Communities of Practice Connect: Leaning into AI
2025-12-11 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-01-08 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-02-12 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-03-12 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York)
“Communities of Practice are groups of people who share a common concern, set of problems, or passion about a topic, and deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis.”
– Etienne Wenger
Michael Mason and Brian Janik
This interactive conversation dives into the transformative potential of AI in education. Explore ethics & impact, discover powerful learning tools & strategies, and gain the confidence to integrate AI effectively. Share your own favorite AI tools, strategies, and questions to foster a collaborative learning environment!
Learn more about the NJEA PDII Community of Practice here.

Meeting People Where They Are: Building Bridges Across Differences
2025-12-15 16:30 - 18:30
Advocating for social justice often means navigating tough conversations with those who disagree. This session introduces strategies to meet others where they are and foster productive dialogue. Participants will explore the Future of Sex Education (FoSE) collaborative’s new Sex Education Toolkit, featuring tools to answer challenging questions, develop messaging, and support policy recommendations in sex education

NJEA Konscious Educators Virtual Training Series - Managing Stress & Enhancing Emotional Well- Being (Part 3)
2025-12-18 16:30 - 18:30
Join us for a six-part immersive experience designed to empower NJEA educators with mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and heart-centered leadership tools to reduce stress, deepen connections and enhance teaching impact. Each session included energizing activities, guided practices, community connection, and knowledge sharing—creating an engaging and supportive space for reflection, learning, and growth.
This session explores breath and movement as powerful tools for regulating emotions, releasing stress, and fostering emotional resilience.

Violence in the Workplace
2026-01-06 16:30 - 18:30
Violence against school staff—particularly incidents involving students—is a growing concern. This workshop will empower your local Health & Safety Committee to respond effectively, advocate for safer working conditions, and ensure members understand their rights and protections. Learn how to strengthen your committee, support impacted staff, and push for policies that create a safer school environment.

Communities of Practice Connect: Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Strategies for Educators During Challenging Times
2026-01-08 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-02-12 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-03-12 16:00 - 17:30
“Communities of Practice are groups of people who share a common concern, set of problems, or passion about a topic, and deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis.”
– Etienne Wenger
Katherine Burke and Pamela Koharchik
The education landscape is constantly evolving, and navigating challenging times can be exhausting. This highly interactive community provides educators with practical tools and strategies to build resilience, manage stress, and create a positive classroom environment even in the face of obstacles.
Learn more about the NJEA PDII Community of Practice here.

Communities of Practice Connect: The Anxious Generation Book Club
2026-01-13 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-02-10 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-03-10 16:00 - 17:30
“Communities of Practice are groups of people who share a common concern, set of problems, or passion about a topic, and deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis.”
– Etienne Wenger
Deanne Martini and Brenda Martin-Lee
Description: Join us for a thought-provoking book club exploring The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. This powerful read unpacks how today’s digital world is reshaping childhood—and what that means for the students we teach. Together, we’ll discuss the rise in youth anxiety, the impact of screen time, and what educators can do to foster connection, resilience, and well-being in and beyond the classroom. Whether you’re new to the topic or already deep in the conversation, this is a chance to reflect, share, and grow with fellow educators. Let’s explore how we can better support this generation—together.
Learn more about the NJEA PDII Community of Practice here.

Communities of Practice Connect: Lead & Learn: A Community for Educator Leaders, Session 3
2026-01-13 16:00 - 17:30
“Communities of Practice are groups of people who share a common concern, set of problems, or passion about a topic, and deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis.”
– Etienne Wenger
Brenda Martin-Lee, Christine Candarella, Deidre Varga, Estefania Rios, Hillary Raszka, Jonathan Ayer, Johanna Amaro
Are you a teacher who inspires others and helps move education forward? Whether your role is formal or informal, if you’re someone who supports colleagues, shares expertise, and works to strengthen teaching and learning—this community is for you.
You might be an instructional coach, PLC facilitator, I&RS team member, mentor, cooperating teacher, or someone who simply steps up to lead from the classroom. Whatever your title, you’re playing a vital role in shaping practice and influencing positive change.
This community of practice is your space to connect with fellow educator-leaders, exchange ideas, celebrate wins, navigate challenges, and grow together. Join us to collaborate, reflect, and energize your work alongside others who share your passion for impact.
Learn more about the NJEA PDII Community of Practice here.

The Power of the Page: Exploring Book Banks and Literacy Equity
2026-01-13 17:00 - 19:00
Join us for an engaging session that takes you behind the scenes of a book bank and explores how these initiatives support literacy and equity in education. Educators will learn how book banks operate—from sourcing and sorting books to distribution logistics—and how they can connect students and families with free, high-quality reading materials. Participants will also have the opportunity to select books to take back to their classrooms, schools, or communities. Leave inspired with practical ideas to promote reading and support access to books for all learners.

Intro to AI for ESPs
2026-01-14 16:30 - 18:30
This session is designed for ESPs and provides an entry point to AI by exploring ChatGPT and other tools that are relevant to their roles. Throughout the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, collaborate with their peers, and engage in hands-on activities to deepen their understanding of artificial intelligence (AI).

NJEA Konscious Educators Virtual Training Series - Understanding Personal Triggers & Building Emotional Resilience (Part 4)
2026-01-15 16:30 - 18:30
Join us for a six-part immersive experience designed to empower NJEA educators with mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and heart-centered leadership tools to reduce stress, deepen connections and enhance teaching impact. Each session included energizing activities, guided practices, community connection, and knowledge sharing—creating an engaging and supportive space for reflection, learning, and growth.
Great educators lead with authenticity and self-awareness. This session dives into True North — a guiding framework for reflection, emotional growth, and self-discovery

Designing Pluralistic Social Studies Curricula with Generative AI
2026-01-22 17:30 - 19:30
This interactive professional development workshop empowers educators with the knowledge and tools to leverage Generative AI—such as ChatGPT and Gemini—for designing inclusive, equitable K–12 social studies curricula. Rooted in pluralistic pedagogy, the session explores how AI can assist in generating historically accurate, standards-aligned content that highlights the voices and contributions of Black, Asian American, Indigenous, Latinx, and other historically marginalized communities. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of how AI-assisted instruction works, including the rationale behind prompt engineering and effective strategies for designing prompts that yield high-quality, inclusive responses. The session also covers strategies to guard against potential biases in AI-generated content, as such biases can often be amplified by the internet-sourced training data used to develop these models. Through hands-on activities and collaborative discussions, educators will learn how to integrate AI thoughtfully into their lesson planning process—enhancing instructional design, supporting student engagement, and encouraging critical inquiry into U.S. history from multiple perspectives. By the end of the workshop, participants will walk away with concrete tools, sample prompts, and adaptable strategies for incorporating AI into the development of high-quality, pluralistic social studies lessons that reflect the richness and diversity of American experiences.
Presenters: Dr. Ying Lu & Dr. Kim Pinckney.

The XYZs of Retirement for ESPs
2026-01-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Virtual – Zoom
Understand retirement planning through PERS. Learn about pensions, benefits, timelines, and options to prepare confidently—whether retirement is near or far.

Survivors’ perspectives on Human Trafficking and Its Impact on Our Schools
2026-01-26 16:30 - 18:30
This survivor-led presentation will cover the realities of sex and labor trafficking in our state and the risks to school-age children. Online exploitation and the myths of trafficking will be explored, with real-life scenarios provided to illustrate what teachers might encounter in the classroom. The session will also include guidance on how teachers can raise awareness among their students using free online lesson plans offered by the NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking, which conform to NJ Learning Standards.

Team Liberty’s Shadow: Why New Jersey was the Last Northern State to Abolish Slavery
2026-02-02 16:30 - 18:30
What you probably didn’t learn in school is that New Jersey was once known as “the slave state of the North.” It was the last Northern state to ratify the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States. By 1830, New Jersey held 67% of the enslaved population living in the North, and the last 16 enslaved people in Bergen County were not freed until 1866—three years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, Bertrand F. Gibbs Elementary School in New Milford, Bergen County, sits atop a historic African American burial ground, a sobering reminder of this often-overlooked history.

Beyond the Surface Level: Complex Histories and Educational Equity in New Jersey
2026-02-09 16:30 - 18:30
This workshop invites educators to rethink the history of school segregation and educational access beyond simplified narratives. By exploring personal and historical perspectives, participants will consider how identity and lived experience shape our understanding of equity in education. The session features a powerful short film, co-produced by the presenters, that focuses on New Jersey and highlights current issues in educational equity. Participants will engage in meaningful dialogue, sharing insights and experiences to deepen their understanding and commitment to inclusive, equitable education.

Communities of Practice Connect: Lead & Learn: A Community for Educator Leaders
2026-02-10 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-03-10 16:00 - 17:30

Fantastic Facilitation for ESPs
2026-02-11 17:30 - 19:30 | NJEA Headquarters, 180 W. State Street, Trenton, New Jersey, 08608, United States
Discover how to elevate your presentation skills, engage adult learners, and deliver professional learning that is relevant, memorable, and high quality.

NJEA Konscious Educators Virtual Training Series - Rewiring the Brain for Optimism, Hope, & Purpose (Part 5)
2026-02-19 16:30 - 18:30
Join us for a six-part immersive experience designed to empower NJEA educators with mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and heart-centered leadership tools to reduce stress, deepen connections and enhance teaching impact. Each session included energizing activities, guided practices, community connection, and knowledge sharing—creating an engaging and supportive space for reflection, learning, and growth.
When educators align with their “why”, they bring purpose, joy, and inspiration into the classroom. This session explores how to shift mindset and energy to create an engaged and transformative learning environment.

Neurodiversity + Queer Identity
2026-03-02 16:30 - 18:30
This talk explores the well-documented overlap between the Queer community and how neurodivergent individuals “queer” their lives—whether they identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, the neurodivergent community, or both. The discussion is grounded in understanding intersectionality, as defined by Kimberlé Crenshaw.
In this workshop, we will also explore the concept of minority stress, as defined by Virginia Brooks, and discuss the importance of creating space for “neuroqueering ” and the need for sex education that is more inclusive of neurodiverse experiences.

Using AI in the Classroom – Teacher Tools and Strategies
2026-03-10 16:30 - 18:30
Educators will explore a variety of AI tools that support lesson planning, differentiation, data analysis, and engagement. Tools include ChatGPT, Gemini, Gamma, Questionwell, Diffit, Brisk, and others.

Evaluation & Rebuttal Workshop for ESPs
2026-03-12 17:30 - 19:30 | NJEA Headquarters, 180 W. State Street, Trenton, New Jersey, 08608, United States
Gain a clear understanding of the evaluation process, reflect on feedback, and learn how to write a thoughtful rebuttal to ensure your perspective is included.

Teacher Leadership and The Teacher Leader Academy
2026-03-16 16:30 - 18:30
A teacher leader is someone who maintains their role as a teacher outside of a supervisory role and provides instructional leadership in their school community. Teacher leaders go by various titles and roles: instructional coach, professional development expert, school-community liaison, mentor, lead teacher, and many others. Teacher leadership is an evolving field, and so new roles and titles are established by different schools and districts all the time. Join us for an overview of the Teacher Leader Academy and the benefits of being a teacher leader.
