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A District That Celebrates

BOE

Social Media Webinar for Families in December

December 10, 2024 By Communications

SOMSD strives daily to celebrate our staff and students.

Join us for “Social Media: Strengthening Caregiver Connectivity – Part 2”!

The second installment of this workshop series with ESS will focus on the increasing trend of children and adolescents using social media. Attendees will gain insights into how children fulfill their needs online and explore strategies to guide them toward fulfilling those needs offline.

By enhancing parent-child connections, participants will foster a desire in their children to reduce online time and engage more in offline activities.

Webinar topic:
Social Media: Strengthening Caregiver Connectivity – Part 2

Date and time:
Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 12:00 PM

Join link:
https://somsd.webex.com/somsd/j.php?MTID=m904f1bab907f7a75c15e76a72d9a4c9a

Webinar number:
2334 337 7588

Webinar password:
ThumbsUp24! (84862787 when dialing from a phone or video system)

We look forward to seeing you!

Read the latest SOMSD news online →

December 10, 2024 Filed Under: District News Tagged With: BOE, Superintendent

Celebrating Inclusive Schools Week

December 3, 2024 By Communications

SOMSD strives daily to celebrate our staff and students.

We are thrilled to announce that our district will be celebrating Inclusive Schools Week from December 2-6, 2024! This year’s theme, “Every Voice Matters,” highlights the importance of creating environments where every student feels heard, valued, and empowered to succeed. First launched in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week is an event celebrated internationally during the first week of December. It was designed to raise awareness and promote effective inclusive practices in schools. This is an important week as we in the South Orange-Maplewood School District are truly committed to providing an inclusive learning environment for all our students.

We are excited for students to participate in various activities this week.  Each school will be celebrating in its own way.

We have developed the following questions that are intended to allow you to continue the conversations your children are having at school when they are at home:

Exploring Inclusion and Belonging

  • What does it mean to you to feel included at school or in a group?
  • Can you share a time when you helped someone feel included? How did it make you feel?
  • Why do you think it’s important for everyone at school to feel like their voice matters?

Understanding and Appreciating Diversity

  • What are some things that make you unique? How can we celebrate those differences?
  • What have you learned about someone at school who is different from you?
  • Why is it important to understand and respect people with different abilities, cultures, or perspectives?

Taking Action for Inclusion

  • What’s one way you could make a new classmate feel welcome?
  • How can you be an ally to someone who might be feeling left out?
  • If you were designing an “inclusive classroom,” what would it look like, sound like, or feel like?

Reflection and Growth

  • Has there ever been a time when you felt left out? What would have made the situation better?
  • What can we as a family do to promote inclusion and kindness in our community?
  • What does “Every Voice Matters” mean to you, and how can we apply it in our daily lives?

Thank you for your continued partnership in building an inclusive school environment where every voice truly matters.

We hope that your children will share their ideas and the experiences they have had at school. We also encourage you to ask your child about the specific lessons and discussions they have participated in during the week.

Thank you for supporting our efforts to create a more inclusive learning environment during this Inclusive Schools Week through your participation at home.

Your partner in education,

The School District of South Orange & Maplewood

Read the latest SOMSD news online →

December 3, 2024 Filed Under: District News Tagged With: BOE, Superintendent

Join the District’s Budget Advisory Committee

November 27, 2024 By Communications

SOMSD strives daily to celebrate our staff and students.

Are you passionate about education and financial transparency? Do you want to help the district allocate its resources to ensure the biggest benefit for students? The South Orange & Maplewood School District has formed a Budget Advisory Committee, and we need YOU!

The Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) is a new essential advisory group that collaborates with the District to review, analyze, and make recommendations about the budget to the Superintendent. The goal is to ensure that the district’s financial decisions align with the strategic plan and meet the needs of our diverse students, staff, and community.

Roles and responsibilities of committee members:

  • Review and Analyze
    Examine the district’s budget, revenue sources, and expenditures to understand financial trends and projections.
  • Provide Input
    Offer feedback and recommendations on budget priorities, cost-saving measures that minimize the impact on student learning and staff welfare, and revenue enhancement opportunities.
  • Engage
    Serve as a liaison between the district and the broader community, sharing information and gathering input from stakeholders.
  • Collaborate
    Work with other committee members to develop practices that support the district’s educational goals.

We are seeking a diverse group of members to ensure comprehensive representation across our district, including parents and community members.

The BAC will meet four times, with additional meetings as needed and recommended by the Superintendent. We ask that members commit to attending at least 75% of meetings and actively participate in discussions and subcommittees.

Members may be asked to review data and documents or participate in community engagement outside of regular BAC meetings. Apply today!

This committee’s application window will close on December 20th, 2024.

Learn more

Learn more about the BAC
Learn more about the Budget Advisory Committee.

 

Read the latest SOMSD news online →

November 27, 2024 Filed Under: District News Tagged With: BOE, Superintendent

Holiday Toy Drive with the Parenting Center

November 19, 2024 By Communications

SOMSD strives daily to celebrate our staff and students.
Now in its 27th year, the South Orange & Maplewood School District’s Parenting Center & Rent Party’s Annual Toy Drive provides gifts for children in our district. Last year, our toy drive benefited over 400 children in our two communities. This year, we are once again counting on you to help us bring the spirit of the holidays to those in need in our community. Contributions/donations are being accepted via:

  • Make an online tax-deductible contribution at: https://gofund.me/81826e70
  • Donate an item from the wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1XA0R5BKXQ90G?ref_=wl_share
  • Drop off a new toy at one of our drop-off bins at any district elementary school (11/25-12/13)
  • Buy one, Donate one at Sparkhouse Toys

A special thank you to Tons of Toys, Sparkhouse Toys, Ricciardi Brothers, South Mountain YMCA, and the SOMSD PTAs & HSAs for their support!

November 19, 2024 Filed Under: District News Tagged With: BOE, Superintendent

Community Conversations with Superintendent Bing

November 9, 2024 By Communications

SOMSD strives daily to celebrate our staff and students.
We are pleased to invite members of our South Orange and Maplewood communities to participate in a series of meaningful conversations with Superintendent Jason Bing and district leaders. These events have been organized to facilitate direct communication between our educational leadership and community members.

Superintendent Bing and board members (under quorum) will be present to learn the community’s needs, ideas, and suggestions for the future.

For your planning purposes, here is the complete schedule of all upcoming community conversations:

1. Tuesday, November 12, 2024 
Baird Community Center
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

2. Thursday, December 12, 2024 
DeHart Community Center
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

3. Thursday, February 6, 2025 
Maplewood Town Hall
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

4. Tuesday, February 25, 2025 
Baird Community Center
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

These sessions represent valuable opportunities for community engagement and dialogue. We encourage your participation and look forward to productive discussions about our educational community’s future.

We look forward to talking with you! You can also email ideas and suggestions to information@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us if you do not attend any of the open forums.

November 9, 2024 Filed Under: District News Tagged With: BOE, Superintendent

Board of Education Approves the Appointment of Three Key Roles to District Leadership

December 19, 2022 By Communications

The District is pleased to announce the appointments of three Directors following approval at the December 15th Board of Education public meeting. Zoila Correa, currently Assistant Principal, Clinton Elementary School was appointed to Director, Curriculum & Instruction; Tunde Adedoyin has been appointed Director, Human Resources and Kerri Waibel has been appointed Director, Access & Equity.

Zoila A. Correa, an internal candidate, currently serves as the Assistant Principal of Clinton Elementary School. She brings over twenty-years of educational experience with extensive knowledge of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) as well as the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Prior to joining the District, Correa served as a Middle School Mathematics teacher for West New York’s Board of Education. While there, she also served as the District Master Teacher of Mathematics for K -6, where she addressed the

Zoila A. Correa, Director, Curriculum & Instruction

instructional needs of 175+ educators by reinforcing and enhancing teaching practices through innovative learning techniques. In this role, she also analyzed relevant performance data, revised curricula, planned and implemented professional development for teachers and enhanced classroom instruction through many methodologies.

Mrs. Correa also has a tremendous personal success story as a daughter of immigrants and a first-generation citizen, her passion and commitment to student success (academic and social-emotional) is palpable. She received two Master’s Degrees in both Educational Leadership and the Art of Teaching and completed her undergraduate degree from New Jersey City University in Psychology and Elementary Education. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership with a specialization in Curriculum and Instruction with an anticipated completion date of March 2023.

Dr. Taylor shared, “we are always pleased when we are able to leverage and promote the skillsets of an internal candidate.” He continued, “as the current assistant principal at Clinton Elementary, Ms. Correa has proven herself to be an empathetic leader and has had a tremendous impact on school operations. We believe her familiarity with the District’s educational and community objectives will continue to make a difference in always keeping curriculum goals at the forefront for students’ success.”

Tunde Adedoyin, Director, Human Resources

The incoming Director of Human Resources, Tunde Adedoyin is replacing Stacey Robinson who is retiring at the end of the year. Mr. Adedoyin is an alumnus of SOMSD with over sixteen years of Human Resource experience in the education sector. In his current role, he serves as the Manager, Human Resources at Hackensack Public Schools where he serves as a member of the District’s leadership team and collaborates with the other units on district initiatives, strategy, management and overall direction. He brings extensive knowledge of human capital, collective bargaining, performance evaluation, strategic and business planning, policy development, employee relations and change management. Mr. Adedoyin received his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Montclair University and completed his undergraduate degree from St. John’s University in Criminal Justice. He has previously held roles in the Teaneck, Trenton, Orange and Newark Public School Districts. He will begin his role with the District in mid-February.

Kerri Waibel, Director, Access & Equity

Finally, Kerri Waibel has been appointed the Director, Access & Equity for SOMSD and brings over twenty years of experience in education, with roles as a teacher, principal and former Director, Curriculum & Instruction. Throughout Ms. Waibel’s teaching and leadership tenure, she has continually provided support and resources to students, teachers, and administrators. In addition, Ms. Waibel expanded access to student programming and increased achievement for all students in the area of Algebra 1, STEAM, ELA, and mathematics. She also created and implemented restorative practices to support student’s social and emotional growth, reduce time out of school for discipline and build positive relationships between children, families, and the school community.

Ms. Waibel has a plethora of experiences in the area of educational equity, that include presenting via professional opportunities on the topics of Equity in Action, Culturally Responsive Practice and Sexual Health Education Implementation etc. She also demonstrated real-world positive equity outcomes for her students including the reduction of inequities of student suspension and disciplinary actions, removing the tracking of K-8 classes, and the holistic implementation of diversity into the curriculum. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and an undergraduate degree from Montclair University. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership, her dissertation is in part on the Fidelity of the Comprehensive Equity Plan.

“We are pleased to have these key central office roles filled with such high-caliber candidates,” said Dr. Taylor. “Their breadth of experience will enable the District to continue to serve the needs of students and staff and expand our ability to implement key initiatives.”

December 19, 2022 Filed Under: Board of Education, Updates & Announcements for Families Tagged With: Adedoyin, BOE, Correa, Director, Weibel

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South Orange-Maplewood
School District

South Orange-Maplewood School District

Address &
Contact Info

525 Academy Street
Maplewood, NJ 07040

Main Office: (973) 762-5600

District Title IX Information

Dr. Kevin Gilbert
Asst., Supt., Access & Equity
District Title IX Coordinator
525 Academy Street
Maplewood, NJ 07040
e: kgilbert@somsd.k12.nj.us
p: (973) 762 - 5600 ext. 1859

Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB)

Dr. Kevin Gilbert
Asst., Supt., Access & Equity
District HIB Coordinator
e: kgilbert@somsd.k12.nj.us
p: (973) 762 - 5600 ext. 1859

Ms. Robin Curry
Confidential Secretary to the Asst. Supt., Access & Equity
e: rcurry@somsd.k12.nj.us
p: (973) 762 - 5600 ext. 1822

More HIB Information

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The South Orange & Maplewood School District is committed to making our content accessible to all members of the public, including those with disabilities. This includes parents, students, employees, and all others associated with our district. If you need assistance in accessing materials on the district website or you would like to provide feedback or file a complaint about the website, please email the webmaster.

Our Mission

The mission of the South Orange Maplewood School District is to empower and inspire each student to explore and imagine, to pursue personal passions, and to collectively create a better future by creating a learner-centered environment through multiple pathways; re-imagined structures, systems and supports; innovative teaching; partnering with families; and maximizing community expertise and resources.

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