NJNS Key Reading
NJNS Mission Statement
The New Jersey Network of Superintendents (NJNS), a professional community of practice for equity-focused New Jersey superintendents, provides a safe and supportive environment for NJNS member superintendents and their leadership teams to share, learn, grow, think and act in a setting with high relational trust. NJNS works to support superintendents and systems leaders committed to ensuring all learners are provided with access to teaching and learning opportunities necessary to support their academic and social success. All means All!
NJNS Equity Definition
“The equal treatment of unequals is the greatest injustice of all” – Edmund Burke
Equity, as a term, is increasingly common in educational circles, though defined in many ways. Here is the definition of equity adopted by NJNS:
Equity is achieved by raising the performance of all students and eliminating the predictability and disproportionality of student outcomes based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, housing patterns, gender, home language, nation of origin, or special needs and other student characteristics. It requires the school system’s provision of resources, supports, skills, and abilities essential to guarantee the preparation of all students for college without the need for remediation – All Means All.
Theory of Action:
If superintendents work together in an equity driven learning community in which they are supported and challenged to:
Focus
Focus on ensuring rigorous intellectual engagement for all students, with special responsibility for students who have been historically underserved.
Identify, implement and engage
Identify, implement and engage others in the work to achieve systemic equity goals in their districts.
Examine
Examine and discuss the role of race and other aspects of difference in their work.
Develop
Develop their understanding of how to engage colleagues, board members and community in their work on equity and race.
REVIEW
Review data on their equity goals, reflect on their progress, and share what they are learning both inside and outside the Network.
Then we, as individuals and as NJNS, can be more effective in eliminating disparities in access, support, and academic and social outcomes for all students.
REFLECTIONS OF PAST AND PRESENT NJNS SUPERINTENDENTS
The following reflections are lifted from reflections published in the book, Equity Visits: A New Approach to Supporting Equity-Focused School and District Leadership, published by Corwin Publishing in 2020.
“Dismantling Systemic Barriers Across Demographic Difference”
Dr. Laurie Newell, Superintendent, Essex County Regional Educational Services:
“BECOMING PART OF AN “EDUCATIONAL THINK TANK””
Dr. Jacqueline Young, retired superintendent, Essex County Regional Educational Services Commission
“Sharing the Pit-of-the-Stomach Feeling about Systemic Inequities”
Dr. Margaret Hayes, Former Superintendent, Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District
“Asking Questions About Student Experiences Across Districts”
Dr. Rachel Goldberg, Superintendent, Springfield Public School District, formerly Assistant Superintendents in the Passaic Public Schools and Elizabeth Public Schools
“Learning to Throw Stones at Goliath”
Jeffrey Moore Superintendent, Hunterdon Regional High School District, former director of curriculum for the Freehold Regional High School District
“Being Bound Together and Held to Task”
Superintendent Kummings, Superintendent of Wildwood Public Schools, joined NJNS in its ninth year and is a present NJNS member.. He reflects on how the network pushed him to advance equity work in his district
“Standing Alone, Shouting This at the Rooftops”
The superintendent quoted here requested to be quoted anonymousily to protect the ongoing work in his district addressing racial inequities in access to Advanced Placement coursework.
“Asking Questions, Avoiding Defensiveness”
Dr. Nancy Gartenberg, Former superintendent, Montgomery Township School District
“Stretching My Wings”
Dr.Tami Crader, Superintendent, Neptune Public Schools
“Focusing on the Levers That Shift Culture”
Dr. Jeffrey Moore, Superintendent, Hunterdon Central Regional High School District