FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Vashon Lamont Hill, Chief of Marketing and Communications
Email: vhill@plainfield.k12.nj.us
Phone Number: (908) 731-4442 (Office) or (908) 591-1402 (Mobile)
PLAINFIELD, NJ – July 8, 2025 – Plainfield Public Schools has been awarded a $119,000 grant to launch an innovative initiative focused on reducing administrative burdens for educators and enhancing instructional quality across elementary grade levels. The grant-funded project, titled Empowering Educators Through Collaborative Instructional Planning, seeks to reclaim teacher time, elevate instructional practice, and foster a statewide model of professional collaboration.
Plainfield Public School teachers face numerous challenges that limit their instructional capacity, including excessive administrative responsibilities, fragmented planning time, and insufficient opportunities for meaningful collaboration. These conditions can hinder the development of differentiated, data-driven instruction and weaken alignment across grade levels and subject areas.
Superintendent of Schools Rashon K. Hasan, Ed. S., emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Our teachers deserve the time, trust, and tools to do what they do best—teach. This grant allows us to shift away from outdated administrative requirements like lesson plan documentation and focus on modeling effective practices and supporting teachers through meaningful collaboration.”
The Empowering Educators project will establish Professional Planning Groups (PPGs) for K–5 teachers, offering biweekly, compensated after-school sessions where educators can co-design high-quality instructional practices aligned with the New Jersey Multi-Tiered System of Supports (NJMTSS) Tier I framework. These groups will serve as hubs for innovation, equity, and professional learning.
Key outcomes expected from the project include:
Reclaiming Teacher Time: Teachers will report a 25% reduction in non-instructional workload, allowing for more focused planning and student-centered instruction.
Improved Teacher Climate and Culture: A projected 20% increase in teacher satisfaction and morale will enhance retention and strengthen collaboration.
Enhanced Instructional Quality: Consistent, differentiated, and data-driven practices will lead to improved student outcomes in literacy, math, science, and social studies.
Educator Leadership Development: At least 30 teacher leaders will be trained as PPG facilitators, extending their impact across schools and contributing to statewide instructional improvements.
“This is not just a grant, it’s a commitment to creating the kind of instructional environment our students and teachers deserve,” added Superintendent Hasan. “We’re building a model that can be sustained, scaled, and shared across the state.”
By the end of the grant period, Plainfield Public Schools expects to have developed a replicable model for collaborative planning that not only supports New Jersey’s literacy initiative but also redefines how instructional excellence is built and sustained.
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