Passing of Dr. M. Jerry Weiss

Dr. M. Jerry Weiss

I am passing along the sad news that I received from my institution (NJCU) about the passing of Jerry Weiss. Many of you knew Jerry well and know how giving he was with his knowledge, time, and passion to the NJCTE community.

-Audrey Fisch, President, NJCTE

Dear Members of the NJCU Community,

We are saddened to advise of the passing of Dr. M. Jerry Weiss, Distinguished Service Professor of Communications Emeritus, who throughout his life made a profound influence on literacy here in New Jersey and the United States. Dr. Weiss passed away on March 12 — one month shy of his 95th birthday.

Dr. Weiss was a nationally recognized expert in the field of children’s and adolescent literature and a pioneer in the area of Whole Language. He taught at NJCU for 33 years before retiring in 1994. For many years Dr. Weiss coordinated the “Adolescent in Literature” series, a highly-regarded program he established. This series featured guest speakers composed of distinguished authors of novels for young adult and adolescent readers.

On October 5, 2006, NJCU dedicated the M. Jerry Weiss Center for Children’s and Young Adult Literature in his honor. This is now the Northeast’s premier review center and offers a unique literature collection that encourages the exploration of children’s and young adult literature and illustrations.

Dr. Weiss completed his undergraduate work at the University of North Carolina and earned his Master of Arts and Doctor of Education degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University. He taught English, language arts, and reading in secondary schools and colleges in Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and New Jersey.

He held numerous state and national professional offices including serving as president of the New Jersey Reading Association. He also held leadership positions in the National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association.

The New Jersey Reading Association presents an annual “M. Jerry Weiss Book Award,” affectionately known as “The Jerry.” Established in his honor in 1993, the distinction is given to a children’s, juvenile, or young-adult author selected by students throughout the state of New Jersey.

A long-time donor to the institution, Dr. Weiss’ gifts to the university have enriched the lives of countless students at NJCU and in the larger community.

A funeral service for Dr. Weiss was held on Monday. The family will hold a final Shiva virtual memorial tonight — Wednesday, March 17 — from 7-8:15 p.m. via Zoom.

Information on ways to donate to the M. Jerry Weiss Center in his memory will be shared at a later date. Join the Shiva service for Dr. M. Jerry Weiss.

Meeting ID: 979 1337 7316

Passcode: 1818

One tap mobile
+19292056099,,97913377316#,,,,*1818# US (New York)
Dial in 1-929-205-6099 US (New York)

Link to prayer book

NJCTE Presents Annual Teacher Awards

NJCTE is an organization that honors the work of teachers, with several annual awards.

The NJCTE Outstanding Educator of the Year Award is presented annually to an exceptional English/language arts educator — a dedicated, innovative, dynamic Pre-K-12 teacher, university teacher, supervisor, or administrator — whose activities have significantly and widely impacted New Jersey English language arts education. The selected educator becomes eligible as well for a coveted New Jersey Governor’s Award in Arts Education. The individual can be at any point in his or her career.

NJCTE is proud to announce that this year’s Educator of the Year is Effie S. Russell.

The M. Jerry Weiss Early Career Teacher Award is named in honor of Dr. M. Jerry Weiss, Distinguished Service Professor of Communications Emeritus at New Jersey City University. Jerry has had an important influence on literacy in New Jersey, as well as the greater nation. A nationally recognized expert in the field of children’s and adolescent literature and a pioneer in the area of Whole Language, Dr. Weiss taught at New Jersey City University for 33 years before retiring in 1994. This recognition is given to teachers at any grade level, P-12. Applicants must be currently teaching from one to five years.

NJCTE is proud to announce that this year’s M. Jerry Weiss Early Career Teacher Award winners are Narae Lee and Megan Lowe.

The Marcia Holtzman Preservice Teacher Award is named in honor of Marcia Holtzman, an instrumental contributor to NJCTE, whose service to the organization was long and extensive. Holtzman retired as an assistant superintendent of the Metuchen Public School system and remains active as a volunteer writing teacher in Metuchen. Preservice undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in teacher education programs are encouraged to apply.

NJCTE is proud to announce that this year’s Marcia Holtzman Preservice Teacher Award Winners are Madison Martin, Julia Pugliese, and Rachel Skerker.

Thank you to the educators who recognized our nominees’ great work and nominated them!

We are currently updating our application process for all awards. Meanwhile, please keep in mind the general criteria governing each award. We encourage you to honor others or yourself. Many teachers earn recognition but don’t always receive it. Here’s your chance to reward good teaching.

Are you an NJCTE member who is interested in serving on the 2020 NJCTE awards committee? If so, please email NJCTE President Audrey Fisch, NJCTEpresident@gmail.com.

 

 

Let’s Recognize Teachers’ Accomplishments

by Patricia L. Schall

Do you know teachers whose work calls for recognition? These teachers could be colleagues, friends, student teachers, or you! We invite you to nominate teachers whose work you respect or consider recognizing yourself for all the good work you do every day.

NJCTE honors teachers with the following awards:

The NJCTE Outstanding Educator of the Year Award is presented annually to an exceptional English/language arts educator — a dedicated, innovative, dynamic Pre-K-12 teacher, university teacher, supervisor, or administrator — whose activities have significantly and widely impacted New Jersey English language arts education. The selected educator becomes eligible as well for a coveted New Jersey Governor’s Award in Arts Education. The individual can be at any point in his or her career. Due date for application: March 1, 2019.

The M. Jerry Weiss Early Career Teacher Award is named in honor of Dr. M. Jerry Weiss, Distinguished Service Professor of Communications Emeritus at New Jersey City University. Jerry has had an important influence on literacy in New Jersey, as well as the greater nation. A nationally recognized expert in the field of children’s and adolescent literature and a pioneer in the area of Whole Language, Dr. Weiss taught at New Jersey City University for 33 years before retiring in 1994. This recognition is given to teachers at any grade level, P-12. Applicants must be currently teaching from one to five years. Due date for application: March 1, 2019.

The Marcia Holtzman Preservice Teacher Award is named in honor of Marcia Holtzman, an instrumental contributor to NJCTE, whose service to the organization was long and extensive. Holtzman retired as an assistant superintendent of the Metuchen Public School system and remains active as a volunteer writing teacher in Metuchen. Preservice undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in teacher education programs are encouraged to apply. Due date for application: March 1, 2019.

Check the NJCTE website for criteria governing each award, application requirements, expectations for awardees, and benefits. Note due dates. We encourage you to honor others or yourself. Many teachers earn recognition but don’t always receive it. Here’s your chance to reward good teaching. The awards will be presented at the NJCTE Annual Spring Conference.

CONGRATULATIONS TO M. JERRY WEISS EARLY-CAREER TEACHER AWARD WINNER: SAMANTHA SHANE

Please join all of us at NJCTE in congratulating Samantha Shane, one of the 2018 M. Jerry Weiss Early-Career Teacher Award Winners.

Samantha Shane graduated from Montclair State University. During her time at MSU, she was Vice President of Kappa Delta Pi and the Teacher’s Club scholarship, which recognizes preservice teachers for their work at the undergraduate level.  She also worked as a tutor off campus. At this tutoring center, she developed their English program. After graduation, she worked at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, NJ, and Sparta Middle School in Sparta, NJ. She is currently teaching at Morris County School of Technology. She is also pursuing her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and hopes to continue to grow and learn as an educator. She is especially focused on infusing technology in the English classroom.

We look forward to Samantha’s contributions to NJCTE and to her continued success in  infusing English education with technology.

If you have a teacher whom you would like to nominate for this or another NJCTE award, please check out the criteria and nomination process on our website.

New Jersey Council of Teachers of English, the New Jersey state affiliate of NCTE, the National Council of Teachers of English

Congratulations to M. Jerry Weiss Early Teacher Award Winner: Lisa Sambula

Please join all of us at NJCTE in congratulating Lisa Sambula, one of the 2018 M. Jerry Weiss Early Teacher Award Winners.

Lisa Sambula graduated magna cum laude from Hudson County Community College in May 2013. During her time at HCCC, she received numerous accolades for her academic achievement and service to the college and community. She worked as an Academic Mentor for HCCC’s Academic Support Services, which fueled her passion to become an educator.  Ms. Sambula was awarded HCCC’s Presidential Scholarship, a Who’s Who Among College Students award, and an Academic Mentor of the Year award. After graduation, she received a scholarship to attend New Jersey City University (NJCU), where she pursued a degree in education and graduated in December 2016. While at NJCU, Ms. Sambula received a Donald J. Silberman Award from the American Federation of Teachers.  Additionally, she was recognized with a certificate of achievement for her teaching internship, from the New Jersey Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.  Ms. Sambula is presently a proud member of the Union Hill Middle School Family, where she serves as a seventh grade ELA teacher.  She also teaches SAT preparation classes for the Community Education Department at HCCC.

We look forward to Lisa’s contributions to NJCTE and to her continued success in English education.

If you have a teacher whom you would like to nominate for this or another NJCTE award, please check out the criteria and nomination process on our website.

Posted by Audrey Fisch, blog editor for NJCTE

New Jersey Council of Teachers of English, the New Jersey state affiliate of NCTE, the National Council of Teachers of English

Congratulations to M. Jerry Weiss Early Teacher Award Winner: Bridget O’Neill

Please join all of us at NJCTE in congratulating Bridget O’Neill, one of the 2018 M. Jerry Weiss Early Teacher Award Winners.

Bridget O’Neill is in her fourth year as a high school English teacher and is currently teaching twelfth grade at Long Branch High School in Monmouth County, NJ. In addition to teaching college prep classes, O’Neill is also a head teacher for the Alternative High School Assessment Program in Long Branch which helps struggling learners meet state and district graduation requirements. In 2016, O’Neill completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Perak, Malaysia where she taught pre-university ESL classes at a public high school and founded a peer-leadership program that is in its third year and serves over 2,200 students annually. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Urban Educational Leadership and Curriculum Design and hopes to continue to seek leadership roles within the increasingly vital field of urban education.

We look forward to Bridget’s contributions to NJCTE and to her continued success in English education.

If you have a teacher whom you would like to nominate for this or another NJCTE award, please check out the criteria and nomination process on our website.

Posted by Audrey Fisch, blog editor for NJCTE

New Jersey Council of Teachers of English, the New Jersey state affiliate of NCTE, the National Council of Teachers of English