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New Jersey Department of Education

Top Educators In Each Of NJ's 21 Counties Named Top Educators In Each Of NJ's 21 Counties Named
Top Educators In Each Of NJ's 21 Counties Named The New Jersey Department of Education has named the top 21 educators in the state. The department released the list of the 2024-25 New Jersey County Teachers of the Year on Tuesday, Aug. 6.  They are: Atlantic County: Carly Broomhead, Visual Arts Teacher at Emma C. Attales Middle School in the Absecon School District Bergen County: Margarita Diakos, Special Education Teacher at Ramsey High School in the Ramsey School District Burlington County: Margaret Fanourgakis, Health & Physical Education Teacher at Shawnee High School in the Lenape Regional Hi…
Two Jersey Shore School Districts Could Merge After OK From State Officials Two Jersey Shore School Districts Could Merge After OK From State Officials
Two Jersey Shore School Districts Could Merge After OK From State Officials New Jersey's top education officials have signed-off on a referendum for a merger between two school districts. On Friday, March 8, Acting New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer approved Seaside Heights merging with the Toms River Regional school district. The Central Regional School District had petitioned against the merger, but Dehmer said that Seaside Heights is closer in proximity to Toms River, so transportation will be cheaper and more time-efficient. He also said the merger would be unlikely to "increase or exacerbate the segregation of students by racial, …
School Closures Force Paterson To Shorten Winter Break School Closures Force Paterson To Shorten Winter Break
School Closures Force Paterson To Shorten Winter Break The extended holiday recess Paterson Public School students had due to flooding came with a cost. And on Tuesday, Jan. 9, the bill came due. After Paterson was closed for four days from Dec. 19 to Dec. 22, the district announced Tuesday it will be utilizing days from winter break, Feb. 20 to Feb. 23 to make up the difference. "We are still mandated by the New Jersey Department of Education to provide classroom instruction for 180 days, and we will need to make up at least four days, possibly more," Superintendent Laurie W. Newell, PhD said.  Students will have normal days on Feb.…
Hateful Images, Messages Sent To Westwood Regional Students Probed By Cyber Crime Detectives Hateful Images, Messages Sent To Westwood Regional Students Probed By Cyber Crime Detectives
Hateful Images, Messages Sent To Westwood Regional Students Probed By Cyber Crime Detectives An underage saboteur used the online account of a Westwood Regional High School student to email hateful messages to most of the victim’s classmates – among them, an image of a Ku Klux Klansman accompanied by an anti-Semitic caption, authorities said. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Cyber Crimes Unit and Washington Township police are investigating the bias incident, which district officials traced to a “non-district minor’s” IP address, Schools Supt. Jill Mortimer wrote in a message to parents and staff members. “Please know this was not a breach of our network or system,” Mortimer emphasiz…
Merging 13 School Districts Into One Could Save This NJ County Millions Of Dollars Merging 13 School Districts Into One Could Save This NJ County Millions Of Dollars
Merging 13 School Districts Into One Could Save This NJ County Millions Of Dollars Salem County officials are considering merging its 13 school districts into one or two regional districts, NJ Advance Media reported.  Salem Community College led a study on regionalizing the schools in the county, Any final decisions would be made by elected officials and local voters. Consolidating the districts into a single, regional district would generate an annual savings of $6.8 million, the outlet reported. Splitting the 13 districts into two north-south regional districts would result in lower savings at $4.8 million annually, the outlet said. A public vote is requ…
Wyckoff School District: Principal Might Have Avoided Lengthy Suspension  By Cooperating Wyckoff School District: Principal Might Have Avoided Lengthy Suspension  By Cooperating
Wyckoff School District: Principal Might Have Avoided Lengthy Suspension By Cooperating UPDATE: Administrative Law Judge Nanci Stokes said she'll tell the state commissioner of education that the Wyckoff Board of Education doesn't have to reinstate Eisenhower Middle School Principal Christopher Iasiello while it continues an investigation. Stokes said Iasiello's appeal to immediately be reinstated doesn't "clearly and convicingly" prove that he's suffering irreparable harm, that there's a "reasonable probability of ultimate success" or that he'll endure greater harm than the Board of Education. It also doesn't establish any legal right to his claim, she found. The principal's …
Wyckoff School District: Principal Might've Avoided Lengthy Suspension Had He Cooperated Wyckoff School District: Principal Might've Avoided Lengthy Suspension Had He Cooperated
Wyckoff School District: Principal Might've Avoided Lengthy Suspension Had He Cooperated UPDATE: Administrative Law Judge Nanci Stokes said she'll tell the state commissioner of education that the Wyckoff Board of Education doesn't have to reinstate Eisenhower Middle School Principal Christopher Iasiello while it continues an investigation. Stokes said Iasiello's appeal to immediately be reinstated doesn't "clearly and convicingly" prove that he's suffering irreparable harm, that there's a "reasonable probability of ultimate success" or that he'll endure greater harm than the Board of Education. It also doesn't establish any legal right to his claim, she found. The principal's …
Feds: NJ Teacher, Soccer Coach Caught Making Child Porn After Sending Hard Drive For Repairs Feds: NJ Teacher, Soccer Coach Caught Making Child Porn After Sending Hard Drive For Repairs
Feds: NJ Teacher, Soccer Coach Caught Making Child Porn After Sending Hard Drive For Repairs A Union County fifth-grade teacher from Morristown who also coaches youth soccer was arrested by the FBI after sending a hard drive containing child porn that he’d created to a California company to recover his files, authorities said. Steven Brooks, 34, who recently taught at Washington Elementary School in Summit and has helped run the Livingston Soccer Club the past 10 years, used a fake online profile to get underage boys to send him videos and photos, authorities said Tuesday. Brooks had emailed an employee at a California company that he had “sensitive and private” information on a ha…
Hackensack Teacher From Oradell Charged With Pocketing $300,000 In Ponzi Scheme Hackensack Teacher From Oradell Charged With Pocketing $300,000 In Ponzi Scheme
Hackensack Teacher From Oradell Charged With Pocketing $300,000 In Ponzi Scheme A Hackensack schoolteacher from Oradell ran a Ponzi scheme that fleeced investors of $300,000 that she used for herself, authorities announced Monday. Suzette Hart, 54, “solicited multiple investors for various high-yield, well-known investment opportunities knowing that the investments were fraudulent” over a five-year period, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Hart, who most recently taught at Hackensack’s Fairmount School, then “disbursed money from one investor to other investors, which reinforced the deception that the investor’s money had been properly invested and was produc…
Here's Why This NJ District Is Going Against Governor's Back To School Directions Here's Why This NJ District Is Going Against Governor's Back To School Directions
Here's Why This NJ District Is Going Against Governor's Back To School Directions One Union County school district will begin the academic year with online learning only, going against the directions from Gov. Phil Murphy for in-person instruction. The Elizabeth School Board on Monday night voted to begin next month with remote classes after nearly 375 teachers refused to come back into the classroom over COVID-19 fears.  UPDATE: Gov. Phil Murphy was expected to announce on Wednesday that some of New Jersey's public schools can start the academic year without in-person classes as long as they meet certain criteria, several news outlets report. Buildings w…
Here Are The Rules: NJ Schools To Reopen With Social Distancing, Face Masks Here Are The Rules: NJ Schools To Reopen With Social Distancing, Face Masks
Here Are The Rules: NJ Schools To Reopen With Social Distancing, Face Masks Going back to school in September will look much different for New Jersey students, who have been remotely learning since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic mid-March. The New Jersey Department of Education on Friday released guidance for reopening of schools for the 2020-21 school year. The guidelines strongly encourage face masks for students, who are required to stay six feet apart in classrooms and buses. Lunch times will be staggered and teachers are required to wear face masks. The guidelines are part of the state's "Road Back" restart and recovery plan, and were compiled…
NJ Education Department Releasing Guidelines For Summer School Programs NJ Education Department Releasing Guidelines For Summer School Programs
NJ Education Department Releasing Guidelines For Summer School Programs The New Jersey Department of Education is expected to release guidelines that will allow schools to conduct in-person summer education programs.  These include extended school year and special education services, Gov. Phil Murphy said. Those can begin July 6. The state's health department is expected to put forth guidelines for outdoor, non-contact organized sports, set to resume June 22. This is a developing story. Check back for more.
Closter Dad Who Assaulted Teen Football Coach Has Teaching License Suspended Closter Dad Who Assaulted Teen Football Coach Has Teaching License Suspended
Closter Dad Who Assaulted Teen Football Coach Has Teaching License Suspended State education authorities suspended the teaching license for three years of a local dad and former Closter schools official who cursed out and put a 16-year-old in a headlock during a youth flag football game. Former Closter Public Schools Business Administrator Peter Iappelli, 52, in 2017 was formally charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct after witnesses said he grabbed the teen coach -- the son of a Westwood councilman -- and put him in a headlock. Following an investigation, the New Jersey Department of Education's State Board of Examiners suspended Iappelli's teachin…
These Are NJ's Top 21 Teachers These Are NJ's Top 21 Teachers
These Are NJ's Top 21 Teachers The New Jersey Department of Education released its list of top 21 teachers in the state. One teacher from each county was selected as a finalist for the department's Teacher of the Year award. The teachers demonstrate "exemplary" educational leadership qualities seen in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said. A panel of educators will select the Teacher of the Year in October. Finalists are: Atlantic: Leslie Kronemeyer: Mainland Regional High School Spanish teacher Bergen: Leah Jerome, Pascack Valley High School social studies teacher  Burlington: Michelle-Anne…
BREAKING: Bribe-Taking Passaic Councilman Hired By Murphy Resigns, Grewal Launches Hiring Probe BREAKING: Bribe-Taking Passaic Councilman Hired By Murphy Resigns, Grewal Launches Hiring Probe
Breaking: Bribe-Taking Passaic Councilman Hired By Murphy Resigns, Grewal Launches Hiring Probe A former Passaic councilman who was hired by Gov. Murphy even though he served federal prison time for taking bribes has resigned amid a firestorm of controversy. At the same time, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal -- a former federal prosecutor himself -- said he's ordered an investigation into how Marcellus Jackson was able to get the job in the first place. Other people with criminal records who've been hired by the state will be forced to resign, as well, and steps will be taken to prevent it from happening again, the attorney general said. In a statement issued early Friday even…
Top North Jersey Educators Compete For New Jersey 'Teacher Of The Year' Award Top North Jersey Educators Compete For New Jersey 'Teacher Of The Year' Award
Top North Jersey Educators Compete For New Jersey 'Teacher Of The Year' Award Two educators from Bergen and Passaic counties are among the 21 recognized by the New Jersey Department of Education competing for the "Teacher of the Year" award. A panel of educators will make the selection in October at the State Board of Education meeting. The winner will go on to represent New Jersey in competing for the title of National Teacher of the Year. Gov. Phil Murphy said the educators chosen "exemplify the outstanding level of talent and commitment that exists in New Jersey’s public schools. "Their hard work and dedication is a critical part of making our …
Lodi MVC Clerk: 7 Years For Selling Illegal Licenses To School Bus Drivers Lodi MVC Clerk: 7 Years For Selling Illegal Licenses To School Bus Drivers
Lodi MVC Clerk: 7 Years For Selling Illegal Licenses To School Bus Drivers A former Lodi motor vehicle agency clerk was sentenced Friday in Hackensack to a plea-bargained seven years in prison after admitting that he collected thousands in dollars in bribes operating a ring that allowed 220 motorists -- including school bus drivers -- to obtain permit and licenses without having to take any tests. Rodman Lora, 39, of Queens must serve two years and four months before being eligible for parole, under his deal with prosecutors. Lora was among 70 people charged in a wide-ranging investigation. He admitted that he got an average of $700 per license or permit from 2014…
Paramus Schools Chief: We Didn't Know Crash Driver Had Moving Violations Paramus Schools Chief: We Didn't Know Crash Driver Had Moving Violations
Paramus Schools Chief: We Didn't Know Crash Driver Had Moving Violations Paramus Schools Supt. Michele Robinson insisted the district wasn't aware that the school bus driver involved in a crash that killed a middle school student and teacher last month had an extensive history of violations behind the wheel. She also demanded that North Jersey Media Group publish a correction to “blatantly inaccurate” reporting. “As I have said repeatedly, we do not have any information from the state that [Hudy] Muldrow [Sr.] had any moving violations,” Robinson wrote in a letter to parents. “The driving abstract provided to us by the Motor Vehicle Commission did not reflect t…
Lodi MVC Clerk Admits Selling Illegal Licenses, Permits Lodi MVC Clerk Admits Selling Illegal Licenses, Permits
Lodi MVC Clerk Admits Selling Illegal Licenses, Permits LODI, N.J. – A former Lodi motor vehicle agency clerk will be sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting Monday that he collected thousands in dollars in bribes operating a ring that allowed 220 motorists -- including school bus drivers -- to obtain permit and licenses without having to take any tests. Rodman Lora, 39, of Queens was among 70 people charged in a wide-ranging investigation. He admitted that he got an average of $700 per license or permit from 2014 to 2016.  Also pleading guilty Monday were: Luis Tiburcio, 46, of Passaic, who admitted that he was paid to work as a “r…