School History

In June of 2007, Mrs. Kornegay, a retired Principal of Newark Public Schools District, Ms. Lynne Einbender, and Ms. Margot Hammond from Bank Street College, and a former member of her staff, Ms. Xiania Foster expressed their desire to develop and open a charter school based on the instructional model that was so successful at Fifteenth Ave. School and promoted state assessment scores in the high 70 – 80 percentiles.  Thus, in March of 2008, Ms. Kornegay, her former staff member and her Bank Street colleagues submitted their application to the charter school office in Trenton, NJ.

The Newark Educators’ Community Charter School’s instructional practices include a rigorous learning community that supported the academic, social, emotional and personal growth of children. The School provided opportunities for contextualized learning—where children will learn to see the connections between school and the world, and where educators continue to hone professional practices that allows for High Quality Instruction for all students.  This included General Ed., ESL, Special Needs and students without IEPs who struggled. This also includes students with Special Gifts. The application was approved and Newark Educators Community Charter School opened its doors in September, 2009 to two hundred students in grades Kdg. through 3^rd grade.

NECCS’s curriculum was developed based on Best Practices, and processes that promoted critical thinking through hands-on, student-centered activities.  Key designed elements of the instructional program included Balanced Literacy, Math, and Foss Science. The Social Studies curriculum was taught through highly developed Units of Studies that promoted deep inquiry over four – six weeks periods.  Additionally, Spanish, Technology, Art, Ballroom Dancing and other dance classes were offered during the first few years of the school.

NECCS’s model also believed in building partnerships with parents and the community and several were formed and enhanced our school’s curriculum and culture.  Some included were NJPAC, The Public Library, The Newark Museum, Main Street Counseling, Rutgers University and Caldwell College.

Following Ms. Kornegay’s tenure, other Lead Administrators of the school were Ms. Dina Velez, Principal, through May of 2019 and Ms. Katherine Martinez, August, 2019