom experience with a NEAF grant today!

As educators prepare for the new school year, the NEA Foundation is pleased to announce new rounds of grants available exclusively for educators! These grant opportunities promote equity, promote student success, and provide educators with exciting professional development opportunities. The Foundation currently offers three types of grants: Envision Equity Grants, Student Success Grants, and Learning and Leadership Grants to help meet the unique needs of educators and public school students. The application process is simple and can be completed online!

The deadline to apply for the next round of grants is October 15. To learn more about all of our grant opportunities, please visit neafoundation.org. Also contact the Foundation grant staff if you need all help prepare your grant application! We are here to you!

Zwicker, Freiman and Jaffer approved by the New Jersey Education Association

Princeton, NJ – Senate candidate Andrew Zwicker and Assembly candidates Roy Freiman and Sadaf Jaffer have received approval from the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA).

“As the son and spouse of public school educators, I am keenly aware of how our teachers and support staff are critical to the success of our students,” said Asm. Andrew Zwicker (D – South Brunswick). “The unprecedented challenges of distance and hybrid learning over the past year have been met with exceptional creativity and dedication in the face of personal challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am grateful for the endorsement of the NJEA as we continue to work together to ensure that our students and staff have the resources they need to ensure that NJ has the best public schools in the United States.

“As the wife of a retired teacher, I know firsthand that investing in our schools means investing in our future,” Asm said. Roy Freiman (D – Hillsborough). “I am proud to have the endorsement of the NJEA and I am committed to continuing to be a strong voice in Trenton for our teachers, support staff, students and their families as they strive to overcome the unprecedented adversity they have faced in the past. year.”

“It is an honor to receive the approval of the NJEA. As an educator, I have the utmost respect and admiration for the teachers and education professionals in New Jersey who work tirelessly to inspire children and equip them with the knowledge necessary to succeed and become well-rounded members. of our communities. Said Assembly candidate Sadaf F. Jaffer (D-Montgomery), “I look forward to working with the NJEA and its members as an assembly member to ensure that New Jersey’s public education system remains the best in the country. “

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Atlantic County, New Jersey – Senate candidate Vince Mazzeo and Assembly candidates John Armato and Caren Fitzpatrick receive critical endorsement from the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA). NJEA approvals signify a candidate’s strong support for public education and are decided regardless of political party, as evidenced by Senator Chris Brown’s previous approval.

“The NJEA and its Atlantic County Chapter are strong advocates for our children and New Jersey’s premier education system,” said MP Vince Mazzeo. “I am honored to receive their approval and to continue to work with their members to ensure that Atlantic County schools receive their fair share of funding and that their contribution is included in the schools plan for reopening to the fall.”

“It is an honor to be supported again by the NJEA,” said Assembly member John Armato. “As a union member while also being an HVAC technician, I understand the importance and strength of the NJEA and its Atlantic County Chapter as they work with their school communities to plan for reopenings. safety this fall so that our children can return to education in person. ”

“New Jersey has one of the best education systems in the country thanks to the hard-working teachers and education professionals in the NJEA and I am proud to have obtained their endorsement,” said the County Commissioner of Atlantic, Caren Fitzpatrick. “I look forward to working with the NJEA and its members at the General Assembly to ensure Atlantic County receives its fair share of school funding and that we continue to equip our children with the tools to be successful. “

“The NJEA and its members are the driving force behind our first public education system here in New Jersey, and these candidates have won their support. This endorsement draws attention to the stark differences between Vince Mazzeo and the failed candidate Vince Polistina. When Polistina was in the legislature ten years ago, he sold our hard-working teachers to Chris Christie and refused to support the funding of their retirement. Unlike Polistina, Vince Mazzeo, John Armato, and Caren Fitzpatrick believe it is the government’s responsibility to pay its bills. said campaign manager Paul Weborg.

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NEWARK, New Jersey, June 25, 2021 / PRNewswire / – The New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) and the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) are delighted to announce the winners of the 2021 Essay Contest titled Who Belongs to the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

In the college category, the committee chose Hanna juma, an eighth grade student at Glassboro Intermediate School in Glassboro for his essay on Mark Chitkwesit Mexhaniat “Quiet Hawk” Gould, the elected chief of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape tribal nation. Naima Bari, ninth grade student at Diana C. Lobosco STEM Academy in Passaic, was selected in the high school category for her essay on the Nobel Prize-winning biochemist and microbiologist Selman Abraham Waksman.

The essay competition is open to all New Jersey students from fourth to 12th^e age groups and divided into two age categories: intermediate (fourth to eight) and high school (nine to twelve). Applicants must write an essay of no more than 500 words describing who should be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. The Academy will then review candidates for induction into the 2022 class.

“As educators, we are proud of every student who entered this essay competition,” said the president of the NJEA. Marie Blistan. “We learn a lot by reading their essays. The quality of their work and the creativity of their submissions demonstrate the great things that are happening in our public schools.”

“We are excited to see the next generation of leaders voice their opinions on who should be in the New Jersey Hall of Fame,” said NJHOF President Jon F. Hanson. “This year’s nominations are a wonderful example of the incredible talent and heroes that can be found in our great state.”

“We created the Hall of Fame to inspire the younger generation about the many heroes and role models within our state,” said Steve edwards, president of the NJHOF. “We hope we can continue to provide this inspiration to our future leaders and all residents. “

Mark “Quiet Hawk” Gould, of Bridgeton, served in the leadership of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation for more than four decades, most notably playing a major role in the public reorganization of the tribe in the 1970s. He was an active voice for the rights of indigenous peoples . The tribe was in New Jersey, in Cumberland and Salem counties, and Delaware for over 10,000 years.

Known as “The Father of Antibiotics”, Selman Abraham Waksman was born in the Ukrainian town of Nova Priluka before immigrating to a small farm on the outskirts of Metuchen at the age of 22. He enrolls at Rutgers College, now Rutgers University, on a state scholarship in 1911 and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. He is credited with discovering and isolating more than two dozen new antibiotics, including streptomycin, actinomycin and neomycin.

The winners of the essays will be recognized at the 13^e New Jersey’s annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony in October, which will be televised on My9NJ.

The competition is one of a series of NJHOF initiatives to inspire and encourage students in New Jersey. The organization also manages the Arête scholarship fund, which awards two $ 5,000 scholarships for a woman and a man at the end of high school for college and vocational studies.

ABOUT NJHOF: Because everyone needs a hero, the New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) honors citizens who have made invaluable contributions to society, the New Jersey State and the world beyond. Since 2008, the NJHOF has hosted 12 ceremonies for more than 180 notable individuals and groups in recognition of their Hall of Fame induction. The NJHOF strives to present school children with meaningful and impactful role models to show that they can and should strive for excellence. The NJHOF is grateful for the support of its many sponsors, without whom none of our efforts would be possible. For more information, visit www.njhalloffame.org.

CONTACT: Natasha Alagarasan, [email protected], (609) 789-7818

New Jersey Hall of Fame

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The state reported in June that more than 358,000 students needed devices. Since then, some districts have taken it over and have placed massive orders for laptops and Chromebooks, assuming refunds will come. Philanthropists and local businesses also donated to bring students online.

It’s still unclear how well this patchwork of solutions worked.

Now the New Jersey School Boards Association is calling on the DOE – under the new leadership of Acting Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan – to produce documentation showing what the state has done to try to bridge the gap.

In its latest report, the NJSBA interviewed school officials and interviewed members of the local education board and superintendents and found that in July, nearly a quarter of superintendents who responded said that 16% or more of their students did not have Internet access. Some said they had not had enough time to develop and implement their reopening plans accordingly.

Among other recommendations, the association urges the DOE to release a status report detailing how the $ 54 million in “Bridging the Digital Divide” grants and related philanthropic contributions announced in July have been spent and used by schools.

POLITICO attempted to obtain information on the grants through a public documents request, but was told that “the application and review process is still ongoing.”

The association also recommends that the Department of Education develop a statewide report on what students learned during the shutdown, a strategic plan to address learning loss, a report on the experience of 246,693 New Jersey special education students during the shutdown and a program to enhance online learning. .

The school boards association report – and months of conversations with teachers, superintendents and lawmakers – revealed a hazy picture of exactly what the state has done to help kids connect.

State Senator Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), the most vocal critic of the DOE and the Murphy’s administration’s approach to dealing with the digital divide and distance learning, said in an interview last month that “this has been a complete debacle.”

“I know everyone was hoping for the best of times, but what we should have done was make a consistent decision at all levels that set basic parameters so that districts could focus on one plan. “said Ruiz. “At the time they received advice [on remote learning] I think it was July, and then it just kept changing.

Ruiz, along with school leaders and advocates, have spent the spring and summer advocating with the department for some form of standardized basic guidelines outlining minimum health standards for reopening, for assistance in l purchasing technology, training teachers in distance learning and even requiring a nurse in every school building. None of this came to pass.

Ruiz told a Senate Budget Committee hearing last month that at every step of the way, the ministry waited until the last minute to find out when things should be implemented. By the time the guidelines were released, she said, it was “too late”.

Despite widespread media coverage of the digital divide starting in March and lawmakers denouncing DOE officials during the June legislative hearings, it was not until July 16 that Governor Phil Murphy announced his three-pronged plan to fight against the problem by relying on philanthropic donations. and federal funds.

The governor had previously conditionally vetoed legislation for Ruiz’s “Bridging the Digital Divide in Schools” grant program that would have forced the state to buy laptops for needy students. the state did not have the means.

Now, with more than 111 coronavirus cases linked to 25 school outbreaks statewide, districts are once again rethinking their plans to reopen. Some of the state’s largest districts, including Newark and Paterson, have already announced plans to extend distance learning until at least January.

Marie Blistan, president of the powerful New Jersey Education Association, one of Murphy’s most powerful political allies, said the summer could have been spent better preparing teachers for the demands of online learning.

“It was something we predicted. … We knew there would be a lot more training that would be needed, ”Blistan said in an interview. “We have already heard from members whose districts are struggling to make ends meet. … What they found in the first few days is that it’s almost impossible and they spend more time trying to plug the kids in at home, than they are in the room, that they are up to the task, let alone trying to look after the children at school.

Sarah Mulhern Gross, a high school teacher in Lincroft, County Monmouth, said educators needed to work to prepare for distance learning as the state and districts were concerned about planning for all possible eventualities of reopening.

“We as a state for some reason wandered off the side of less advice for schools when more advice was needed,” she said.

“I spent my summer doing a lot of professional development in my spare time,” said Mulhern Gross, noting that teachers don’t get paid during the summer. “I have coworkers who have spent thousands of dollars buying their own tools. … All the teachers I know beg or crowdfund or buy theirs. ”