b'backgrounds.Many students are pro- SUMMER IS HERE.filedinthebook:Irann Martinez is studying pre- Need Organic Mosquitomed at the University ofand Tick Control?Illinois,withdreamsof becominganeurosur-geon. Xavier Gutierrez isSpring and summer Servicesdoing a yearlong appren- Semi Organic + Organic Lawn Fertilization PackagesticeshipincybersecurityOrganic Mosquito + Tick ControlatIBMasheappliestoEco-Friendly Weed Control + Preventionveterinary schools. Gabri- Fall Servicesel Rosa has been promot-ed twice at IBM and nowAeration + Overseedingworks there as a softwareCompost Top Dressingdeveloper.Lawn RevivalsThemodeldoesnotLocally owned and operatedlockstudentsintoone future;ratheritprepares themformany,KelleyMaplewood resident Tina Kelleys newest book, "Break-and Litow write in Break- ing Barriers: How P-TECH Schools Create a Pathway ing Barriers. from High School to College to Career," shows what is possible under a new educational model that is catch-Open enrollment is aning on in hundreds of districts across the country. essential feature of the P- Call us today. 10% offTECHmodel.StudentsWhat would happen in a schoolLimited spots available! Sign up for one of our Organic Mosquito are actively recruited, but chosen by athat didnt do that? Kelley asks. Theand Tick Control packages and SAVE BIG! lottery, not by grades, test scores, rec- waste of potential that goes on is justExpires July 15th!ommendations,orvocalparents.Itstragic.Thatsthecornerstone(ofP- Call us or send us a message on our website!part of a culture of equity that seeks toTECH) and it is applicable to other973-821-3858/greenrootsorganic.comremove the barriers to entry and levelschools as well.the playing field. Kelley, who worked on The New York Education is a civil right, a serviceTimes metro desk for 10 years (her teamWe keep you smiling!provided by the government that mustwon a Pulitzer prize) and has written be available to all in equal measure anda number of books of nonfiction and quality. Full stop, Kelley and Litowpoetry, sits on the schools committee write. for the SOMA Community Coalition Coming after a year of massive so- on Race. She has been sharing new dataEveryeffortismadeto cial-justice unrest and lengthy schoolshe uncovered while writing the bookensuretheutmostcomfort closures due to the COVID-19 pan- in hopes that our districts Intentionalfor each patient.demicthathavewidenedtheequityIntegration Plan will be implementedEnjoy a modern professional gap, Kelleys tightly written book delvesin a way to promote equity. environmentandacaring into topics such as how raising expec- Itsnotjustracialinclusionandstaff.tations affects a students achievement,socioeconomic inclusion. Its also ELL the benefit that comes from students(English Language Learners) and spe- As a former faculty member having a teacher who looks like themcial education because a lot of those kidsof Fairleigh Dickinson Dental School, Dr. Wisz now devotes and the shortage of teachers of color.would be in a separate classroom or aall her time to private practice.Its also sprinkled with the stories ofpull out, but at P-TECH are thriving.actual students overcoming challengesThe P-TECH program serves more to succeed in the program. than 150,000 students in nearly 250 One student, for example, enteredschools in 12 states and 28 countries.Wendy Wisz, DMDP-TECH with a near-failing score inMany P-TECH programs are schools math. After doing well on a problemwithinschools,makingiteasierfor duringthefirstdayofgeometry,thedistricts to adopt the model. There areGeneral, Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistrystudentsteacherencouragedhimtothree in New Jerseyin Burlington sign up for a more advanced class. WithCity, New Brunswick, and Paterson. A teachers who believe in their students,fourth school is planned for Trenton. 250 Millburn Avenue | MillburnencouragementlikethisgoesalongThecurrentP-TECHfunding973-467-0077way, and the student ended up graduat- model is based on the percentage of freeSaturdays and Evenings Availableing as his class valedictorian and earn- and reduced-price lunches provided toOn site parking | Convenient locationing a full scholarship to Cornell. students, but Kelley says the hope is feature story /31'