Over the past two weeks, TEAM Schools teachers and students have been featured on two national newscasts. The first was ABC’s World News Tonight, which featured Rise Academy teacher Mariel Elguero as one of ABC’s “Persons of the Week.” Ms. Elguero, who teaches fifth grade English Language Arts, is featured in the new book describing Teach For America’s findings on what makes a great teacher (article here).

You can watch the ABC segment, titled “Secrets of America’s Greatest Teachers,” by clicking here.

And this past weekend, the CBS Evening News ran a segment on KIPP, featuring students and parents from TEAM Academy. The segment features one TEAM family and a handful of our students speaking to the commitment that is required in climbing the mountain to and through college.

Share this video by emailing the link:  http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6276217n&tag=api

Watch this incredible video on ABC World News featuring Ms. Elguero and her students at Rise Academy.

Watch now >

Hello TEAM and Family, here’s the official word on school tomorrow (February 27):

SPARK Saturday school is cancelled
TEAM 8th grade Saturday trip is cancelled
Rise Saturday school is cancelled
NCA Saturday school is cancelled

Enjoy the snow, everyone!

Please enjoy this inspiring video about our schools, just released by Plum TV. This is one of the more comprehensive pieces that’s been done on TEAM Charter Schools. Congratulations to Ms. Nuñez, Mr. Reagans, Mr. Hill, and several hard working students like Avery for some great quotes.

Watch now >

Georgetown Teaches For America
Dane Petersen | January 17, 2010

“Joanna Belcher (C’03) taught fourth grade at O.S. Hubbard Elementary School in Alum Rock, a school district in East San Jose, Calif., during her time with Teach For America.

Her interest in teaching started at Georgetown, when she taught at an elementary school in southeast Washington during her first year. That led to her having the same group of children from second to fifth grade as part of the Heads Up/AmeriCorps program during her four years at the university. Her commitment didn’t waver after final exams.

“During the summers I lived in the neighborhood where my kids lived, which gave me the opportunity to get to know my students’ families,” she says. “… I still think of my students. My frustration and the demeaning and inequitable education they received at a school that stood within view of the Capitol building propelled me to join Teach For America and remains my motive.”

Belcher notes how her professors, including Porterfield, supported her throughout her Georgetown career.”

Read More >

Glen Rock natives both teach and learn from urban students
Jane M. Dalton | Glen Rock Gazette | January 15, 2010

“I love being a Teach for America corps member because I have a built-in support system who understand how difficult yet rewarding this adventure has been,” she said. “I live with two other Newark corps members, so having roommates who understand the time commitment and energy it takes to teach is very comforting.”

Pollack also credits “seeing optimism and potential in my students” with keeping her motivated as a new teacher.

“At SPARK Academy our students know and can tell you that they will be attending college in 2022. There is a true culture built around a love of learning that makes me excited to go into work every day,” she wrote…

“The students need a teacher who is willing to work long hours, plan extensively, give out their cell phone number, support their students inside and outside the classroom and hold them to the highest standards,” she wrote. “Fortunately, I couldn’t see myself working anywhere else.”

[Read More...]

The latest TEAM Charter Schools annual report is now available. Click here to download it and learn more about our students and schools.

By David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger

December 15, 2009, 7:01PM

After years of borrowing classroom space and at times operating without desks and chairs, the students of Newark Collegiate Academy cut the ribbon on their new school today, and were welcomed by one of the country’s most influential thinkers.

“You are representing not just the academy, not just Newark, not just America,” Cornel West said today to a roomful of students, teachers, and policy makers. “You are representing the best of the human spirit.”

[Read more...]

Photos | Video

Success From Newark to Rwanda

By Caroline Walker

“It would be too easy to make this story about young kids in an under-served community seizing a charter school’s promise for a better future.

Problem is, the story isn’t about youth hardship and resilience, it’s about just plain awesome kids.

The 1,000 young people at the four TEAM Charter Schools in Newark, NJ have opted for a top-of-the-line education that demands more time, energy and brainpower than any public school — and promises tireless support from teachers and faculty in return…”

Continue reading >

Last week, Governor Jon Corzine, Mayor Cory Booker, NJ Education Commissioner Lucille Davy, and West Ward Councilman Ronald C. Rice participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony marking the opening of our first elementary school, SPARK Academy.  Over 250 parents, supporters, and guests filled the gym at the former St. Rose of Lima building where SPARK’s 100 five year-olds now attend kindergarten.

Click here for the cutest video you’ve ever seen.  It’s impressive, especially considering that our five year-olds have only been with us for a few weeks.

Click here for the video that was quickly posted on Governor Corzine’s website.

Some quotes from the ceremony:

Governor Corzine (video here): 

“Believe me, if I could have a hundred TEAM Academies from K through 12, you would find Jon Corzine standing next to them, making sure that happens because every child ought to be focused on 2022 or 2023 [the year they will go to college].”

Mayor Booker (video here):

“I want every single parent in our city to have quality options.  It’s not a crazy dream, it’s something that we can do.”

“We are going to get there … to the point where this school is not the exception but the rule.”

Click here for more videos.

As mentioned in the introduction of Gov. Corzine that day, TEAM Schools and many other charter schools serving low-income students in New Jersey benefited tremendously from the Governor’s School Funding Reform Act.  In addition to the extra funding, Commissioner Davy has smoothed the way for high-quality charter schools to grow, granting us expansion from just over 300 students when she came into office, to approval to serve over 2400 students over the next five years.   We’re deeply grateful for their commitment to Newark’s children.

Many thanks to the supporters who made this day possible, and the amazing founding staff and students of SPARK Academy.