Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Issue 11: March 2024
Jennifer Donnelly
2023-2024 Hudson County Teacher of the Year
Jose Marti STEM Academy
Union City School District
My Name is Jennifer Donnelly, and I am the Hudson County Teacher of the Year for 2023-2024. Welcome to March! Most see March as a month of rebirth and renewal. In education, March signifies “Read Across America Day.” But did you know that in New Jersey, March is also STEM Month? Through the support of Governor Murphy and the New Jersey State Legislature, the celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) was expanded in 2018 and March was designated as STEM Month.
New Jersey has a history of innovation. It is the home of some of the world’s greatest scientific pioneers, like Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein. Air conditioning, transistors, light bulbs, and cell phones were all invented right here in New Jersey. As New Jersey educators we have a unique opportunity to celebrate our rich and unique history while nurturing the innovators and inventors of tomorrow. Studies have shown that exposing children to STEM concepts in the elementary grades helps to ensure their interest in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Being a STEM educator, I have always believed that STEM education is the great equalizer; it enables children, regardless of their reading level, math ability or writing skills, to use creative thinking to produce and share innovative ideas that may solve real-world problems.
This month I invite you to take the time to go to the New Jersey STEM Pathways Network website. Check out their valuable resources and connect to your local STEM ecosystem. Celebrate along with me by highlighting classroom activities, events, and students’ accomplishments by posting on social media under the hashtag #NJSTEMmonth.
Featured NJDOE Office of the Month—Office of Supplemental Educational Program
The Office of Supplemental Educational Program (OSEP) consists of 13 staff members who are responsible for the programmatic oversight of New Jersey’s local educational agencies (LEAs) implementation of the federal programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Federal Programs
OSEP oversees the following federal programs:
- Title I, Part A — Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged;
- Title I, Part C — Migrant Education;
- Title II, Part A — Supporting Effective Instruction;
- Title III and III Immigrant – Language Instruction for English Language Learners and Immigrant Students;
- Title IV, Part A — Student Support and Academic Enrichment;
- Title IX, Part C— McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act/Education for Homeless Children and Youths (EHCY); and
- American Rescue Plan Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY)
State Programs
OSEP also oversees several state programs that support and enhance the successful implementation of the federal ESEA programs. State programs include:
- Bilingual Education (N.J.A.C. 6A:15);
- Education for Homeless Children (N.J.A.C. 6A:17-1.1 to 2.9); and
- Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care (N.J.A.C. 6A:17-4).
National Distinguished Schools Award
One office highlight is overseeing the selection of the National Distinguished Schools award. This award, sponsored by the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators, annually recognizes two New Jersey schools as National ESEA Distinguished Schools. The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) recently recognized Cliffside Park School Number 5 of the Cliffside Park School District in Bergen County for excellence in serving its Multilingual Learner student population.