Supporting Families, Strengthening Professional Development, and Fostering Equity October 19, 2021

Dover School District Update: Supporting Families, Strengthening Professional Development, and Fostering Equity

The October 19, 2021, Dover School District meeting highlighted the impactful work of the new community liaisons, upcoming professional development opportunities, and the district’s focus on culturally responsive education. These efforts demonstrate the district’s commitment to supporting families, empowering staff, and creating an equitable learning environment.

Community Liaisons Making a Difference

Since the start of the school year, Dover’s new community liaisons have been working hard to connect families with critical resources. One of their first initiatives was hosting the Navigating Hope Bus at Belmont Building.

• Navigating Hope is a mobile outreach program providing social services to Morris County residents, including:

• SNAP (food assistance)

• Medicaid

• Utility assistance

• TANF

• WIC

The results of the first event were impressive:

• 59 SNAP applications completed

• 13 housing applications completed

• 6 Medicaid inquiries

Due to the program’s success, Dover Schools will host the Navigating Hope van monthly for the next four months, with plans to reassess afterward. These services are available not only to school families but to the broader Dover community, furthering the district’s mission of community engagement.

In addition, the community liaisons collaborated with Rutgers Mental Health Clinicians in a shared knowledge meeting to discuss roles and identify ways to provide mutual support. These groups will continue meeting monthly to plan future events and services.

Professional Development for Staff

The district is preparing for a robust November 2nd Professional Learning Day, which will provide staff with training in key areas:

• Dual Language Program: Enhancing educators’ ability to deliver high-quality instruction in dual-language classrooms.

• Writer’s Workshop and Dyslexia Training: Supporting literacy development with evidence-based strategies.

• Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Equipping teachers with tools to support students’ mental health and well-being.

For secondary staff, the district is partnering with the NYU Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools to host a workshop on culturally responsive and sustaining (CRS) education. Key workshop themes include:

• Understanding the conceptual foundations and significance of CRS education.

• Exploring what CRS curriculum looks like in practice.

• Highlighting how CRS curriculum supports equitable education.

This is the first in a series of professional development opportunities aimed at equipping staff with the skills and knowledge to create inclusive and equitable classrooms.

Looking Ahead

The Dover School District’s focus on community engagement and professional development reflects its commitment to meeting the needs of students, families, and staff. By addressing social services, fostering culturally responsive education, and providing targeted training, the district is building a supportive and inclusive environment where every student can thrive.