Page 51 - EdViewptsSpring2021

free of micromanagement. We their curriculum. The team began to us to slow down in order to zoom
listened as the team brainstormed take ownership, ultimately reaching ahead. Providing opportunities for
and used the iterative process, September-readiness before summer collaboration around the shared
watching the work unfold in shared adjournment and ahead of schedule. goal to design instructional units
documents. Supervisor and coach accomplished our academic shift.
were available for check-ins and What We Learned Fostering shared leadership through
temperature checks, gauging when As we look back on the process the CAR framework built team
to facilitate needed discussions. With and continue to move forward with capacity. The team has run the race,
a task list, but no longer an ordered our team, we are cognizant of the weathered the first stage of the PLC
agenda, teachers used what they important roles patience and pacing journey, and is prepared to sustain
learned from the process and from played in supporting this brand- instructional improvement during the
one another to convene self-paced new PLC. These attributes allowed ongoing crisis.
CAR PLC conversations to develop

About the Authors
Jeannine Lanphear is the Supervisor for grades 5-8 Math and Science for the North Brunswick
Township School District, where she has been developing a math and science program for excellence
and equity through innovative approaches such as contextualized learning, embedded STEM
and coding opportunities, and flexible pathways to acceleration. She holds a Bachelor's degree in
Computer Science and Art History, a Master's degree in Educational Technology, and a certificate in
Leadership, studying CAR with Pat Wright. She is a proud alum of the NJEXCEL program at FEA and
was recently selected to be the NJ STEM Month STEM Educator of the Year for 2021.
Susan Greenwald Gilbert, served as a building Principal, Assistant Principal, and Director/Supervisor of
Curriculum & Instruction prior to joining FEA 6 years ago as a Coach and Professional Learning Trainer
on topics of Literacy Instruction, Writing, Assessment, Standards-Based Curriculum, and the Connected
Action Roadmap. Currently, Ms. Gilbert is also serving as the Coordinator of District Grants for FEA
overseeing the Strengthening Teaching, Leading, and Learning Grant, which is focused on designing
instructional plans, pre-requisite skills, and formative assessment to meet the needs of all learners.

Engaging, standards-aligned content for

New Jersey districts

We can help ELA and Social Studies educators:
Ensure instruction across subjects builds background knowledge,
develops skills and engages learners – while addressing learning gaps
Cover state mandates, including LBGTQIA+ & people with Disabilities
Climate Change, Amistad, Holocaust, Financial Literacy, and SEL
Make inclusivity and diversity a central component of the curriculum
development process with representative content from 100+ sources
Challenge students to critically examine multiple perspectives and
connect past to present through current, relevant texts

To learn more about Newsela, contact Bradley Deitch
at bradley.deitch@newsela.com or 973-348-3143 or
visit us at newsela.com.

Educational Viewpoints -49- Spring 2021