What are the beliefs, values and practices that must be at the core of the vision for equity in a school system?

Over the past year and a half, we have experienced equal amounts of disruption and chaos and transformation and innovation. We have learned quickly! Educators have been diligently committed to student outcomes, have pivoted instructional practices to engage learners in hybrid systems of learning, and have begun the work of assessing system structures to ensure equity for all learners.

The three sessions of the New Jersey Leadership Academy 8 will challenge leaders to begin “brave” conversations within their systems that lead to the development and implementation of actions, strategies, and systems for equitable standards-based instruction and support structures for all learners.


NJLA Series 8 Sessions

NJLA8 Session 1 children drawing a multicolored heart in chalk

Session 1: Accelerating High Quality Curriculum and Instruction for All Students

(PSEL Standards 3, 4 and 7 Teacher Leader Domains IV and V)

How is quality instruction made more “accessible” to historically underserved learners and what types of “opportunities” should all students be given this year to accelerate learning?

Opportunities abound in this new school year to engage students in active, customized, standards-based instruction with materials and resources that are representative of the students they serve. As leaders and teachers collaboratively redefine their curriculum to meet students where they are, this session is designed to assist participants in:

  • Creating a coherent definition and examples of high-quality curriculum and instruction;
  • Identifying key current data sources to support instruction; and
  • Building capacity for understanding how to create structures that ensure access and opportunities for deep learning for every student.

collaborative working together concept image

Session 2: Engaging Families in the Learning Process

(PSEL Standards 3, 5 and 8 Teacher Leader Domain VI)

How do we create collective ownership of the equity vision for all learners?

Developing sound partnerships and relationships with families to support the learning of their children is an essential building block for success for all students. As a result of the hybrid learning environments over the past school year, districts have revitalized their outreach to families and created pathways for even stronger connections with each other.

Participants in this session will be supported in:

  • Understanding the importance of the relationship between family engagement and improved student outcomes;
  • Uncovering elements of successful family partnerships that provide transparency into the learning process and encourage family input; and
  • Creating a warm and inviting environment in which parents are empowered to understand curricular expectations and have opportunities to honor the cultures within their communities to extend the learning experience.

Session 3: Embracing Culturally Responsive Practices

(PSEL Standards 1, 3 and 6 Teacher Leader Domain 1 and VI)

What are the inclusive practices that will serve to promote staff, student, family, and community success?

The time is now! Schools across New Jersey are relooking at equitable practices within their systems to ensure that all learners are treated fairly, respectfully, and with the empathy they deserve. Creating such a system requires a commitment to enhancing the culture of the school and district by understanding how our own biases, assumptions, and perspectives hinder or empower student success.

This session will assist participants in:

  • Defining culturally responsive practices;
  • Uncovering and removing barriers and challenges to equity within the system;
  • Understanding how to identify and implement the strategies that nurture, respect, and value the needs of all children and the broader community; and
  • Connecting SEL to culturally responsive practices and pedagogy to empower student success.

What is NJLA?

  • A professional learning opportunity that sustains learning over three sessions and provides a process for continuous improvement
  • Learning that encourages the sharing of expertise across leadership roles and responsibilities
  • Content connects actionable steps to the core attributes within the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) and the Teacher Leader Model Standards to strengthen leadership skills
  • Sessions developed and presented by current district and school-based practitioners with expertise in the content
  • Fully developed administrator PDPs aligned to the outcomes of the NJLA 8 sessions

Who should attend?

Superintendents and assistant superintendents, principals and assistant principals, supervisors, directors, college faculty, teacher leaders — in TEAMS or individually

Why attend?

NJLA 8 participants will engage in quality, engaging professional learning activities that leaders can apply immediately to their practice. Series 8 topics were selected based on educational priorities currently being discussed at the state and local level and on the identified needs of hundreds of leaders.


Registration Information

NJLA 8 sessions will be held synchronously online on the dates listed below. You MUST register for the three-day academy, choose a date and take Session 1 first, and then complete Sessions 2 and 3 in either order. All sessions are 9 am – 1 pm.

Register today!


Session 1: Accelerating High Quality Curriculum and Instruction for All Students

  • Dec. 8, 2021
  • Jan. 10, 2022
  • Jan. 12, 2022
  • Feb. 10, 2022
  • March 8, 2022
  • March 15, 2022

Session 2: Session 2: Engaging Families in the Learning Process

  • Jan. 6, 2022
  • Jan. 31, 2022
  • Feb. 1, 2022
  • March 4, 2022
  • March 28, 2022
  • Apr. 7, 2022

Session 3: Embracing Culturally Responsive Practices

  • Dec. 17, 2021
  • Jan. 27, 2022
  • Feb. 24, 2022
  • Feb. 28, 2022
  • March 31, 2022
  • Apr. 26, 2022
  • May 26, 2022

Sample Professional Development Plans (PDPs)


Related Links

For more information, please contact Vicki Duff at NJPSA/FEA at (609) 860-1200 or vduff@njpsa.org or Frank Borelli at NJASA at (609) 599-2900 or fborelli@njasa.net.


Testimonials from previous NJLA attendees:

Series 5, Cohort 6

Interactive and multi-dimensional. I learned new content, new instructional strategies, and new perspectives.
– High School Assistant Principal

Series 5, Cohort 6

Interacting and discussing with different colleagues from all over New Jersey to discuss solutions to build the capacity of educators to develop technology-infused instruction.
– Elementary School Assistant Principal