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Next Generation of New Jersey’s Teacher and Parent Advocacy Leaders Celebrate Graduation and Showcase their Policy Impact Throughout the Garden State
[New Jersey – June 18, 2025] JerseyCAN, the only statewide advocacy organization in New Jersey committed to ensuring access to high-quality public schools for every child regardless of zip code, cultural background, and socioeconomic status, announced today the graduation of the 2024-25 cohorts for its New Jersey Teacher Leader Policy Fellowship and Parent Champions for Strong Schools Fellowship.
JerseyCAN developed the two fellowships to support New Jersey teachers and parents in learning about and engaging in education policy and advocacy across the state. Participants of both fellowships discuss the latest policy trends and issues in New Jersey education and gain a deeper understanding of the state’s education policy landscape by expanding their knowledge of local, state, and national governance. In addition, both fellowships utilize JerseyCAN’s strong relationships in Trenton to provide multiple opportunities to network with state leaders and influential educational stakeholders while building strong engagement and advocacy skills. Now in its fifth year, the fellowship empowers each participant to pursue a project they deeply care about, aimed at advancing educational outcomes for students across New Jersey. The cohort meets throughout the school year, with graduation serving as a culminating event where each fellow shares key milestones from their work and outlines their plans to continue their advocacy in the future.
“JerseyCAN invests in our fellowship programs to fuel the development of education policy and ideas, while creating needed building blocks for new education leaders throughout the Garden State,” stated JerseyCAN Executive Director Paula White. “We passionately believe strong parent and teacher voices can impact the state’s educational choices and priorities. Our moral obligation is to empower these two important groups and find ways to educate, strengthen, and encourage their activism. Thanks to our fellowships’ leaders, Dr. Chelsea Collins and Dr. Scott Oswald, our fellowship programs have evolved into one of JerseyCAN’s most impactful initiatives. We want to thank the many policy leaders in Trenton and at the local level, along with our amazing funders, for supporting a great year of learning and helping us fill a needed void for those who passionately want to participate and contribute as advocates. Most of all, we want to congratulate this year’s fantastic fellows. Engagement around policy and advocacy is always relevant and necessary, and know that each will build on their progress this year and will be of great service to the state in the coming years.”
“The individuals who engage directly with New Jersey’s children every day—their parents and teachers—have the deepest understanding of their needs and deserve the knowledge, skills, and platform to shape the future of education,” stated Dr. Chelsea Collins, Director of JerseyCAN’s Fellowship Programs. “Our fellows have emerged as powerful advocates, contributing to policy conversations with elected leaders and leading meaningful initiatives in their local districts. This year is no different. We challenged each Fellow to deepen their understanding of critical education issues, discover their voice, and take action aligned with their passion and purpose. We are incredibly proud of their growth, the strong community they’ve built, and their impact on students across New Jersey. We look forward to welcoming the next cohort this fall.”
The following is a summary of the development and results from the last year:
2024-25 Teacher Leader Policy Fellows:
The New Jersey Teacher Leader Policy Fellowship allows New Jersey teacher leaders to learn about and engage in education policy and advocacy in New Jersey. Over one year, our fellows study the NJ education policy landscape, hone their advocacy skills, and achieve a short-term advocacy goal. Further, fellows engage in high-quality professional learning and networking opportunities throughout the fellowship.
Hanan Attiyah – Coding and Robotics Teacher, Grants Manager, Flemington-Raritan Regional School District, Flemington, NJ
Valerie Currais – Science Instructional Specialist, Newark Public Schools, Newark, NJ
Jennifer Donnelly – Grade 9, Advanced Topics Biology, Scientific Research, Jose Marti STEM Academy, Union City, NJ
Advocated for empowering elementary STEM teachers through expanded resources, strategic support, and a statewide professional development conference that fosters collaboration and innovation.
Hanan Attiyah stated, “This fellowship fuels my passion for bringing STEM to life in elementary classrooms. STEM is where curiosity begins, confidence grows, and the foundation for future innovators is built one discovery at a time. Through this collective, I am joining forces with inspiring educators across New Jersey to elevate equity, amplify early STEM, and shape the future of learning together.”
Valerie Currais stated, “Advocacy is a powerful yet daunting pathway to implement meaningful change. Educators lose influence the moment they feel disconnected from their agency. This fellowship has given me the confidence and insight to reconnect with my inherent power, identify the root causes of the STEM challenges within our state, and engage in solutions that elevate the quality of STEM education for public school students.”
Jennifer Donnelly stated, “As a dedicated educator and teacher leader, I’ve always been a passionate advocate for my students and a strong supporter of expanding access to high-quality STEM education. This fellowship has been transformative—it has helped me refine my voice, deepen my understanding of policy, and empowered me to engage with stakeholders at every level to drive meaningful change.”
Emily Bengels – Grades K-3, Reading Intervention, Whitehouse School, Readington Township, NJ
Developed a multigenerational literacy mentorship program for elementary school students, middle school students, and senior citizens in the community to promote shared reading experiences.
“At each session of our fellowship, the passion and compassion in the room have been delightfully overwhelming! I’m grateful for the wealth of advocacy knowledge our leaders and presenters have shared. One of our stated goals is to create something that outlasts us, and JerseyCAN is definitely making an impact that will last beyond this fellowship year!”
Erica Berti – Grades K-5, Elementary Support Teacher, Thomas Sharp Elementary School, Collingswood, NJ
Collaborated with school and district educators to analyze and align literacy curriculum and instructional practices with new state mandates for high-quality, research-based practices. She is further amplifying her impact by publishing her experience and lessons learned to a national outlet.
“This fellowship helped me connect with other passionate advocates of high-quality, research-based literacy instruction and taught me how to deepen my understanding of educational policy and ways to lead while teaching.”
Colleen Hoyle – Grades 4-6, Special Education, Cooper’s Poynt Family School, Camden, NJ
Wrote an Op-Ed and two policy documents for state leaders with research and strategies around improving math instruction in elementary school.
“I learned how I can make a change, whereas before I didn’t know where to start.”
Anjana Iyer – Grades 10-12, Special Education Chemistry, Hillsborough High School, Hillsborough, NJ
Strengthened the special education pipeline by creating leadership opportunities for high school students in programs such as PALS, Unified Sports, ESY, and Education Training/Future Educators, promoting inclusion and inspiring future special educators.
“This fellowship gave me the platform to turn a meaningful idea into action — helping students see themselves as future leaders in inclusion and strengthening the pipeline for special education with purpose and heart.”
Leana Malinowsky – Grade 1, Nicholas Minue School, Carteret, NJ
Wrote and published an op-ed on how educator preparation programs must support effective literacy instruction. Met with professors and researchers and studied New Jersey programs to inform ongoing advocacy efforts.
“This fellowship provided me with a meaningful opportunity to integrate two of my core teaching passions: literacy and the preparation of future educators. Through this experience, I deepened my understanding of effective literacy instruction at the higher education level and explored multiple avenues for advocacy. I also enhanced my ability to expand this work beyond the scope of the fellowship.”
Benjamin Mathews – Grade 10, AP World History, KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy, Camden, NJ
Wrote an Op-ed to advocate for improved teacher recruitment and retention by promoting a more transparent, streamlined certification process.
“This fellowship has both given me the tools to be a real change maker in the policy space and allowed me to discover my true passions around policy. The skills fostered during this fellowship will stick with me for decades to come and will prove invaluable as I continue to grow as an advocate outside of this program.”
Michelle Orth – Grades 9-12, Business, Technology & Computer Science, Lyndhurst High School, Lyndhurst, NJ
Advocated to expand the state’s STEM teacher grant program to help public schools, especially under-resourced ones, hire qualified STEM educators in high-demand fields like computer science.
“The NJCAN fellowship empowered me to turn a concern into a statewide policy proposal and connected me with the tools and network needed to amplify my voice for real change.”
Juan Ouviña – Grades 10 & 11, English Language Arts & Tomorrow’s Teachers II, Memorial High School, West New York, NJ
Developed a micro-credential offering practical strategies to navigate professional challenges and build sustainable careers in education, with both a statewide framework and a district-specific version to support professional growth and address retention challenges.
“I really valued my time as a JerseyCAN fellow. This is truly a space where advocates come together to not only speak on issues but make real change happen. So often we hear negativity around our profession and its obstacles, but rather than allowing ourselves to be tied down by challenges, we’re creating solutions. We’re not just talking about change; we’re making it happen.”
Victoria Pepe-Lage – Grade 4, English as a Second Language, Newark, NJ
Collaborated with district leaders and universities to propose a pipeline for substitute teachers and long-term staffing solutions. Also supported novice teachers through improved mentoring, low-stakes coaching, and a supportive school culture to boost retention and effectiveness.
“The past year of advocacy work has been a transformative journey, equipping me with the skills, resilience, and vision to commit to a lifetime of meaningful change. Each challenge sharpened my tools and deepened my resolve to create a lasting impact in education and beyond.”
2024-25 Parent Champions for Strong Schools Fellows:
The Parent Champions for Strong Schools Initiative is an opportunity for parents in New Jersey to learn and engage in education policy and advocacy at the state and local levels. Parents learn both education policy content and knowledge, as well as advocacy strategies and tools. Each fellow is focused on self-selected specific goals and demonstrating their advocacy publicly.
Amanda Carpena – Hamilton Township, NJ
Adapted the NJDOE Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery’s (LEAR) educator-focused Professional Learning Community (PLC) Series into a companion PLC model designed specifically for families. This initiative transforms eight curated 40-minute sessions into structured, collaborative learning experiences that equip families with the knowledge and tools to support evidence-based literacy practices at home. The sessions will introduce families to the key components of foundational literacy and mirror the educator content in accessible, family-friendly formats.
“As a parent, literacy consultant, and former New Jersey administrator, I have found the JerseyCAN Parent Fellowship to be an invaluable experience in advancing my work in literacy advocacy. Through this opportunity, I have gained deeper insight into the range of organizations across the state dedicated to promoting evidence-based literacy instruction and equipping families with the tools they need to support their children’s literacy development. I am grateful for the knowledge, connections, and inspiration this fellowship has provided, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to this critical work on behalf of New Jersey’s students and families.”
Tia Cherry – East Orange, NJ
Collaborated with leadership in East Orange and Orange to promote literacy and parent engagement through a webinar, “Promoting Research-Based Techniques to Close Learning Gaps by Supporting Children at Home,” and hosted a screening of “The Right to Read” followed by a panel discussion.
“The JerseyCAN fellowship equipped me with the tools to engage meaningfully in education policy as a parent advocate. It gave me a deeper understanding of the systems shaping our schools and connected me with a network of changemakers working to influence decisions that directly impact students and families in underrepresented communities.”
Elaine Chin – Rutherford, NJ
Met with the local superintendent about strategies for implementing new literacy legislation to support student proficiency. Also began serving as the SEPAG’s out-of-district chair to enhance support, visibility, and inclusion for families of students with special needs.
“This fellowship helped me connect with other passionate advocates of high-quality, research-based literacy instruction and taught me how to expand the reach of my impact. It has deepened my understanding of educational policy and ways to lead while teaching.”
Yasmin Davis – Newark, NJ
Developed and proposed Mental Health Days, allowing students to reset at home in a safe environment while continuing learning through a personalized hybrid model tailored to their individual needs.
“JerseyCAN has taught me so much! I’m truly grateful for this opportunity to meet other parents & educators who’ve helped me see the world of education from a different perspective, thank you!!
Jonel Giles-Peeden – Newark, NJ
Focused on supporting parents as they navigate complex systems for their children by offering resources and guidance.
“I’ve learned so much, gathered amazing resources, and feel way more confident in my understanding of advocacy!”
Gabily Gonzalez – Mount Laurel, NJ
Promoted virtual learning, safe school entry, and policy advocacy to reduce absenteeism for undocumented students and create inclusive pathways for student success.
“Your status can change, but what you learn on your journey can never be taken away. I encourage you to continue to evolve, and remember that every butterfly has their season of growth. Never give up and don’t ever let others tell you that you can’t, when you have already overcome many obstacles. Your courage and resilience are the foundation for the bright future ahead of you. Keep growing, keep striving, and let your light shine. You do not just wake up and become a butterfly. Growth is a process, and every step you take brings you closer to the amazing transformation ahead.”
Cathy Hasprunar – Ringwood, NJ
Raised literacy awareness among parents of preschoolers and kindergartners to support informed educational decisions by publishing an op-ed and advocating for parents to receive information on early literacy development, warning signs, and school navigation.
“This fellowship helped me with accomplishments that I did not think were possible. I’m grateful for the support that I had to make it possible.”
Allison James-Frison – Newark, NJ
Created a community First Generation College Program to empower first-generation, low-income families with resources and support to navigate the college process.
“JerseyCAN allowed teachers and parents to come together to ignite change and advocate for best practices on issues they are passionate about.”
Parul Khemka – Livingston, NJ
Collaborated with state legislators and testified before the Senate Education Committee on policy solutions to foster better collaboration between families and districts serving children with IEPs and 504 plans.
“As a board of education member, parent, and someone passionate about public education, it was a tremendous learning experience to interact with educators, administrators, and other parents from a policy perspective. I learned how advocacy works and the thinking process of all those it impacts. The leadership of the program was approachable and knowledgeable. They were always willing to support and help solve. Thank you, JerseyCAN, for this amazing opportunity and learning.”
Shenee Omuso – Burlington City, NJ
Developed “Storytime Picnic,” a family-friendly literacy event to unite the community around reading. Launching in September 2025, it aims to spark a long-term citywide initiative to boost reading proficiency, engagement, and collaboration.
“The fellowship showed me that everything I need to create change is already within me.”
Patrick Sprinkle – Jersey City, NJ
Developed a survey for Jersey City families on virtual learning versus in-person instruction. Based on the data, he wrote an editorial published in Jersey City Times and plans to use it to engage school board members on hiring reforms.
“As a teacher of American government and politics, I always emphasized the theory of civic engagement. The JerseyCAN Parent Fellowship has illuminated the practical side, showing me how deeply personal experiences can and must intersect with public policy to create meaningful change for our students. It’s government in action, informed by the voices of those most impacted.”
Ingrid Williams-Perry – East Orange, NJ
Strengthened connections with caregivers by creating a parent-educator training program that equips parents to support early readers at home.
“This fellowship has given me the confidence to take the steps to execute solutions, even if those steps are small.”
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Contact: Matthew Frankel, MDF Strategies, Matthew@MDFStrategies.com, (917) 617.7914