JAMESBURG: District partners with Rutgers

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   JAMESBURG — The school district will be partnering with Rutgers University for professional development training with no cost to the taxpayers, according to officials.
   The Jamesburg Board of Education unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers during its meeting on Feb. 28.
   ”(Dean of the Graduate School of Education of the Rutgers New Brunswick Campus, Richard De Lisi) is doing very few partnerships such as this, actually there is one other place, Highland Park at this time,” said Dr. Penelope Lattimer, Director of the Rutgers Institute for Improving Student Achievement/New Jersey School Development Council. “It’s new for the Graduate School of Education (to do this), but we couldn’t be more thrilled.”
   Dr. Lattimer announced the partnership during her presentation to the board.
   ”On behalf of Dean Richard De Lisi, we are here to formalize our invitation to have administrators and faculty of the Jamesburg School District receive professional development from members of the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers Institute of Improving Student Achievement at no cost,” Dr. Lattimer said.
   The professional development will be offered beginning in June and extending through the 2013-14 school year, Dr. Lattimer said.
   The training will address English as a second language, language arts literacy, educational technology and special education.
   ”The total number of man hours and the actual money that will be paid to the professional developers is more than $33,000,” Dr. Lattimer said. “You will pay none of that.”
   The partnership is a gift from the Dean of the Graduate School of Education in tribute to the prior work and prior relationships that the school has had with members of the administration and faculty, according to Dr. Lattimer.
   ”The Dean is very proud that your Superintendent, Dr. Gail Verona, received her doctorate from the Graduate School of Education,” Dr. Lattimer said. “He is very aware of her work and leadership with you.”
   Additional administrators recognized included Al Perno, principal of the John F. Kennedy Elementary School, and Wendy Sloter, vice principal of Grace M. Breckwedel Middle School, who have been long-time participants of the Middle Grades Network run by the Institute for Improving Student Achievement at Rutgers.
   ”Not only have they and the teachers who have come from the middle school here been good participants,” Dr. Lattimer said. “We know that there’s been a very intentional, consistent and conscientious effort to apply in your classrooms the type of research, the type of instructional strategies, and assessment techniques that we’ve been advocating.”
   In addition, the school district will be able to participate in the Middle Grades Network at no cost and will also be able to participate in four full professional development days at the university’s campus from September through next March.
   The Commissioner of Education, Chris Cerf, challenged the Dean of Education, Mr. De Lisi, this past fall to adopt a school, Dr. Lattimer said.
   ”If you really want to be helpful, select a school district in the State of New Jersey, and adopt them,” Dr. Lattimer said. “We decided that Jamesburg would be the perfect fit for us.”
   The announcement was met with a round of applause from board members and the public.
   According to Dr. Lattimer, it is a “four part experiment.” It includes having members of the Rutgers Institute of Improving Student Achievement who will come into the school district where they will work in the classrooms with teachers.
   ”We understand that that is the best way to provide professional development,” Dr. Lattimer said. “We will be lecturing, co-teaching, co-presenting with your faculty. We will never be in front of your faculty. We will be alongside (them).”
   Dr. Verona will be invited to become part of the School Development Council.
   ”It is a small, special network of superintendents of all achieving school districts from around the state,” Dr. Lattimer said. “They come together four or five times a year to talk about teaching and learning and to hear from the facility at the Graduate School of Education.”
   According to Dr. Lattimer, in return, Mr. De Lisi would like to have student teachers, three to four, during the fall or the spring be accepted into the Jamesburg School District to complete their student teaching experience.
   Superintendent Verona thanked Dr. Lattimer for the presentation.
   ”I wanted to thank Dr. Lattimer for coming and explaining this wonderful opportunity that we have,” said Dr. Verona. “We are all very grateful and honored to be a part of this.”
   ”I have personally and professionally enjoyed the relationship that I have had along with Ms. Sloter and Mr. Perno and many of our teachers, some of which are sitting out here, coming to the network,” Dr. Verona said adding that they have been part of it for six years.
   ”We appreciate and we are honored to be part of this joint venture,” said Board President Sal Brucato.