Having worked in the district for more than 30 years, we have seen less experienced personnel brought in to model best practices which really were not, which has caused a disconnect in our critical professional development programs. The incoming candidate should have the critical acumen to evaluate the structure of the district and see where administration needs to bring in expertise from outside the district and where relying on internal resources is preferable.

This is not to segregate children from mainstream classes, but to provide educational support to build grade and age appropriate subject matter skills while they improve their English reading and speaking. Students in our district need a reconstituted, strong bilingual curriculum. In our decades of classroom experience, we have seen students who know the answers being frustrated by the inability to express them. More time than is currently allotted is needed for our students to grasp enough English to then succeed in Math, Social Studies, and Science. It is not an excuse for poor performance, but a reality that students come to school disadvantaged by poverty and often lacking language skills. Accordingly, nearly three quarters of students report languages other than English spoken at home. The city’s Hispanic population is 78.1 percent, the second-highest percentage among municipalities in New Jersey as of the 2010 Census, ranked only below Union City.

Perth Amboy is one of five municipalities in the state where the percentage of children living in households with incomes below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level increased by at least 10 percentage points between 20. It will not be easy in a district that has struggled through a tumultuous relationship between teachers, the Board of Education and the superintendent of late, but a smart hire of a qualified candidate would go far towards healing wounds and keeping an emphasis on educating a vibrant, diverse student population.

The opportunity exists for a visionary educator-leader to work wonders in this challenging urban district. Caffrey will be returned to the district again or not, she has already announced her decision not to apply to be rehired for next year. Perth Amboy school superintendent Janine Caffrey has been put on paid administrative leave for the third time.

Paf reading series