Who We Are
The NJEA ACCESS model was created as a support system for schools designated as Priority and Focus Schools under the No Child Left Behind Act. Our program was named after the NEA initiative created to highlight that schools in need of improvement are a priority to our organization. The NJEA Priority Schools Initiative has been transformed to the NJEA ACCESS Model, a community collective for equitable and sustainable schools.
What We Do
The NJEA ACCESS model provides professional development to schools through shared leadership by analyzing data and setting goals in a collaborative environment. Once administrators and staff create a Leadership Team with a diverse representation of teachers, NJEA consultants help the school meet their school achievement goals. We are a union-based support program for teachers and schools. We are not a state or district accountability program.
A.C.C.E.S.S. Programs in Schools
NJEA ACCESS celebrates end of school year
The NJEA ACCESS Model was created as a support system for schools designated as priority and focus schools under the No Child Left Behind Act. ACCESS stands for A Community
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NJEA ACCESS provides ACEs Training at Camden’s Catto Community School
The NJEA ACCESS program provided ACEs training at Camden’s Catto Community School on May 15. ACE stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences. The ACE Study confirms, with scientific evidence, that adversity
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NJEA ACCESS program hosts retreat for Trenton educators
The NJEA ACCESS program provided Trenton teachers with a chance to reflect at a retreat they coordinated at Martin Luther King Middle School on May 1. About 25 participants met
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NJEA ACCESS consultants work with Trenton educators at Robeson Elementary School
NJEA ACCESS consultant Carrie Ann Floyd works regularly in support of programs at Robeson Elementary School in Trenton. In March, Floyd provided support to Aronya Downing, a long-term sub, in
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NJEA ACCESS hosts Read Across America event at Trenton’s Monument Intermediate School
In honor of Read Across America in March, NJEA ACCESS Consultant Katherine Clark, who works regularly in support of programs at Monument Intermediate School in Trenton, reached out to a
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NJEA ACCESS program supports Camden educators
NJEA ACCESS consultant Dorie Tchourumoff works regularly in support of many of the educators at Thomas H. Dudley Family School in Camden. She holds peace circles for all grade levels
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Camden educators take time to refresh at retreat
The NJEA ACCESS Program hosted a retreat for Camden teachers as a midyear refresh session. ACCESS Consultants have been using the book Onward by Elena Aguilar this school year to
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It’s raining books in Trenton
NJEA ACCESS celebrates READ Across America in Trenton Last month Danele Still, NJEA ACCESS consultant, organized a book delivery from BookSmiles. The books were delivered to the seven Trenton schools
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School hosts restorative practices training
In January 2024, NJEA ACCESS Consultant Dena Grushkin worked with Naeem Muse, social and emotional learning specialist at Trenton’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School to create and deliver a
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NJEA ACCES supports holiday book giveaway at Trenton’s Washington School
The NJEA ACCESS program supported a holiday book giveaway at Trenton’s Washington Elementary School on Dec. 19. NJEA ACCESS Consultant Danele Still worked with the school’s parent liaison, Louise Herrera,
Read MoreWhat Can Schools Expect From Us?
One consultant will be assigned to each building. They will plan school visits: year one, (8) times a month; year two, (6) times a month; year three, (4) times a month;
- Support in developing a common language about planning, classroom instruction assessment and healing centered engagement.;
- Teacher Leadership development;
- Resources: assistance in writing grants, book donations, community connections;
- Assistance with engaging parents;
- Facilitating PLCs and workshops, major models of job-embedded PD;
- School-wide support in maintaining a relationship between the teachers, administrators and the local union; and
- Statewide conferences with expert speakers on a variety of topics.
What Do We Expect From the Schools?
- A commitment from administrators and teachers to engage as active learners during the five-year program;
- A commitment from administrators and teachers to improve the learning culture in your school to lead to results-driven professional learning;
- Development and sustained support of a leadership team;
- Goal-setting three goals based on student, staff and parent needs;
- Acceptance of our consultant as a facilitator of professional development;
- Time for PLCs to meet during the school day around topics based on school goals; and
- Attendance/participation at the August program orientation and at least two other Saturday conferences offered by the program.
Contact Us
For questions about A.C.C.E.S.S., contact Amanda Adams or Kimeisha Boyd below.