Alternate Route alum Sharon Phillips originally went to school for Information Technology, but found herself in education because of the raw talent her colleagues saw. 

For years, Phillips worked in coding, designing programs and training staff, but after the dot-com bubble burst in the early 2000s those in tech went from cherry-picking the job market to being thrust into cutthroat job competition. 

During this time, Phillips switched gears. She moved to New Jersey and focused on being a mother to two boys. That’s when education began creeping into her life. She became heavily involved in their school, from helping in the classroom to being part of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Phillips took to education so well that other people began to notice.

Educators now have a year of virtual learning experience under their belts, and looking back on this somber anniversary, it is inspiring to see how these educators have risen to the occasion. 

These incredible groups of people had a huge learning curve ahead of them. While there are plenty of educators that are comfortable with existing and emerging tech, many had to learn multiple new programs, and do so fast. 

To get an idea of the challenges educators have faced and the lessons they have learned, we turned to a few of our Program Advisory Council members. This group of individuals represents the best in New Jersey education and we are proud they are part of the Rutgers Alternate Route community. Overall, these esteemed professionals have been impressed with their colleagues’ resilience, willingness to adapt and dedication to student success.

Spring is the time for fresh starts. If landing a new job is one of those starts, we congratulate you on taking that step! 

While many educators and districts are looking forward to summer breaks, finding top-tier talent is always a priority. 

There are plenty of New Jersey school districts that are currently hiring for Spring, with a diverse list of job options for new and veteran educators. We’ve connected with our partners and scoured the internet for current job openings available in New Jersey. 

If you have a job posting you’d like us to share, please email altroute@gse.rutgers.edu  with the subject line “Position Announcement.”

Black history is an integral part of our nation’s history, and, as our culture gains more cultural awareness, it’s increasingly important that we continue to grow that focus and awareness beyond just February.

For this Black History Month, we wanted to know how Alternate Route candidates are incorporating Black history in their curricula. To do so, we sent out a survey to participants who shared the measures they are taking in the classroom. We loved seeing all the responses and how Black history fits into every subject area

Twenty years ago, New Jersey lawmakers set out to reform the way public schools address the history, accomplishments and experiences of Black Americans with The Amistad Bill. The bill, which became law in 2002, requires New Jersey public schools to incorporate into social studies and other content area lessons  materials and texts that “integrate the history and contributions of African-Americans and the descendants of the African Diaspora.”

The bill also formed the Amistad Commission, which ensures schools are adequately teaching Black history, contributions and experiences. This is done through members that survey school materials, help maintain a consultant directory and act as a liaison between textbook publishers, legislators, schools and resource organizations.