Members of the school community are invited to attend a forum titled “Partnering to Address New Jersey’s Educator Shortages,” which will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11 at Montclair State University, University Hall, at the 7th floor Conference Center.
The New Jersey School Boards Association plans to send a representative to serve on a panel addressing staffing shortages during the event. The panel will also include other leaders from the education field.
Dr. Timothy Purnell, executive director and CEO of the NJSBA, was among 25 individuals to serve on a statewide task force to study the issue and recommend solutions to the educator staffing shortage. The group was chaired by Dennis Zeveloff, chief policy adviser to the governor, and included a cross section of leaders from the K-12 community, higher education, the State Legislature and the Department of Education. The task force recently released a detailed report highlighting its initial recommendations to address teacher and education support professional shortages in school districts throughout the state.
The forum at Montclair will explore the work of inter-institutional partnerships, such as between higher education or professional associations and K-12 schools/districts in helping to support students, communities and educators. It will also highlight strategies to increase the number of highly qualified professionals, especially teachers – as well as how to make the educational workforce more diverse. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
By bringing into conversation policy makers, higher education experts, and school/district leaders, the university hopes to foster conversations that might also spark new partnerships.
Any questions can be directed to Sophia Robinson.