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MHS Vice Principal Cory Delgado Is New UMS Principal
With the retirement of Montgomery Township Upper Middle School (UMS) Principal William J. Robbins in December, Cory Delgado, a vice principal at Montgomery High School (MHS), has been named by the Board of Education to take the helm at UMS. Robbins served as Montgomery’s Middle School Principal for 17 years. Delgado has worked in Montgomery Schools for over 16 years.
Delgado grew up in East Windsor, and now lives there with his wife and two sons. He first considered becoming an educator while he was in middle school. He explains, “I recognized that I simply liked school. In high school I had some amazing teachers and coaches that served as role models for me. I admired the enjoyment they experienced from their work and their passion for wanting to come to school each day. I feel fortunate that the influence these adults had on me as an adolescent led to such clear career goals.”
After graduating from Rutgers University, Delgado was a substitute teacher and football coach at Bridgewater-Raritan High School for one year. He says, “I had the privilege to work next to Bob Powell, the best physical educator I have ever met. He was a fantastic mentor and friend. Bridgewater did offer me a full time position in 1996 but I decided to come to Montgomery instead. I liked the fact that it was a growing district and seemed to be a forward thinking community. It was clearly the right decision.”
Delgado started as a physical education instructor at Orchard Hill Elementary School in 1996. Six years later, he moved to MHS. In 2009, he became a vice principal there. He has also coached several teams.
According to Delgado, his experience with lower and upper grade levels allows him to understand where middle school students are coming from and where they’re going to. “I recognize and appreciate both their developmental and instructional needs. Physically they are experiencing changes and are intensely concerned about it. Emotionally they ride a roller coaster each day, receiving and delivering messages to one another that can either invigorate or debilitate. Intellectually their brains are starving for knowledge, making it the right time to raise the bar academically. As learners they want to be active participants and they truly want to please their teachers but at the same time worry about whether or not they can meet the expectations we put on them.”
Regarding the legacy that he carries on from Robbins, he notes, “Bill Robbins and the staff at UMS are adolescent experts; they recognize the uniqueness of the middle school student. I will continue to foster a culture already established by them which allows the developmental needs to be met through the instruction. We will challenge all students to learn to potential and beyond. They will be led by a staff of role models who will remember to stop, listen and affirm the feelings of their students so that all feel known and valued.”
Delgado expresses his satisfaction with education thus: “The meaningful work we do on a daily basis has left me with no regrets.” Superintendent of Schools Earl Kim comments, “Cory Delgado has proven to be an educational leader, skilled communicator, and master relationship builder in the Montgomery Schools. I look for him to continue and extend the academic excellence and dedication to the whole child that has been the hallmark of UMS under Mr. Robbins’ tenure.”
The UMS Parent Teacher Organization will formally welcome Mr. Delgado to the school on January 17 from 6 pm until 7:30 pm in the newly renamed William J. Robbins Auditorium at UMS.
OPENINGS AVAILABLE AT RVCC CHILDCARE CENTER
Limited openings are available for children ages three months to four years old at the Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) childcare center. The childcare services are available to children from outside the RVCC community at competitive rates.
The Children’s Campus is located at RVCC’s Branchburg Campus and is sponsored by the College. It is licensed by the State of New Jersey and complies with all state licensing regulations.
RVCC, the first community college in the state to operate a childcare center, has provided early childhood education for more than 30 years. The center’s stand-alone facility, built in 1992, is designed specifically for the needs of young children. It offers five classrooms and two large playground areas adjacent to the building.
Class size is limited to provide for small groups supervised by state-licensed head or group teachers. Experienced teacher assistants ensure compliance with state-mandated adult-to-child ratios. RVCC students from many disciplines visit the classrooms for observations, practicums and service learning activities, providing additional individual attention for the children.
The Children’s Campus at RVCC follows The Creative Curriculum, a nationally and state-recognized curriculum for young children. The center focuses on hands-on exploration and multi-sensory activities that encourage the development of broad concepts and knowledge. Children are encouraged to learn at their own pace as they develop physical, social/emotional, cognitive, language and motor skills. Daily schedules and routines are consistent in order to provide security and encourage confidence, enabling the children to freely explore and interact with their classmates and teachers.
The center is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m., 12 months a year. Morning and afternoon snacks are provided; children must bring their own lunch. Children are registered on a semester basis throughout the year, with a minimum enrollment requirement of two days a week—full or half days.
The program is directed by Cathy B Griffin, MS Ed, who has more than 40 years of experience in early childhood education. For more information, call 908-231-8807 or visit www.raritanval.edu and go to Children’s Campus in the QuickLinks.
RVCC TO OFFER COURSES FOR FINANCE, ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONALS
Raritan Valley Community College’s (RVCC) Continuing Education (CE) division will be offering two financial courses through the Certified Management Accountant Learning Systems. The following programs will be offered at RVCC@Bridgewater, located at 14 Vogt Drive.
CMA Part I: Financial Planning will review performance management, professional ethics, cost management and forecasting. Participants should have an understanding of basic accounting principles before enrolling in the course. Classes will be held Saturdays, February 25-March 31, from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The cost per participant is $1,199.
CMA Part II: Financial Decisions will examine financial statement analysis, risk management and investment decisions. Completion of CMA Part I is not a prerequisite for taking CMA Part II. Classes will be held Saturdays, April 14-June 2, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The cost per participant is $1,399.
To register or for more information, contact Continuing Education at 908-218-8871 or visit www.raritanval.edu/ce.
RVCC PLANETARIUM SLATES SHOWS FOR ALL AGES IN MARCH
The Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) Planetarium in Branchburg will present a variety of star shows and lasers concerts in March for the entire family to enjoy. The following shows will be presented:
Black Holes, Saturdays, March 10, 17, 24, 31, 3 p.m.
Black Holes takes audiences members on a journey through one of the most mystifying, awe-inspiring phenomena in the universe: a black hole. The show—a new offering at the RVCC Planetarium—takes full advantage of the facility’s AllDome High Definition digital projection system. Participants take a virtual tour through space and explore the science and mystery of black holes: Where do they come from? Where do they go? How do we find them? Is there one on Earth’s horizon? The Black Holes show is partially funded by NJ Space Grant Consortium. (Recommended for ages 10 to adult)
Laser Light Waves, Saturdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 4 p.m.
Enjoy a laser concert featuring music by U2, Ke$ha, Moby and Lady Gaga. (Recommended for ages 8 to adult)
Winter & Spring Skies, Saturdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 7 p.m.
Examine the winter and spring skies and learn about the lion and lamb of March and how to locate the Big Dipper in the night sky. Find stars, constellations and more in this seasonal sky show.
Laser Queen, Saturdays, March 3 & 31, 8 p.m.
Enjoy a laser concert featuring a variety of songs by Queen.
Laser 80’s, Saturdays, March 10 & 24, 8 p.m.
Enjoy a laser concert featuring a number of tunes from the 1980s.
Laser U2, Saturday, March 17, 8 p.m.
Enjoy a laser concert featuring a variety of songs by U2.
Children’s Shows
The RVCC Planetarium is also offering the following shows geared specifically for children:
The Little Star that Could, Saturday, March 3, 1 & 3 p.m.
Travel with an average yellow star on his quest to get a “name” and a planet to call his own. A “cool” red star, a “hot” blue star, a dying star, double stars and the Milky Way Galaxy teach the Little Star some important things about being a star. Imagine Little Star’s surprise when he discovers that several planets rotate around him. The show offers a great introduction to the different kinds of stars in space, as well as the planets in our solar system. (Recommended for ages 6-12). Audience members may consider pairing this show with Twinkle Twonkle at the Theatre at RVCC, with performances at 1 and 3:30 p.m. For additional information, contact the Theatre Box Office, 908-725-3420.
Magic Tree House: Space Mission, Sunday, March 18, 2 p.m.; Saturday, March 31, 2 p.m.
Young star gazers join Magic Tree House characters Jack and Annie as they discover the secrets of the Sun, Moon, planets, space travel and more. Who can help them answer the questions posted by the mysterious “M”? The show is based on the same-titled, best-selling series of novels. (Recommended for ages 5 and older)
Space Shapes & Tycho to the Moon, Sunday, March 18, 3 p.m.
The program will begin with an exploration of shapes: Are the Moon and its orbit “round” like a ball, or more like a pancake shape? Play connect-the-dots with the stars to find triangles, squares and constellations. Fly around the solar system to learn about the planets. Then we’ll meet Tycho—a dog who doesn’t just howl at the Moon, he wants to go there. Blast off on an amazing ride and learn about night and day, space travel, the Moon’s phases and features of the lunar surface. Take a close up look at the Sun, watch the effects of gravity, see the Earth from space and watch meteors shoot across the sky. (Recommended for ages 5-10)
Tickets cost $6 for one show or $11 for two shows on the same day. Reservations are strongly suggested for all Planetarium shows. For additional information, call 908-231-8805 or visit www.raritanval.edu/planetarium.
RVCC’s main campus is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. Serving Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 40 years, the College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates. RVCC @ Bridgewater, located at 14 Vogt Drive, offers technical, trade, credit and non-credit courses.
The College is committed to offering a quality and affordable education through effective teaching, liaisons with the community’s businesses and state-of-the-art technology. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.
RVCC PLANETARUM SETS ADDITIONAL SHOWS FOR CHILDREN WITH AUSTISM, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Due to strong public interest, the Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) Planetarium has scheduled two additional showings of a special star show designed for families with children on the Autism spectrum or those with developmental disabilities. The shows are scheduled for Sunday, February 19, and Sunday, March 25, both from 4:30-5:30 p.m., at the Branchburg-based Planetarium.
The sensory-friendly show, which is appropriate for audiences of all ages, will provide a comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming to all families. During the show, the doors will remain open so children may freely leave and return if they choose. Lights will be left dim (instead of dark) and the audio will be lowered and kept at a consistent level. The sky show will include music, laser lights, stories and information about the planets, the Moon and constellations.
The show scheduled for Sunday, January 22, is sold-out.
Cost is $5 per person. Advance reservations are required. For tickets and additional information, call 908-231-8805 or visit www.raritanval.edu/planetarium.
Rambling Pines Day Camp Open House
Rambling Pines Day Camp will be hosting open houses on Sunday, Feb. 5 and Feb. 26, from 1 - 3 pm. Parents and children are invited to attend the open house, tour the facility and meet some of the staff members. Applications are being accepted for the 2012 summer season. Parents are encouraged to register as soon as possible to assure availability.
Rambling Pines is a family owned and operated day camp now celebrating its 37th season. Located on Route 518 in Hopewell, NJ, Rambling Pines offers an extensive camp program for children ages
3 to 15 and an exciting teen program for young adults, 7th through 10th grades. \ Transportation and lunch are included in the camp tuition.
For additional information or a brochure, call the camp office at 609-466-1212 or log onto our website at www.ramblingpines.com.
RVCC, WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY SIGN TRANSFER AGREEMENT
Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) in Branchburg and Wilmington University have signed a new agreement that will provide for the seamless transfer of RVCC students to the university with campuses in Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey.
The agreement will guarantee that students who graduate from RVCC with an associate degree in one of more than 20 different majors will be accepted into a bachelor’s degree program at Wilmington, providing they have completed the necessary requirements and have the appropriate grade point average.
“The new agreement with Wilmington University will offer our students a great opportunity to transfer a large number of credits and advance them on their path to completing a bachelor’s degree,” said RVCC President Dr. Casey Crabill.
According to the agreement, students may transfer up to 75 college credits to Wilmington University. They will then have the option of completing their bachelor’s degree online or at one of the University’s eight campus locations.
“This transfer agreement recognizes Raritan Valley Community College’s outstanding academic programs and will ensure their students a seamless transition to a four-year degree program,” said Wilmington University President Dr. Jack Varsalona.
Wilmington University is committed to assisting those Raritan Valley students who desire to continue toward their four-year college degree by providing a simple, degree completion transfer process. The University offers individualized attention to students and quality academic programs at an affordable tuition.
For additional information about the agreement, contact Paul Michaud, RVCC’s Director of Transfer & Career Services, 908-526-1200, ext. 8333.
Wilmington University is a private, non-profit university that offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of career areas. It delivers these programs online and at locations and times convenient to students.
Wilmington University’s main campus is located at 320 North Dupont Highway in New Castle, Delaware. The University also has a location in Maryland as well as five sites in New Jersey and seven other locations in Delaware. Many of the degree programs are also available in a 100% online format.
RVCC’s main campus is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. Serving Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 40 years, the College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates. RVCC @ Bridgewater, located at 14 Vogt Drive, offers technical, trade, credit and non-credit courses.
The College is committed to offering a quality and affordable education through effective teaching, liaisons with the community’s businesses and state-of-the-art technology. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL NURSING STUDENTS
VNA of Somerset Hills Supports Students Entering the Health Care Profession
BASKING RIDGE, NJ (January 26, 2012) – The Board of Trustees of the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Somerset Hills is now accepting applicants for its 2012 Nursing Scholarships. A $1000 scholarship will be awarded to two qualified Morris or Somerset County students planning to pursue a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN). Each year since 1991, the VNA has awarded college scholarships to students from Morris or Somerset County, planning to receive a degree in nursing. The scholarships are financed by proceeds from the VNA’s bi-annual Rummage Sale and other fundraising efforts.
“The VNA is proud to support all members of our community considering the nursing profession, including graduating high school students and those adults entering the field during a career change,” said Ann M. Painter, VNA of Somerset Hills President & CEO. “We are excited to offer this opportunity to all men and women considering such an important, challenging and rewarding future in the health care industry.”
Scholarship applications are available from the VNA of Somerset Hills’ website at www.visitingnurse.org or by calling (908) 766-0180 X 127. Applications must be received by April 20, 2012 and will be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee of the VNA of Somerset Hills Board of Trustees.
The Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills and its subsidiaries provide individuals and families with comprehensive, high quality, cost-effective home and community healthcare services, regardless of ability to pay, using partnerships where appropriate. It is a charitable, tax-exempt home health agency and hospice certified by Medicare, accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program and licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. For more information, visit www.visitingnurse.org.
Pushcart Players promote anti-bullying at Princeton Montessori School
The Pushcart Players from Verona, NJ, recently performed "Happily Ever After" at Princeton Montessori School. The students were encouraged by the cast members to notice where bullying occurred in the play, and they found plenty of such occurrences.
The message the students were left with: good things happen to good people. Find someone to tell if you are being bullied or ridiculed. Those who bully or are mean to others will be taken down at some point. Stand up for yourself and speak out. These messages were artfully incorporated into this variation on a much-loved ancient fairy-tale which origniated in Ancient China.
In the performance, the mean-spirited step-mother and step-sister were blatant in their cruelty to "Ella," demeaning her at every turn, forcing her to clean up after them, stealing her clothes from her body, and hiding her away when company (the Prince) came calling. Of course, she also had to clean the fireplace, and after getting ash all over her dress they decided to call her "Cinder Ella," laughing gleefully at this new nick-name. Poor Ella just didn't know how to overcome this constant assault.
Once the students began to recognize the story, they were able to anticipate the announcement of the Prince's ball, the fruitless attempt by the step-mother and step-sister to transform into palace-worthy beauties, and then the arrival of the beautiful golden (pumpkin) carriage which graciously carried a sparkling Ella along to the ball. No-one was surprised that the forgotten silver shoe fit only "Ella," and all was right at the end when the Prince asked for her hand in marriage.
The performance was an excellent fit for the school's current theme of A Community in Harmony
Campus News - Jan 2012
The Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul organization has just announced Cassie Russo, owner of CaRu Entertainment Dance Company in Pennington, NJ, as the new head coach and choreographer of the Philadelphia Soulmates dance team. Russo is a native of Belle Mead and graduated from Montgomery High School before receiving a double-major degree in Dance and Liberal Arts from DeSales University.
Savannah College of Art and Design
The following local residents have been named to the Dean's List at the Savannah College of Art and Design for fall quarter 2011:
Jade Brown of Belle Mead, Jordan Brown of Belle Mead, Kelly Larkin of Skillman.
MTSD wins College Board Award for Significant Gains in Equity and Excellence
367 School Districts Across the Nation Are Honored
Skillman, NJ — Montgomery Township School District is one of fewer than 400 public school districts
in the nation being honored by the College Board with a place on the 2nd Annual AP® Honor Roll, for
simultaneously increasing access to Advanced Placement coursework while maintaining or increasing the
percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP exams. Achieving both of these goals is the ideal
scenario for a district’s Advanced Placement program, because it indicates that the district is successfully
identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are likely to benefit most from AP coursework.
Since 2009, Montgomery Township School District increased the number of students participating in AP from
408 to 457 while maintaining an exceptional percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher.
Over 90 percent of students taking the exams earned a qualifying score (i.e., 3 or better). The majority of
U.S. colleges and universities grant college credit or advanced placement for a score of 3 or above on AP
exams.
“This recognition is especially meaningful to us because it is the direct result of our teachers’ beliefs
in maintaining excellence while increasing access to more students,” reported Earl Kim, Superintendent of
Schools. Two years ago, the district recognized that it was limiting access to higher level courses for too
many students and made deliberate attempts to broaden access in our middle schools and high school. It
also focused efforts on raising the floor for all students to increase the likelihood that all students would have
access to higher level courses in high school. “We still have a way to go,” continued Kim, “We have not
closed the achievement gaps for all sub‐groups, yet, but our schools are focused on this challenge at all
levels, and I’m confident that we’ll succeed. Our staff is extremely talented and committed to success for all
students.”
The 2nd Annual AP Honor Roll is made up of only those public school districts that are simultaneously
expanding opportunity and improving performance. The list includes 367 school districts across 43 states and
Canada. Pennsylvania led all states with 34 public school districts named to the 2nd Annual AP Honor Roll,
followed by Massachusetts and New York, both with 30.
“Participation in college‐level AP courses can level the playing field for underserved students, give
them the confidence needed to succeed in college, and raise standards and performance in key subjects like
science and math,” said College Board President Gaston Caperton. “The AP Honor Roll districts are defying
expectations by expanding access while enabling their students to maintain or improve their AP Exam
scores.”
Many U.S. school districts have focused on expanding access to AP courses as part of a strategy to
improve college readiness. While these efforts have resulted in more students earning scores of 3 or better,
in most districts these efforts also have resulted in more students earning scores of 1 or 2. Accordingly, there
has been a slight decline since 2001 in the percentage of AP students scoring a 3 or better, a decline that can
be expected in any program attracting a broader cross‐section of students.
Helping more students learn at a higher level and earn higher AP scores is an objective of all
members of the AP community, from AP teachers to district and school administrators to college professors.
Many are experimenting with a variety of initiatives and strategies to determine how to expand access and
improve student performance simultaneously.
“This school district has achieved something very remarkable. It managed to open the doors of its AP
classrooms to many more students, while also increasing the percentage of students earning high enough AP
Exam grades to stand out in the competitive college admission process and qualify for college credit and
placement,” said Trevor Packer, the College Board’s senior vice president of Advanced Placement and college
readiness.
Inclusion on the 2nd Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on the following criteria:
1. Examination of three years of AP data, from 2009 to 2011;
2. Increase in participation in/access to AP by at least 4 percent in large districts, at least 6 percent in
medium districts and at least 11 percent in small districts;
3. A steady or increasing percentage of exams taken by African American, Hispanic/Latino and
American Indian/Alaska Native students; and
4. Performance levels maintained or improved when comparing the percentage of students in 2011
scoring a 3 or higher to those in 2009, or the school has already attained a performance level in
which more than 70 percent of the AP students are scoring a 3 or higher.
School districts in which low‐income and/or underrepresented minority students (African American,
Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native) comprise 30 percent or more of the AP student population
have been highlighted on the Achievement List to recognize significant improvements in equity and quality
among the nation’s historically underserved student populations.
The complete 2nd Annual AP District Honor Roll can be found at www.collegeboard.org.
Kim To Resign June 30
Earl Kim, the superintendent of the Montgomery Township School District, has notified the Montgomery Board of Education that he intends to resign as of June 30, 2012. Mr. Kim shared his news with the District's staff on Wednesday, November 9, 2011. Mr. Kim will be assuming the position of Head of School for the Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama in Hawai'i.
While the Board of Education recognizes that the transition to a new superintendent can be an uncertain time, it wants to assure the community that it has already begun defining the process for seeking Mr. Kim's replacement. The details of the superintendent search will be explained more fully in the near future, but all stakeholders can expect to have an opportunity to share their thoughts with us.
In the meantime, the Board of Education strongly supports the work of Montgomery's leadership team in driving educational excellence for all of Montgomery's children. Mr. Kim's work in developing a board-approved strategic plan—re-aligning K-12 curriculum guides, developing K-12 common assessments, building consensus around standards for professional practice, using quantitative and qualitative feedback, and implementing teacher learning teams—are important for deepening the district's educational successes, and the Board expects that work to continue.
The Board of Education deeply appreciates Mr. Kim's outstanding service and wishes him much success in his new position.
Stuart County Day Graduate Travels to South Africa for UN Climate Change Negotiations
Abigail Borah, a 2009 graduate of Stuart County Day School in Princeton, NJ and a junior at Middlebury College will travel to Durban, South Africa this November for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Borah will represent SustainUS, a non-partisan non-profit organization promoting sustainable development and youth empowerment. Borah will join 14 other young activists to travel to the international negotiations with SustainUS. These youth collaborate with young people from around the world to pressure world leaders to adopt a fair, ambitious and legally binding treaty on climate change.
After consistently witnessing leaders fail to curb global warming, Borah came to the realization that “it would be the role of my generation to lead the way to carbon emissions reductions and a just, livable future.”
Borah took her first international leadership role last year when she attended the United Nations climate negotiations in Cancun, Mexico to advocate on behalf of young people. There, she was disappointed by the stalled progress.
“It is frustrating to see the effects of climate change already at work - rising temperatures, increased flooding, and more frequent freak weather events like hurricane Irene - and watch politicians ignore the direct consequences of their inaction”
Despite being disillusioned by the political process, Borah left the U.N. hopeful last year. “The solidarity and power I felt surrounded by other international youth at the COP- working to create policy recommendations, stage unified actions, and stand together with courage- makes me keen to return.”
While at the UN convention, from November 28 to December 9, Borah will work with over 1,000 young people from more than 75 countries to press international leaders for fair and equitable solutions to global climate problems.
Borah, 21, is a currently Conservation Biology major at Middlebury College. She is a co-founder of the Race to Replace campaign, a grassroots youth movement to replace Vermont's aging energy infrastructure with clean energy. She is an active member of the college’s Sunday Night Group, as well as a volunteer at the Middlebury College Organic Farm. She is excited to bring her knowledge of local politics and renewable energy to the international stage, and looks forward to engaging with her community upon her return.
Earl Kim to Take Head of School Position in Hawai’i
On November 9, Superintendent of Schools Earl Kim informed the Montgomery Township Board of Education that he was selected for, and has accepted, the Head of School position at the Kamehameha Schools’ Kapalama Campus in Hawai’i. Kim will finish the school year and leave the Montgomery Township School District (MTSD) on June 30, 2012.The Board of Education has already started the process of seeking a replacement for Kim. It also announced that it “deeply appreciates Mr. Kim's outstanding service and wishes him much success in his new position.”
Kim was born in Hawai’i and lived there until he left for Cornell University. He says, “I grew up on the other side of the island from Kamehameha, though I spent my high school years two valleys over [at the Iolani School], but I knew Kamehameha well.” Regarding his decision to take the Head of School position, he explains, “People in Hawai'i believed that I could help, so I accepted their offer. The only real consideration was where I could be of use.”
Kim describes Kamehameha thus: “Kamehameha is--has always been--a remarkable institution with its connection to one of the last Hawai'i Ali'ii (nobles); its public-private partnerships; and its commitment to educating native Hawaiians, orphans, and indigent children. Everyone at Kamehameha feels that they are a part of something larger than themselves--sort of like MTSD --and the schools enjoy autonomy from State mandates and political agendas.”
The Board cited the importance of “Mr. Kim's work in developing a board-approved strategic plan—re-aligning K-12 curriculum guides, developing K-12 common assessments, building consensus around standards for professional practice, using quantitative and qualitative feedback, and implementing teacher learning teams…for deepening the district's educational successes.”
Kim admits, “My greatest disappointment is leaving MTSD sooner than I would have liked. Our indicators suggest that our work is making a difference in the lives of students and more improvements are coming forward all the time from our teacher teams and principals. It's exciting to witness. I'm going to miss this wonderful collaborative endeavor. MTSD is a fantastic district all around.”
Delgado Designated as New Montgomery Upper Middle School Principal
The Montgomery Township Board of Education has chosen Cory Delgado, currently Vice Principal at Montgomery High School, to be the new Principal of the Montgomery Upper Middle School. Mr. Delgado replaces Bill Robbins, who is retiring after 17 years as the Middle School Principal.
Mr. Delgado has spent nearly all of his 16+ years in education in the Montgomery Schools. He began his Montgomery career as a Health and Physical Education teacher at Orchard Hill Elementary School for six years, before teaching at Montgomery High School for an additional six years. Mr. Delgado also served as the Supervisor of Health/Physical Education, K-12, before becoming a High School Vice Principal in 2009. During his time as a teacher, Mr. Delgado also served as a coach of golf, baseball, football and girl’s lacrosse.
On learning of his appointment, Mr. Delgado said, “It is an honor to be chosen to lead the Montgomery Upper Middle School, to inherit such a talented staff, and to serve our exceptional students. I look forward to joining the staff in helping the students maintain their focus on academic achievement, while they navigate their challenging adolescent years.”
Superintendent Earl Kim commented, “Cory Delgado has proven to be an educational leader, skilled communicator and master relationship builder in his tenure in the Montgomery Schools. I look for him to continue and extend the academic excellence and dedication to the whole child that has been the hallmark of the Upper Middle School under Mr. Robbins’ tenure.”
A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Exercise Science and Physical Education, Mr. Delgado has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Seton Hall University. He resides in Hillsborough with his wife Jennifer and his two sons, Joey and AJ.
Earl Kim Finalist for Head of School Position in Hawaii
On September 13, Superintendent of Schools Earl Kim informed the Montgomery Township Board of Education that officials from the Kamehameha Schools (KS) in Hawaii had contacted him about a Head of School position they were seeking to fill at their Kapalama Campus. Kim later traveled there twice at KS’s expense to discuss the position in person. He has been selected as one of three finalists by KS.
Kim said he was not actively looking for another position when KS contacted him. He explains, “This job came my way.” The Board affirmed its confidence in Kim as Superintendent, stating that it “strongly supports the goals and directions Mr. Kim has developed and would like to see him continue as Montgomery's educational leader.” It said that Kim’s work was “important for deepening the district's educational successes.”
The Board also announced its decision to start looking for a replacement for Kim in case he is selected for, and takes, the position in Hawaii. Previously, hiring a superintendent has taken up to one year.
Kim concurs, “The Board is prepared to begin a search if need be; they seek to maintain the course we started with our strategic plan…and I’m not searching for jobs. I believe that the Montgomery School District is on the right track and has excellent people in place from its Board to its teachers, from its school leaders to its support staff.”
When asked to name an accomplishment which has made Kim proud, he noted, “We’ve identified, are teaching to and assessing outcomes that matter—outcomes that go beyond tested achievement – such as college persistence.” Improvements he would like to continue working toward include better internal and external communication, and closing the gap between high achievers and under-performers. He points out, “All of our students aspire to great things, to attend great colleges and universities…and it’s our mission to help them to achieve their wishes and dreams.”
Kim was born in Hawaii and attended the Iolani School in Honolulu. He left Hawaii when he started at Cornell University. Kim’s contract with Montgomery expires at the end of June of 2013.
KS are Christian schools and accept one out of every eight applicants. Priority is given to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry. Up to one quarter of the students accepted are foster children, have no or only one living parent, or are indigent.
The other two finalists are based in Hawaii. One is Headmaster at the KS campus in Maui, while the other is a professor at the University of Hawaii. KS expects to make a final decision in early November.
Rocky Hill resident Co-Authors Book on Education
We were sent a copy of an interesting new book from Rocky Hill resident Carm Catanese, who, with James Deneen, wrote "Urban Schools," from Rowan and Littlefield Education. Deneen is retired from ETS, where he was a program director for Advanced Placement. Catanese is co-founder of Successful Schools, and retired from Sarnoff Corp., where he was an executive VP.
Although it may appear they are comparing oranges and apples, they look at two wildly different school districts from a statistical angle and draw some interesting conclusions. The school districts are Montgomery schools, and Trenton schools, from which I happily escaped after second grade.
Montgomery schools had in 2009 an average cost per student of $15,148; Trenton kids cost $21,790 that same year. The average Montgomery teacher was paid $56,400. A Trenton teacher was paid $78,051.
They show that NJ schools generally, are the most expensive in the country, but fail, as most who complain of costs do, to account for why that is. The short answers to that very complicated question are: home rule, the fact that NJ has the most expensive real estate in the country (from which all blessings flow), that NJ has the highest per home income in the country (although sometimes, Connecticut wins out on that one), and principally, the fact that NJ is the only state of the 50 which relies totally 100% on property taxes to cover all of municipal costs.
None of these issues will ever be changed by any politician currently alive in NJ, at every level great and small, who are skilled and practiced liars to a man and woman, and who promise the electorate each fall as they invariably do, "Vote for me and I will see that your property taxes are lowered." Why do voters fall for that rubbish? Vote them out. But I digress. The authors' concerns are not the structural changes necessary to reduce taxes, but, since they complain of the perceived tax burden, it is important to say why that isn't necessarily a fact. What is a fact is that there is no perceptible relationship between cost and product.
Average class sizes, instruction time, computer access were very similar, but Trenton teachers averaged 14 years experience, to Montgomery's seven years. And yet, which got better results?
At Trenton Central High, 52% were "less than proficient" at every level, compared to 3% at MHS in language arts. It was worse in math: 80% were "less than proficient" at Trenton, 7% at MHS.
The authors looked at the other markers for performance and noted the vast gulf in many areas, from the point of view of SAT scores, AP students, and so on. They also pointed out a number of issues that contribute to Trenton's failure that Montgomery students haven't had to face, such as violent street gangs creating an unsafe environment: a simple walk home from school could get you killed. That tends to be a damper on performance.
They also put the teacher's unions in a harsh light, though they are easier on them than our current governor, who appears to be pathological on the subject. Many of the difficult sociological phenomena which account for the profound differences between Montgomery and Trenton get a look, such as race, the level of education achievement of student's parents, crime, parental expectations, available jobs for high school graduates, and languages spoken at home, among the many factors cited.
It isn't just Trenton schools that are singled out; they also look at other urban districts across the US. They cite structural barriers to change. It reminds me of the Dell Computer corporation, which had been in Dallas, TX. The head of the company complained to whoever would listen of the poor quality of high school graduates that he was seeing as employees. However, when he got his property tax bill, which was paying, at least in part, for their education, he balked. When the tax authorities refused to lower his bill, he moved to a different county with lower taxes, thus depriving Dallas of needed funds for local schools.
The authors suggest that a solution is in Charter schools, which have been tried in Trenton, with negative results, and suggest some of the alternatives for desperate parents, such as private schools, magnet schools, virtual schools, home schooling, and religious schools.
And they offer other structural solutions, none of which have to do with Montgomery, and which are more likely to be of interest to educational professionals. To any of them, this book will be a valuable resource.
MHS Student Star of Indian Music Scene
Shyamala Ramakrishna has been singing for as long as she can remember. But this 16-year-old Montgomery High School student isn’t just singing along to the radio, she’s a pro at carnatic music. “It is a musical tradition that is thousands of years old, based on melody, and is very highly developed and constantly evolving in technique and compositions,” explains Shyamala. “It also has tremendous scope for improvisation.”
Shyamala was introduced to carnatic music by her mom who is also her teacher and singing coach. “When I was around three years old my mom asked me if I could repeat a verse after her and was impressed when I could.” Shyamala took her singing career to the next level and started competing. “I won my first competition when I was about 7. I think it was the second competition in which I had participated, and it was a more beginner/intermediate level competition.”
After winning her first competition, she continued to win competitions until she was in 9th grade when she decided to focus more on her performance and technique. Shyamala found a peer group to help her with her signing style and boost her motivation. “Carnatic music is actually quite a widespread interest among South Indians in New Jersey, states Shyamala. “The fact that we also made great friends contributed to my motivation to practice, because often we would practice all together in ‘jam sessions’”.
Shyamala practices everyday if she can, but having her mother as her teacher and coach has its pros and cons. “It can be stressful because it’s hard to differentiate between the two. I’ll be singing something to myself and my mom will correct me.” On the plus side, Shyamala can practice anytime she wants as often as she wants. “It works for us.”
Since then Shyamala’s really taken off. She flew to San Jose, California on Sept. 24, 2011 to compete in "Carnatic Idol", an Indian spin off of American Idol. “It was really intense” recalls Shyamala, “Although the TV lights were very hot, and we were in the same room for hours at a time, my tiredness melted away when I learned that I had won.” Shyamala received a recording contract with an Indian company called Carnatica and will be featured in two full-length concerts. One will be held in Cleveland Ohio during the St. Tyagaraja Aradhana in April 2011. And the other will be held in December during the prestigious Chennai Music festival season.
“The best thing about winning the competition was the wealth of opportunities granted to me, like the CD recording and the concert slots. I feel really honored to be receiving such grand prizes, and it only makes me want to work harder to deserve them.”
Despite all of her singing success, Shyamala is still a little unsure about the future. “That’s the burning question,” states Shyamala, “but I’m going to go to college to get a solid education and a job first.” Shyamala is even contemplating eventually teaching carnatic music just like her mom taught her. “To make it big I’d have to move back to India but I think I like America too much for that.”
Aside from singing, Shyamala participates in Model UN, Youth and Government, and enjoys reading, hanging out with her friends and playing tennis. However, carnatic music will always be her greatest passion.
MHS Grad Working on Mars Rover Curiosity
Many people look up at the night sky with wonder, but one local man has turned that interest into a career. Rob Zimmerman, who grew up in Rocky Hill and graduated from Montgomery High School (MHS) in 2003, has been an electrical engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for three years. And for the past two years, he has been working on the NASA Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover Curiosity, which is scheduled to launch for Mars on November 25.
Zimmerman says he knew he wanted to become an engineer “at a very young age, probably 8 or 9. When I was very little, one of my first memories was my dad explaining to me how computer memory works.” His father, Ed Zimmerman, had been a computer programmer. “He gave me a few of his books and let me read them on my own time. I remember reading them over and over and trying to understand them.” This sparked his interest in computers and technology. At 14, he began programming and researching via the internet for his father.
Zimmerman’s love of space came from his mother, Randie Zimmerman. He recalls, “My mom gave me a large world atlas book full of pictures of the planets, the sun, and tons of information about each. I remember looking through the pictures fascinated by the size of everything and how far away it was. It's pretty exciting to know that I now work at the place that built the spacecraft that took those pictures.”
After graduating from MHS, Zimmerman went to Cornell University. He explains, “I focused on electrical engineering because I wanted to learn more about the hardware side of computers and electronics.” While there, he was part of the CUSat (Cornell University Satellite Project) team that built a twin pair of satellites, which use a sophisticated version of GPS technology developed at Cornell.
Regarding CUSat, Zimmerman notes, “It felt like a full-time job. I did most of the design, implementation, and test of CUSat's power system. Eventually, I wound up taking the project manager role and leading the team during the build of the two flight units.” The satellite pair he worked on won the fourth national collegiate satellite competition, Nanosat-4. They will be carried into space onboard the SpaceX rocket Falcon 9, which is scheduled to head to the International Space Station in March 2012. While in space, the satellites will use GPS to perform experiments on orientation and location.
Zimmerman received a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 2007, and stayed at Cornell to earn a Master’s degree in aerospace engineering in 2008. Then, he says, “JPL hired me straight out of Cornell. CUSat allowed me to skip ahead a few years and jump in to doing real, valuable work at JPL since I already had relevant industry experience.”
Being hired by JPL in Pasadena was a dream come true for Zimmerman. He says, “I knew it was the place I wanted to be. I was excited about Southern California and working on interplanetary spacecraft, and I knew my parents would be proud.” Less than a year later he started working on the MSL project, which is run by JPL staff located at the California institute of Technology.
Getting onto the MSL project was no small feat despite Zimmerman’s extensive qualifications. “It surprised me that even after working at JPL for 6 months, I still had to apply and do three interviews within JPL to get on the MSL project. It was pretty intense! Especially for young people, getting on to bigger flight projects is still competitive even within the lab.” When he first watched the MSL team at work, he noticed that “They had some of the same problems that we had struggled through on a smaller scale on CUSat, but they had everything down to a science and were amazingly direct and efficient.”
As the power and pyrotechnics system engineer during construction of the rover, Zimmerman helped model the power usage and generation and battery charging that would occur during the activities planned on Mars’ surface. He explains, “The goal was to make sure we could do all the science experiments that we had set out to do, and also to come up with an efficient way of stringing them all together. Pyro[technic] devices are used on MSL during entry, descent, and landing to jettison pieces of the spacecraft that are used to keep the rover safe and land it on Mars.”
Zimmerman was also a systems engineer during the integration and test phase, confirming that the rover met all of the design requirements. He explains, “One of my biggest tasks these past few months was developing and executing a test where we went through the landing sequence - without doing actual deployments or thruster fires - with all of the normal support equipment removed to check for any electrical interference. We ran the test on the actual flight hardware over a couple of long, 12-14 hour days.”
Currently, Zimmerman is training to work on power operations at the ground command center in Pasadena during Curiosity’s nine month flight – or cruise - to Mars. He explains, “Cruise includes the time from liftoff at Kennedy Space Center through just before the start of the Mars landing sequence.” MSL will be powered by a solar array and a set of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, and his job will include managing and maximizing battery life and orienting the spacecraft so the array receives enough sunlight. He is also preparing for spacecraft turns and maneuvers.
Curiosity has already been shipped to Cape Canaveral, Florida for its launch. As for Zimmerman, “I will be in Pasadena at the mission control center here at JPL for launch. Unfortunately that means I may be working Thanksgiving, but I'm sure we'll bring in some turkey sandwiches or something. I'll be on console watching the power system for launch, and also for the first week or so as we transition the spacecraft over to normal cruise operations.”
Zimmerman recommends hands-on projects and room to experiment for aspiring engineers. “Get involved in something outside normal classes. Joining a project and actively taking on responsibilities taught me more than any single class could. A student-run project lets you make a lot of good mistakes and teaches you to deal with real-world problems that don't always have clean answers.” He adds, “A lot of what I learned working on CUSat’s power system is directly applicable to what I do now on MSL.”
For more information on NASA’s MSL and the rover Curiosity, go to http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/.
For more information on CUSat, go to http://cusat.cornell.edu/.
Kim To Stay at MTSD
On Tuesday, September 13, 2011, Earl Kim, the superintendent of the Montgomery Township School District, advised the Board of Education that he had been contacted about job opportunities in his home state of Hawaii. In light of the fact that his contract expires in less than two years, Mr. Kim traveled to Hawaii (not at district expense) to further discuss these job opportunities, believing that these preliminary discussions would remain private. It was disclosed in the September 19, 2011 Honolulu Star Advertiser that Mr. Kim was named one of three finalists for a job as the head of school for the Kamehameha Schools.
Mr. Kim remains very committed to being the educational leader of the MontgomeryTownship School District. He explained to the Board of Education that he was not pursuing any job opportunities prior to this call, but that inquiries of this kind do occasionally arise. Given that other educational institutions are interested in Mr. Kim and his contract expires on June 30, 2013, the Board of Education believes it is prudent to explore the timing and process for hiring a replacement superintendent, should that become necessary in the next year or two. Based on the Board's past experience with hiring a superintendent, this process can take 6 – 12 months, so early preparation and planning is needed.
The Board strongly supports the goals and directions Mr. Kim has developed and would like to see him continue as Montgomery's educational leader. Mr. Kim's work in developing a board-approved strategic plan—re-aligning K-12 curriculum guides, developing K-12 common assessments, building consensus around standards for professional practice, using quantitative and qualitative feedback to improve practice and implementing teacher teaming—are important for deepening the district's educational successes, and the Board expects that work to continue.
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