WNTI Presents Leadership Matters

On this episode: a discussion on leadership in inclusive education.  

Join Tim Frederiks and Fran Gavin as they welcome doctoral student Jarlyn Veras into the studio to ways to best support the growong Multi-Lingual (ML) population in New Jersey public schools.

Join Tim Frederiks and Fran Gavin as they welcome doctoral student Carie Norcross-Murphy into the studio to learn about the program Capturing Kids Hearts and the ways it is used to support students in the North Warren Regional School District.

Join Tim Frederiks and Fran Gavin as they welcome doctoral students Courtney Kopf and Jamie Barker into the studio to discuss ways that Sparta High School is building student leadership skills and capacities.

Join hosts Tim Frederiks and Fran Gavin as they welcome doctoral student Christine Voorhees and her special guest into the studio to discuss the unique characteristics of the Middle Level learner and ways educators can support their growth.  

Doctoral student Michal Ferenc takes over the Leadership Matters microphone discussing ways Mendham Township Schools are dealing with internet safety, with his special guests.

Sports can be a valuable pathway to develop leadership skills.  Doctoral student Mike Tobin welcomes three of the most successful college and high school basketball coaches to the show to discuss leadership through an athletic lens.  Fran Gavin and Tim Frederiks serve as show hosts

Educational Consultants are a valuable part of normal school district operations.  Join hosts Tim Frederiks and Fran Gavin as they welcome doctoral student Priscilla Ortiz into the studio to lead a lively discussion on how Montague School District is leveraging the value of outside expertise.

Join hosts Fran Gavin and Tim Frederiks as they welcome Jason Rothman and his team from Hunterdon Central High School facilitate a lively conversation surrounding Artificial Intellience and its use in a high school setting.  Jason is a doctoral student here at Centenary. 

Patty Klebez is the Principal at Reverend Brown School in Sparta and a doctoral student at Centenary University.  Join hosts Tim Frederiks and Fran Gavin as they welcome Patty and her team into the studio to discuss all the great initiatives happening at RBS!

Join hosts Tim Frederiks and Fran Gavin in the studio as they welcome Centenary doctoral student Jason Kupcha and his team of professionals from the Phillipsburg School District's Early Childhood Program discussing challenges and strategies related to young children's behavioral and mental health.

Since the pandemic many schools have been searching for additional ways to meet the social and emotional needs of students. Creative scheduling is one way to address those needs at no cost to the district. Tonight, join hosts Fran Gavin and Tim Frederiks as they welcome doctoral student Kristen Kries into the studio to talk about the ways Branchburg Township Schools have used creative scheduling to implement programs that have a positive impact on student social and emotional needs and in turn learning.   Guests: Mike Clark and Nicole Orzel as well as Matt Zimmerman, Sam Rueger and Sarah Debraski

On this episode: great teachers help create great students. Ongoing professional development keeps teachers up-to-date on new research related to student learning. Join hosts Tim Frederiks and Fran Gavin as they welcome doctoral student Lakshmi Voruganti to the studio along with her special guests from the Trenton School system -  Narayany Kesava Iyer, High School Special Education Teacher, Dr. Tilottama Bose, Vice Principal, and  Shanika Allen, Middle School Math Teacher.

Join hosts Fran Gavin and Tim Frederiks as they welcome Centenary doctoral student Krista Wayne to the studio.  Krista welcomes guests Vanessa Mace and Angela Sodtalbers to the show for a robust discussion on SEL and canine therapy.   Pandemic learning has affected students across the country and world.  In March of 2020, schools were forced to shift to virtual learning while families were quarantined.  Over the course of the next few years, students were slowly brought back into their school buildings, but instruction was modified to accommodate the requirements of social distancing, mandated by the state.  The Lopatcong Township School District has made it a priority to focus on social and emotional learning this year, and new elementary school principal Krista Wayne, has incorporated social emotional learning into the weekly schedule for the first time.  She and the school counselor, Angela Sodtalbers, have recently implemented the Peekapak program, a social emotional learning program that also collects student data.  In addition, Krista Wayne has brought a certified therapy dog and his handler Vanessa Mace to the school.           

On this episode: a conversation moderated by doctoral student Shannon Benson.

Join hosts Fran Gavin and Tim Frederiks as they welcome doctoral students Ken Fugowski and Maria Dunbar into the studio to discuss Career and Technical Education in NJ High Schools. They are joined by special guests Dr. Michael Rossi, Superintendent - Lenape Valley Regional Schools, Ms. Margaret Widgren, Principal - Jefferson Township Middle School and Dr. James Pedersen, Superintendent - Essex County School of Technology

Join hosts Fran Gavin and Tim Frederiks as they welcome doctoral student and Kittatinny HS Princial Brian Bosworth into the studio for a discussion with Brain Thomas. Brian Thomas has been coaching basketball in northern New Jersey for decades. While owning and operating BT Basketball out of Sparta, he has been able to gain a unique perspective on today’s youth ranging from first graders to college, including how it has changed over the years. He has been able to take that into schools as a presenter for many years now and speak to them over the course of three-day workshops. Whether speaking to middle or high school students, Brian is able to converse with the students in a way to allow them to open up in front of their peers in challenging topics such as peer pressure, communication, empathy, self-awareness and much more. Brian went to Sparta High School where he scored 1,000 points, was high honor roll, National Honor Society and more. Brian went on to play basketball at the University of Rochester while gaining a psychology degree. Whether on the court or in the classroom, Brian’s passion is guiding, coaching and opening the eyes of both students and athletes to see what they can really achieve.

Join hosts Fran Gavin and Timothy Frederiks as they welcome doctoral student Sarah Northrop and her guest, Lydia Stiles, into the studio. During the last few years, Lydia has won numerous awards as a teacher of Science in the Denville School District and has also served as the District Green Team Coordinator. Her awards include 2020 ANJEE Environmental Educator, 2021 Denville Good Scout Award, and 2022 Denville Public Schools Staff Member of the year. Recently, she has relocated and is continuing her love of science education on the outskirts of Acadia National Park in Maine. For more information about Centenary University, visit www.centenaryuniversity.edu.

Join hosts Fran Gavin and Tim Frederiks along with Centenary doctoral students Ken Russo and Chris Ireland as they welcome educator and author Shawn Adler to the studio. Shawn formerly taught English an d Psychology at Cliffside Park High School and is currently a 10th-grade English teacher at Science Park High School in Newark as well as an adjunct professor of composition at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Shawn has edited three volumes of student experiences throughout COVID-19 titled: • The Class of Covid-19: Insights from the Inside • The Class of COVID-19: Second Wave, and • The Class of COVID-19: Unmasked

Join hosts Fran Gavin and Tim Frederiks along with Centenary doctoral students Cynthia O'Brien and Mala Chakraborty a as they welcome educators MaryBeth Guidi & Antonia Zangara to the studio. Educators lead by example and are an important role model in their students’ lives. Critical thinking, multitasking, communication skills, confidence, commitment to the well being of their students, empathy and a sense of humor are some of the qualities that define a good educator. Constantly practicing these skills in their everyday work lives makes educators the perfect leaders. Moreover an educator's dedication, selflessness, and commitment to a cause help him/her eventually evolve into a teacher leader in school and outside. This shift is transformational as it gradually helps them bring about phenomenal changes in thought while also starting a movement in their own small way.