Resilience, Recovery and Healing

This has certainly been a challenging year for almost everyone! There was so much sadness and loss as we grappled with the pandemic. Even so, many dug deep and gave of themselves. They brought out all the grit, determination, and perseverance they could muster to make sure

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School Reopening

These are my comments to the Paterson Board of Education yesterday. The reopening of schools gives me hope that there is a light at the end of this Covid-19 tunnel. 92% of the staff was in attendance! How wonderful! My gratitude to all the staff members who

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School Budget Confusion?

A colleague asked me today “How are you dealing with all this confusion around the school budget?” My response was that I’m not confused.  I’m crystal clear about what has happened, is happening and will keep on happening if nothing is done to correct the harm and

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Reflections of N’taaliyah Banks Before the Stockholm Trip

  N’taaliyah Banks, a high school senior, is one of the young ladies who recently participated in the Girls United For the Earth’s (GUFE) presentation in Stockholm, Sweden at the American Geophysical Union’s international Geoscience and Society conference. We are excited to share her reflections before the

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Testimony to Assembly Budget Committee

Testimony to Assembly Budget Committee Wednesday, March 27, 2019 Given by Rosie Grant, Executive Director Good Morning Assembly Budget Committee members. Thank you for this opportunity to speak. We are grateful to Governor Murphy for the $13 million increase in next year’s State aid. $10 million of

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Building a Community of Trust

Building a Community of Trust November 6, 2018 “Restorative practices (or restorative justice) is used to build a sense of school community and resolve conflict by repairing harm and restoring positive relationships.” Please click on the link to read more about creating a safe and healthy environment

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Paterson Regains Local Control

Paterson regained local control of its public schools today after 27 years! Kudos to everyone who got us there! Since the State of NJ took over the district in 1991, PEF has been on the frontline demanding accountability and advocating for a process by which local control

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Chronic Absenteeism and Suspension Issue

  The State of New Jersey, Department of Education Performance Report Card defines an absence as being ‘not present’ and includes both excused and unexcused absences.  Looking at these numbers we noticed that suspensions and chronic absenteeism is correlated in some schools, while in others the numbers

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