DENVILLE — Morris County Vocational School District English Teacher and 2014 Morris County Teacher of the Year, Lisa Adams, served as the New Jersey State teacher representative at the State Teacher Leadership Convening on February 13-14 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Given the increased flexibility from the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), state education agencies are able to advance their approaches to teacher leadership. The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) in collaboration with Leading Educators convened states interested in further refining their teacher leadership strategies. Adams joined a vertical team of five people from the state to refine their theory of action for teacher leadership with supported, specific, tested strategies. Adams joined Chelsea Collins, Program Manager, New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE); Debra Gulick, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, East Brunswick Public School District; Peter Mazzagatti, Policy Analyst, NJDOE Office of Evaluation; and Charles Rowan, Assistant Principal, North Plainfield High School.
The state team had the opportunity to create and adapt a variety of resources from other states and collaborated through extensive, facilitated time to engage in strategic conversations as a team. The team left the convening with a clear action plan to guide their work over the course of 2017 – 2018 as it relates to the New Jersey Teacher Leader Endorsement.
The Teacher Leader Endorsement will be available to teachers who are eligible and complete an approved program of study and will recognize educators who take on leadership positions in their schools while maintaining their roles as teachers.
The Morris County Vocational School District (www.mcvts.org) offers programs for Morris County high school students, including Career Academies, Share Time Programs, and Continuing Education programs. For additional information, call the Morris County School of Technology at (973) 627-4600 ext. 277.
