Classroom Close-up NJ received an Emmy from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of NATAS. This is the 14th Emmy for the NJEA production.
Winning in the category Education/Schools- Program Feature/Segment
2014-15 Teacher of the Year – Mark Mautone appreciates the small successes that he sees everyday with his students at Wallace Elementary School in Hoboken. Working in special education since 1995 when he began his career as a one-to-one aide for a child with Angelman Syndrome, Mark currently teaches preschool students with autism. He is a strong proponent of using technology to education students with special needs. He also considers parents as valuable partners in the success of his students.
Also nominated were:
Earth & Space Science – The Paterson Great Falls is not only a tourist attraction; it is also a great place for students to learn first-hand how to solve real life problems. Ahmed Salama, trigonometry teacher at the PANTHER Academy, shows students how to measure the height of the falls by using trigonometric functions and Parallax. The students then visit the planetarium to demonstrate how they use parallax to measure the distance from Earth to other planetary objects. The school was formerly associated with NASA; and they hope to regain their relationship once more so they can allow students more opportunities.
Special Show 3 2014-15
Lego Machines – Creative teachers often use toys and gadgets to help enhance learning. At General Charles G. Harker School in Gloucester, Silvia Cancila uses Lego to teach her fourth graders about scientific methods. The students use education-focused Lego kits to demonstrate and understand the applications of simple machines like levers, pulleys, and wheels. They make observations, conduct experiments and use results in a purposeful way. The project, which is aligned with Core Curriculum Standards, was made possible through mini grants from the Gloucester & Salem Community Advisory panel.
EcoLancers Livingston High School is the only New Jersey high school team competing in the international Shell Eco-marathon competition. The Ecolancers are a group of Technology and Design students who have been challenged to design and develop a vehicle that would get over 1000 miles per gallon. The team reflects the high level education New Jersey schools provide students and how the teachers of Livingston High School are preparing students for STEM-related careers. All aspects of the design and the procurement and fabrication of parts have been completed by the students
Outdoor Classroom – As part of a cross-curricular project, students from several different classes are designing and constructing an outdoor classroom at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology. The carpentry, CAD, environmental science, art, architectural design and television classes all collaborated on this project. The environmental science students wrote a grant and were awarded $10,000 from Lowes to build the outdoor classroom and native plant arboretum. The NJ Pinelands and Atlantic County Soil Conservation worked with students in the design and site analysis. The students are also tagging plants that can be scanned with an iPhone to bring up the plant type/botanical name and use.
Parson Pre-K – A summer program at Parsons Elementary has helped make preschool children ready for school in five short weeks. The children went from not knowing the basics, like colors or numbers, to kindergarten ready thanks to the initiative and dedication of educators in North Brunswick. For parents who cannot afford preschool, this program makes all the difference to keep them on par with middle and higher income families. Parsons educators want to encourage every school to have pre-school programs and mandatory kindergarten.
Show #15 2014-15
Treaty of Versailles – Randolph High School students re-enact the Treaty of Versailles with a day-long, student driven history project. Teacher Jon Misiunas coordinates nearly 90 students who research, represent different countries, debate and negotiate alliances and borders, reminiscent of what occurred after World War I. At the end of World War I, the peace treaty ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers.
An Immigrant’s Story – As an undocumented student in Bayonne, NJ, Sofia Medina faced legal uncertainties and limitations within the educational system. Despite her stellar grades, she faced the uncertainly of getting into college. Many four-year colleges have policies refusing to admit students without documentation. Thanks to the support of teachers at Essex Community College, Sofia is now attending John Hopkins University.
Against all Odds – Fox Beyer, affectionately known as “Prof” by his students at Whippany Park High School, beat the odds and turned his challenges into victories. Born with cerebral palsy and only given a 25 percent chance of living, Beyer turned to sports and education and became not only a mentor but also an inspiration to his students and colleagues.
Peer Tutoring – The North Brunswick Township High School peer tutoring program is a contributing factor to the latest Charter Education Award. About 30 students are certified through the National Tutoring Association. Because of the all the additional pressures of testing, students need all the help they can get, and no better way than from their peers. The students gather in a lobby during lunch for the tutoring sessions.
