Crafting an accurate system for evaluating NJ teachers
Charlotte Danielson may not be a recognizable name to the general public, but the Princeton-based consultant is the architect of a framework for observing and evaluating teachers that has been the gold standard in schools across the country.
By one count, a third of New Jersey school districts use the Danielson method in their own evaluation systems, focusing on its criteria for effective teaching. Danielson divides those criteria into 22 components across four domains: preparation, classroom environment, instruction, and professional responsibility.
As the Christie administration now moves to create a statewide teacher evaluation system, the Danielson framework is one of the programs being offered to 10 pilot districts. Of course, Gov. Chris Christie is also putting a heavy emphasis on student achievement measures such as state test scores for the rest of the rating, a component not in Danielson’s system.
Last week, Danielson spoke with NJ Spotlight about the latest push for better evaluation nationwide — both strengths and pitfalls, including some worries about how New Jersey is pursuing its reforms. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
Molly Shannon Monday, September 26th @ 7:00pm Actress from Saturday Night Live, Molly Shannon, will sign her new book: Tilly the Trickster
Justin Tuck Tuesday, September 27th @ 4:00pm New York Giants Defensive End, Justine Tuck, will sign his new book: Home Field Advantage
Ralph Branca Tuesday, September 27th @ 7:00pm Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Fame Pitcher, Ralph Branca, will sign his new book: A Moment in Time. Books available Sept. 27th
Appearing authors will only autograph books purchased at Bookends and must have valid Bookends Receipt.Availability & pricing for all autographed books subject to change.Bookends cannot guarantee that the books that are Autographed will always be First Printings.Autographed books purchased at Bookends are non-returnable.Please call the store for details.
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-445-0726
>Under the Sea : 9th Annual Mary Therese Rose Fundraising Dinner Sunday, October 23, 2011 4 pm to 8 pm Sheraton Crossroads, Mahwah
It’s an undersea Calypso party at the 9th Annual Mary Therese Rose Fundraising Dinner. Ease into the evening with the sounds of the Caribbean during the hors d’oeuvre and cocktail hour. Then enjoy dinner and featured artists, The Tropical Beat Steel Drum Band. Cool down at the end of the evening with our delicious ice cream sundae dessert bar! Kids can make their own music video and learn what is really under the sea from our guest marine biologist at the touch tank in this year’s kids’ room, open from 4:00 to 5:30 PM. Wear your best beach cabana-wear and we’ll see you on October 23rd for some cool times Under the Sea!
This year’s entertainment is an authentic Steel Drum band, and has played for the Trinidad and Tobago Division of Tourism. Accompanying the band will be Limbo and Stilt dancers to entertain and dance with the crowd. This year’s event is Beach and Cabana wear mandatory. You may also dress up as a sea creature. Little Mermaid, Saving Nemo and Sponge Bob Square Pants characters will be in attendance.
The Mary Therese Rose Fund was established to provide therapeutic care and fun to the special needs population cared for at the Kireker Center for Child Development, an outpatient facility of the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ. In addition to assisting families with unreimbursed medical expenses, the fund also allows these children to enjoy the fun experienced by those in their age group. Therapeutic horseback riding, dancing, music, art, yoga are only a few of the activities offered through the fund to these children.
Each year The Mary Therese Rose Fund helps families pay for needed equipment like orthotics, braces, and standers. It also funds activities such as horseback riding that are therapeutic and brighten the lives of these special kids. It is the goal of The Mary Therese Rose Fund to help these special children reclaim some of the simple joys of childhood denied them by their disabilities.
Your tax-deductible contribution will benefit local special needs kids through the Mary Therese Rose Fund. Reserve your tickets for this special event by calling Jack Crilly at 201-394-5940 or e-mailing jackcrilly@hotmail.com, $160 per Adult $80 per Child, $1200 per Table Of 10
>Ridgewood CAN! Weekend Kicks Off Friday by Paul Aronsohn on Sep 22, 2011 • 12:00 am The Ridgewood News
By Kelly Ebbels
Ridgewood‘s Community Access Network (CAN) will host a variety of events this weekend to heighten the level of awareness of those with disabilities.
The third annual Ridgewood CAN! weekend begins Friday, Sept. 23, with a variety of in-school activities, including film showings and group discussions. At the elementary level, the schools will incorporate their Open Circle programs into special discussion groups, where a safe and open space is created for students of all abilities to express what is on their minds. Ridgewood High School (RHS) will incorporate discussion of disability awareness into its Freshmen F.O.C.U.S. program, with attention to the school’s offerings for students with different needs.
President Barack Obama will raise money in early October with a Missouri businessman whose company benefited from a $107 million federal tax credit to develop a wind power facility in his state.
Tom Carnahan, a scion of Missouri’s most prominent Democratic political family, is listed on Obama’s campaign website as a host of a $25,000-per-person fundraiser to be held in St. Louis on October 4.
Continue Reading His energy development firm, Wind Capital Group, was helped by a sizable credit authorized in the stimulus, for an energy project in northwest Missouri.
Republicans argue that it’s inappropriate for the Obama campaign to raise money from a donor who has benefited directly from the Recovery Act.
Missouri Republican Party executive director Lloyd Smith compared the situation to the Solyndra affair, in which the Obama administration reportedly rushed federal support to a green-energy firm that subsequently collapsed
>Fannie Mae cited for failing to stop robo-signing
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE RECORD PRINT | E-MAIL By DEREK KRAVITZ
WASHINGTON — Fannie Mae missed chances to catch law firms that were illegally signing foreclosure documents, and its government overseer did not take the right steps to ensure that Fannie Mae was doing its job, according to a federal watchdog.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s inspector general said in a report on Friday that Fannie Mae failed to establish an “acceptable and effective” way to monitor foreclosure proceedings from 2006 to early 2011. The FHFA then failed to ensure it was complying with demands that it clean up its programs.
Mortgage industry employees, including law firms working for Fannie Mae, signed documents they hadn’t read and used fake signatures on foreclosure cases across the country. The practices, known collectively as “robo-signing,” resulted in a suspension of foreclosures last fall and a probe by all 50 state attorneys general into how corners were cut to keep pace with the crush of foreclosure paperwork.
>Obamacare HHS rule would give government everybody’s health records By: Rep. Tim Huelskamp | 09/23/11 3:29 PM OpEd Contributor
It’s been said a thousand times: Congress had to pass President Obama’s health care law in order to find out what’s in it. But, despite the repetitiveness, the level of shock from each new discovery never seems to recede.
This time, America is learning about the federal government’s plan to collect and aggregate confidential patient records for every one of us.
In a proposed rule from Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the federal government is demanding insurance companies submit detailed health care information about their patients.
>Chris Christie Reconsidering 2012 Run, Will Decide in Days Friday, 23 Sep 2011 05:10 PM By Jim Meyers
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is reconsidering his decision not to enter the 2012 presidential race — and he says he will let top Republican donors know within days about his plans, Newsmax has learned.
During the past few weeks, several leading Republican donors and fundraisers have been urging the popular Republican governor to reconsider his decision not to run and to enter the GOP primary.
These Christie supporters note that significant GOP support has remained on the sidelines of the primary fight. Many leading fundraisers have yet to commit to any current primary contender, including frontrunners Rick Perry and Mitt Romney.
Newsmax has learned that the effort to draft Christie culminated in a hush-hush powwow held in the past week with Christie and several notable Republican billionaires.
A source familiar with the meeting suggested that Christie seemed inclined to enter the race but said he needed more time.
Fashions and support from many Ridgewood Business! A Fashion Show featuring several children and adults with disabilited; at Ridgewood Public Library Auditorium at 6:30pm Music; 7:00pm Fashion Show. All are welcome!
Hi, Pj!
I just returned from the first Fashion Show-Ridgewood CAN! It was one of the first activities in Access Ridgewood III. The event showcased fashions worn by people of all abilities and was extremely touching to watch. The pride on the faces of both the models and their family members was worth more than money can buy! As each model made it up the ramp to the stage, they were met by a smiling Mr. Arohnson who presented each one with a flower. It was a wonderful event that gave many an opportunity that they might never have gotten anywhere else! Kudos to all involved!
An exemption that could be included in the proposed Bergen County pay-to-play ordinance is causing further debate.
The ordinance, which was most recently publicly discussed at the Sept. 7 freeholder meeting, would compel those who sign contracts with the county to submit a more thorough disclosure of campaign contributions than earlier versions did. But the latest version also would allow a significant number of county contracts to be exempt.
The exemption included in the revised pay-to-play ordinance states that the proposed regulations would “not apply to those contracts awarded pursuant to a fair and open process.” According to state law, a “fair and open” process includes at least several provisions
The process must include public advertisement in newspapers or on the entity’s website, with “sufficient time to give notice.” The contract process must also be publicly opened to bidding and publicly reported when awarded, according to State of New Jersey guidelines. (Bonamo, Hackensack Chronicle)
>Admari Tea Tasting! Saturday 1pm-7pm Remember the tea shop in midland park… Its back in a new format…Adrienne will be headed here Saturday talking and tasting tea. Stop by to say hi and try the new format of KickAssam, Tranquil and Balance. You will love it!
SPECIAL BOAR’S HEAD TURKEY $4.99/LB
Patrick & Sons “A Unique Place to Shop”
Super Cellars Discount Wines, Spirits & Beer
The Cheese Shop Now @ 32 South Broad Street
John P Gray “Son” Patrick & Sons Super Cellars 32 South Broad St Ridgewood,NJ 07450 (p) 201-444-0012 (f) 201-444-3070 (e) john@supercellars.com
New Jersey is taking some small steps toward building a network of charging stations for plug-in electric vehicles throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, joining 10 other states and the District of Columbia in the an effort to come up with a development plan.
The U.S. Department of Energy yesterday awarded nearly $1 million to jump start the venture. Officials hope it will eventually enable electric cars to drive from northern New England to Washington, D.C.
The initiative comes at a time when New Jersey has already made a tentative effort to build a network of charging stations for plug-in electric vehicles, which are expected to be rolled out by automakers in the coming months. While several bills providing incentives to build the stations at malls, rest areas, and other locations have been acted on by the legislature, none have been enacted into law. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
>Underground explosion closes streets in Ridgewood FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Ridgewood police sealed off Franklin Avenue between Cottage Place and Chestnut Street this morning after a small underground explosion displaced a man-hole cover at the corner of Franklin and Oak.
Chief of Police John Ward told The Ridgewood News the incident, reported just past 9 a.m., involved a Public Service Gas & Electric (PSE&G) electrical junction beneath the street. He said it was believed the event caused transient power outages reported by some Eastside residences, and briefly knocked out the traffic light at the intersection of Linwood and Van Dien Avenues. No injuries were reported and power at the affected locations was quickly restored by backup electrical systems, Ward said.
