EDUCATION
New Jersey Companies That Care About Education
Dedicated teachers and volunteers , in cooperation with school districts , private donors , and corporate social responsibility teams , worked through the pandemic to keep education on course .
By Tom Worley Chief Operating Officer , Clear Tunnels Publishing Solutions
The initial concerns facing remote learning at the elementary school level were a combination of the lack of adequate student computers and home broadband access according to Lynne Mullan , 5th grade teacher in the Freehold Township school system . Prior to the pandemic , Freehold elementary school students had one-to-one in-classroom access to computers , but those machines stayed at the school . In preparation for virtual learning , each elementary school student was given a computer to take home and the district provided ample materials for teachers to devise virtual lesson plans . This was the case in many state school districts .
At the high school level , Freehold Regional District students without adequate home computers were also given a computer to facilitate remote learning . Matthew Coulson , a history teacher at Howell High School in southern Monmouth County relates that he and most of his colleagues took advantage of professional development courses offered by the district . This continuing education simplified the transition to the virtual classroom . The administration and staff were proactive , making the move to virtual last October relatively simple .
The switch to remote teaching wasn ’ t quite as easy . As with in-person classes , students with a high drive to succeed flourished while less-driven students tended to fall behind . The lack of social interaction , distractions in the home , difficulty checking on completion of classwork , and diminished focus on individuals who require extra attention all hampered the teaching experience .
Both Mullan and Coulson agree that while it is difficult to engage with students virtually , the hybrid model — where some students attend class in person and others participate virtually — is not quite as effective . It splits the teacher ’ s focus , making it nearly impossible to engage with all of their charges . Faculty and administration have had to work hard to adapt to the changes brought about by the COVID‐19 pandemic .
Public school budgets have been strained by the need to provide students with computers and the extra costs incurred to improve ventilation and sanitize classrooms . Fortunately , like our educators , New Jersey corporations have not been idled by the pandemic . Many corporate partners continue to support New Jersey ’ s education system . Prudential , for example , has a long history of social responsibility . Since establishing The Prudential Foundation more than 40 years ago , Prudential has allocated over $ 70 million in grants and more than $ 250 million in impact investments to help improve education in America . Today , The Prudential Foundation actively manages more than $ 140 million in grants and contributions , over $ 14 million of which is slated for education initiatives in New Jersey .
With staff working remotely through the pandemic , the Social Responsibility & Partnerships teams have been as busy and as productive as ever . Social responsibility is a major priority at Prudential ; a primary focus of their investment is the City of Newark , where the company has been headquartered since being founded there 140 years ago . Initiatives beyond education include community development , job training , financial capabilities , affordable housing , small business , and economic growth .
“ Parents shouldn ' t have to choose between eating and education ”
As education is one of the primary drivers of economic mobility , Prudential invests in both public and charter schools to create a high quality education system in Newark . Unlike New Jersey ’ s more affluent communities , when the Newark schools went fully remote in April 2020 , access to education was an immediate challenge . An estimated 52 % of Newark ’ s school age residents didn ’ t have access to the necessary technology at home . To address this “ digital divide ”, The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund ( NJPRF ) matched a $ 500 thousand grant from Prudential . These grants enabled the Newark Public School District to purchase Chromebooks as well as higher-end computers needed by students enrolled in career and technical education classes . In addition to financial support , Prudential supports The Newark Board of Education ’ s technology needs by providing IT help desk support outside of school hours ( 7-8 AM and 4:30-9 PM ) for both parents and students who have technical issues with remote learning . Their employees regularly volunteer as guest speakers for students in classrooms , particularly in the area of technology and math .
Since its founding , Prudential has been a committed steward and anchor institution in the City of Newark , providing employment for thousands of residents . Recognizing the challenge presented by the fact that many Newark residents lack the educational requirements necessary for higher-skill math intensive positions , Prudential convened community leaders years before the COVID 19 pandemic to ask the question : How do we strengthen the math skills of Newark youth ? These meetings yielded lists of initiatives and a plan of action .
“ A high-quality education is essential in ensuring students in Newark are prepared for the jobs of the future . Building strong foundational math skills will give students the tools they need to be successful in high school and college , and ultimately in careers , putting them on a path to financial security . Prudential Financial is committed to solving the financial challenges of our changing world , and providing young students with critical resources needed to be successful is one way to do so . Along with Discovery Education , Schools That Can Newark , and Newark Board of Education we are making math more accessible , engaging , and meaningful ,” said Sarah Keh , Vice President of Inclusive Solutions at Prudential Financial .
Altice USA , who operates the Optimum and Suddenlink brands , is one of the largest broadband communications and video services providers in the United States . According to Jen Ostrager , Vice President of Community Affairs , Altice takes the role they play within each local community they serve very seriously . It ’ s a responsibility that focuses on making a positive impact by helping people connect to what matters most . During the pandemic , Altice increased their work with community organizations to make broadband Internet service available to low-income students , an initiative that they had started in early 2017 .
Recognizing the high need for their services for work and school , coupled with a high awareness of the need , Altice contacted community centers and schools to see how they could help . The Elizabeth school system answered their
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