When financial educator Yanely Espinal started her third-and-fourth-grade teaching career in Brooklyn, she didn’t have the resources or awareness to be financially literate. Her experience echoes that of many professionals, particularly educators. 

Rutgers Alternate Route had the pleasure of featuring Espinal as a guest speaker at the 2021-2022 kickoff meeting for our Diverse Teachers for Diverse Schools initiative. During the virtual meeting, Espinal shared general tips on financial planning and goal setting and encouraged attendees to consult recommended financial planning resources to advance  their financial literacy. 

Equity in learning is key to student success. In order to create an equitable learning experience, though, educators must create an equitable environment where all students feel safe to be themselves. In October, LGBTQ+ History Month reminds us exactly how important it is to cultivate these spaces.

Hispanic Heritage Month traditionally honors the contributions of famous achievers of Spanish, Mexican, Caribbean, Central American and South American heritage. It’s equally important to recognize the contributions of lesser-known local achievers of Hispanic descent whose accomplishments are also noteworthy.

Many of these local achievers are working in classrooms leading change while helping students thrive academically and personally. They’ve left other professions to serve as teachers, bringing with them unique backgrounds and experiences that help them inspire their students daily.

And, at a time when districts nationwide are working to diversify their teaching staff, these educators are answering the call to provide representation and high-quality education to students of all backgrounds. Many of their lived experiences reflect the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data indicating that Latinx students are the least likely in the United States to have a teacher who looks like them. As teachers, they are actively working to change this statistic one classroom at a time.

Rutgers Alternate Route proudly presents six teachers making a difference in school districts in our state. Learn about their journey to change lives through teaching while addressing the demand for an increasingly diverse teaching force.

"Professional learning must go on" should be the collective slogan of New Jersey educators. Their passion for sharpening their skills and knowledge to better serve students has not waned despite the pandemic, and education organizations across the state of New Jersey have responded with opportunities for supporting that drive.  As in previous years, the Rutgers Alternate Route Program has made it easy for New Jersey teachers and leaders to identify PD opportunities for the fall season. The below list of offerings are hosted by state-based professional associations, local universities and grassroots education groups. The majority of workshops, conferences and trainings are free and low-cost; AND MANY ARE VIRTUAL! A select few may require financial investment from your district.

September 15 kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month, which recognizes the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 20.9 percent of New Jerseyans identify as Hispanic or Latinx (the gender-neutral term for Latino/a), making up a sizable portion of our state’s population. 

Our teachers and candidates know well that classroom instruction goes beyond lectures and worksheets. Their challenge is to find ways to get students excited about learning, while also helping them retain the new material. In fact, incorporating retention strategies is just as important as the material being presented. Without a focus on retention, students risk forgetting previously learned skills and concepts. By only utilizing short-term memory, students often struggle when quizzed for comprehension weeks or months later.

Our Alternate Route candidates are fortunate to learn from some of the best educators in New Jersey. During our candidates’ time in the Alternate Route program, they develop life-changing relationships with their mentors, receiving advice they carry with them throughout their education careers. 

We often hear how mentors have helped their mentees succeed, but what if we shared the positive impact mentees have had on their mentors? 

There are many misconceptions about the typical Alternate Route candidate. Here is an overview of actual candidates, using data from the Rutgers Alternate Route teaching program.

Experience is one of life’s best teachers, and our Alternate Route candidates receive no shortage of experience as they go through our program. Our courses are structured to have a focus on hands-on, real-world experience - giving our candidates a supportive space to learn, practice and improve. 

Often, some of the best wisdom comes from past candidates, who offer a wealth of information based on their personal experiences going through the Alternate Route program. We value this insight and ask our candidates to share their personal insight with incoming candidates. 

One question we always have them answer is “What did I learn from this experience that will help me in the future?” When we received responses from our 2021 candidates, we were amazed at the wealth of information these educators were willing to share. 

To help prepare those gearing up to teach their first lesson, we’ve provided advice from the people who have been there

Recently, Rutgers Alternate Route hosted a virtual panel on how to pass the edTPA,the State-mandated teaching performance assessment required for teaching certification in New Jersey. The assessment is used nationally and measures the skills and knowledge of new and aspiring teachers, providing Alternate Route candidates a valuable opportunity to demonstrate their competency in the classroom while building a reflective teaching practice.