On June 19, 2021, Juneteenth was officially recognized by the United States as a federal holiday. The acknowledgment and observance is significant, especially for Black Americans who have been celebrating the holiday for more than 150 years.

Observing Juneteenth is important because the holiday represents the date Black Americans officially became emancipated. Many people associate the end of slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 - but that is not entirely factual.

Rutgers Alternate Route has awarded nearly 260 non-credit teaching candidates a micro-credential that allows them to showcase their proficiency as Reflective Teaching Practitioners. This badge recognizes candidates for successful completion of a year-long professional self-study experience during which second-year provisional teachers examine their instructional practices and the effects of their decision-making on student learning.  

I have been teaching math and science for a few years now in various settings - a private school, at the college level, and in my current position at a public high school in northern New Jersey. Through these various teaching experiences, I have discovered multiple approaches and techniques one can apply to motivate students to engage in the topics presented in class and to apply those concepts studied in class during laboratory, simulations and practical demonstrations.

In May 2022 we hosted a Twitter Chat addressing using a growth mindset to help increase student learning. Teachers who took part reported an increased familiarity with growth mindset research and left the experience feeling inspired with new ideas to incorporate into their classrooms. Prior to the chat and learning module, only sixteen percent of teachers felt very familiar with research on the topic. That percentage increased to seventy-two following the chat and module.

For LGBTQ+ youth, libraries represent a safe haven. A place to relax, browse resources, work on homework and find solace in a quiet space where patrons keep to themselves. For LGBTQ+ youth that do not have a support network or proper mentors to discover more about their identities and community, libraries can help fill those gaps with resources.