Superintendent's Corner Column

Voices United: Fostering Excellence Through Diverse Perspectives

February 28, 2025

"A culture is strong when people work with each other, for each other. A culture is weak when people work against each other, for themselves." Simon Sinek

Last week, members of our Community Leadership Council met at Memorial Middle School for a think tank and to catch up on district-wide happenings. The Council was established in Spring 2024 as a way to facilitate meaningful discussions and reflection on fostering a more equitable and inclusive learning environment.

Following a robust program & initiative update from Fair Lawn High School student leadership, the group split into breakout sessions to take a closer look at strengths and potential for growth in three focus areas:

Curriculum/Instruction
School Climate/Culture, and
Family/Community Engagement.

We were especially keen to hear from students, parents, community representatives, and religious leaders on the Council, who noticed FLPS’ strong link to the community, proactive communications, and a diverse range of student opportunities. Your perspective from the “outside looking in” is valued and appreciated. Expanding volunteerism and mentorship between students/alumni and boosting word-of-mouth for school activities were just some of the proactive growth ideas brought to the table.

Continued thanks to each and every member of our Community Leadership Council – we value your insights and the time spent to attend this mid-year meeting. We look forward to catching up again in the coming months.

Sincerely,

Dr. Rui Dionisio

Superintendent of Schools

Fair Lawn Board of Education Welcomes

Julie Kossoy as Its Newest Member

The Fair Lawn Board of Education on February 27th witnessed the swearing-in of a new member, Mrs. Julie Kossoy.

Congratulations to our Board of Education. We look forward to your insights and contributions as we work together to benefit our students and the district.

The next BOE meeting will be held on March 13, 2025, at Edison School in the Eugene M. Banta Public Meeting Room (Room 19).

The State of Our Schools

During the February 27th Board of Education meeting, we presented our comprehensive State of Our Schools Update, showcasing the remarkable progress toward our district goals. View the presentation here to discover how our exceptional teachers, dedicated support staff, and administrative team are collaboratively advancing student achievement with valuable Board of Education guidance.

ART SHOW RESCHEDULED

For nearly two decades, Fair Lawn Public Schools has celebrated our students’ many talents with the annual district-wide Art Show. An immense point of pride for our community, the show is an important moment to come together to highlight creativity and expression. We recently learned that our planned venue is temporarily unable to accommodate our needs at this time, and as such, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the opening of the Art Show (originally slated for this upcoming Monday, March 3) while we secure an alternate location. We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to find a new date and location, and we look forward to celebrating our students’ creativity together soon.

MIT President, Fair Lawn Alum Dr. Sally Kornbluth Visits FLHS

Fair Lawn High School STEM Club students, advisors, and district administrators were honored to welcome back Class of 1978 alum Dr. Sally Kornbluth on February 14. Dr. Kornbluth, who currently serves as the 18th President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, shared insights and colorful anecdotes about her life and storied career, which led her from Fair Lawn to Cambridge, Mass. As someone who pivoted from her initial career choice (political science to biology), Dr. Kornbluth is a strong advocate of students exploring a wide variety of classes, clubs, and programs in college and beyond. Check out this highlight video from her visit here.

Student Athletes Shine Bright in News Articles

FLHS athletes Austin Peluso & Harrison Talman were recently highlighted in two fantastic news stories. TAPinto’s feature on Peluso talks about his positive influence on the varsity basketball team, the love of the game, and a strong support system of coaches and family.

The North Jersey Sports piece delves into Talman’s cancer journey and determination to return to the wrestling mat. We are so proud of Talman’s resilience and strength - he was recently cleared on February 10 and back to competing with his varsity teammates on Valentine’s Day.

Varsity Wrestling Celebrates Wins On & Off The Mat

In addition to Harrison Talman’s comeback, Fair Lawn wrestling has had some notable victories over the last few weeks. First, big congratulations to senior Brody Bogues on a milestone achievement of 100 career varsity wins! Bogues and six fellow teammates have advanced to the NJSIAA regional tournament, which begins today and finishes Saturday. The top four finishers at each tournament qualify for the state championship in Atlantic City. Lastly, big kudos to Assistant Coach Jamie Pisacayne, named NJSIAA District 6 Coach of the Year just this week.

Spring Musical Season Arrives in Fair Lawn

If you’re looking for a taste of Broadway but don’t want to head to the city, look no further. Students at TJ, Memorial, and the High School have been hard at work on their spring musicals and are ready for the spotlight.

Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming! TJMS kicks us off with “Finding Nemo, Jr.,” which premiered last night and runs through Saturday. Tickets are available at the door!

MMS’ production of “Mean Girls, Jr.” is expected to be so fetch! You’ve got two chances to catch the performance – March 7 (@ 7 pm) & March 8 (@ 6 pm). Grab your tickets at the door.

Take a chance on the music of ABBA as cast and crew at FLHS present “Mamma Mia!” March 20-23. B uy your tickets online here.

TJ Students Serve Philanthropy at Annual Volleyball Tourney

Giving back through healthy competition was the name of the game at TJMS last week. The annual two-day TJ Cares Tournament - which wraps the volleyball unit in PE - allows each grade to battle out sets with creative team names and colorful costumes. Principal Mike Weaver says an optional donation raised over $4,000 and will be divided evenly across four non-profit organizations: St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Peter T Foundation, Charlie Landers Foundation, and JacksonStrong Foundation.

Ramapo College

Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership

2025 COHORT

Dear Fair Lawn Community,

The Fair Lawn Public Schools is thrilled to present a remarkable opportunity that aligns with our mission to advance education and support the professional growth of esteemed educators for learning, teaching, and leading.

We are excited to introduce the second-year partnership between Ramapo College and Fair Lawn Public Schools towards a Masters of Arts in Education Educational Leadership (MAEL), hosted in Fair Lawn. This program is designed to empower passionate educators like yourself to make a lasting impact through learning and leadership as you earn a NJ Principal and Supervisor Certificate.

Program Overview:

NJ Certificate of Eligibility for Principal (36 credits): Equipping you with the necessary credentials for principal roles.

Post-Masters NJ Supervisor Certificate Program (16 credits): Completion in Summer I & II for further career enhancement.

Cohort & Hybrid Model Classes: Taught by outstanding educational leaders in the Fair Lawn Public Schools, offering flexibility and convenience.

Accelerated Option: Complete your MA in just 2 years or accelerate it to 1 year, tailored to your needs.

Affordable & Flexible: Benefit from discounted tuition, tuition reimbursement, payment plans, and financial aid options to make your education accessible.

Next Steps:

The Ramapo College MAEL Program is a graduate master's program open to everyone.

If you are interested in this transformative opportunity, please complete the Google Form below to indicate your interest and to receive details about upcoming Information Sessions. Priority registration will be provided to Fair Lawn faculty and staff.

Together, let's embark on a journey of growth, innovation, and excellence in education.

http://tinyurl.com/RamapoMAELCohort2025