United Way expands award-winning program to Sussex County

HACKETTSTOWN — United Way of Northern New Jersey is bringing its nationally recognized School Support Network to Sussex County to help improve school culture and climate in partnership with the Center for Prevention and Counseling.

Building on the success of its peer network in Morris County, United Way is expanding the program across its regional footprint. The School Support Network provides free professional development workshops with foremost experts in the field of school culture and climate.

“This expansion answers the call of local educators who were seeking a collaborative environment to learn from each other and share resources and best practices,” said United Way Associate Director of Education Liz Warner. “Research shows that when the entire school community works together to create a positive school culture, the students reap the biggest rewards.”

The Sussex network’s first meeting was held on Nov. 3, with more than 40 school educators and administrators representing 30 schools. The School Support Network is open to superintendents, principals, guidance counselors, teachers, and anti-bullying specialists representing public and private schools.

“I’m excited to be going to more local meetings and working with people in our county,” said Courtney Pipher, a third-grade teacher from Valley Road School in Stanhope who previously attended meetings in Morris County. “It’s time worth spending. The topics covered are valuable and you can use what you learn immediately in whatever role you play at your school.”

The Center for Prevention and Counseling will facilitate School Support Network meetings in Sussex County, which will be held several times a year.

“We are pleased to be involved with this initiative and its efforts to help school professionals throughout the area,” said Becky Carlson, Executive Director, Center for Prevention and Counseling. “We share United Way’s commitment to helping create school environments that allow students to develop academically, socially and emotionally.”

Research indicates that schools with a positive culture and climate — and a focus on social and emotional learning — have happier students, with higher academic achievement and fewer disciplinary issues. The impact extends beyond school years with youth developing social and emotional skills that will continue to serve them as adults both personally and professionally.

United Way received a “Promising Practice” award from the Character Education Partnership for developing the School Support Network. The competitive national award recognizes best practices that “offer educators and others working with young people practical ways to develop empathy, conflict resolution skills and good citizenship.”

“I love going to the meetings and collaborating with other professionals, networking and hearing about the successes of other schools and bringing that back to my school,” said Pipher.

The next School Support Network meeting in Sussex County will be held Jan. 5 and is open to K-12 school districts across the northern New Jersey region of Morris, Somerset, Suburban Essex, Sussex, and Warren counties.

For more information and a calendar of School Support Network meetings, visit UnitedWayNNJ.org/SchoolSupportNetwork.