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Glenfield Middle School has a new principal who is a familiar face: Frances Aboushi.

Eric Kiefer, Patch Staff

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Montclair Public School District. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Montclair Public Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Frances Aboushi as the new principal of Glenfield Middle School, effective July 1, 2025. A familiar face to the Glenfield community and the Montclair Public Schools district, Dr. Aboushi brings with her a deep understanding of the school’s culture, a strong commitment to student success, and a proven track record of educational leadership.

Dr. Aboushi previously served in administrative and instructional roles at Glenfield, including teacher, house leader, and assistant principal and within Montclair Public Schools, where she earned the respect and admiration of staff, students, and families alike. Her return to Glenfield marks a homecoming for a leader who has long been connected to the values, aspirations, and academic excellence of the school community.

“Dr. Aboushi’s leadership is marked by integrity, compassion, and a student-centered approach,” said Interim Superintendent Damen G. Cooper. “Her familiarity with Glenfield, coupled with her visionary leadership style, makes her the right person to lead the school forward. We are thrilled to welcome her back in this capacity.”

Dr. Frances A. Aboushi, is the current principal of Bradford Elementary School, a role she has held since May 2021. Since then, Dr. Aboushi has worked closely with staff, students, and families to transform the school’s culture and climate while elevating the educational experience for all learners. Her educational philosophy is rooted in the unwavering belief that all students can learn when they are provided with a positive learning environment, supported by a hands-on community, guided by strong and knowledgeable leadership, and empowered by a committed and knowledgeable educational team.

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“I am grateful for the opportunity to rejoin the Glenfield family and look forward to working together to bring out the very best in our school community.”

Dr. Aboushi brings over two decades of experience in education in various roles, equipped with elementary fundamentals and teaching experiences at both the high school and middle school levels, she brings a well-rounded perspective to her leadership, fostering growth and development across all grade levels.

With a strong background in instructional leadership, equity-centered practices, and family engagement, Dr. Aboushi is poised to guide Glenfield into its next chapter of growth and innovation. Her focus on fostering inclusive learning environments and building strong relationships will be central to her leadership.

Outside of her school responsibilities, Dr. Aboushi is actively involved in community initiatives. She has participated in the Amazing FundRACER in both 2018 and 2024 and has hosted multiple fundraising events organized by the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE). She has also worked with the Essex County Wally Choice Center, Toni’s Kitchen, and SOFIA, highlighting her passion for supporting community connection and engagement.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from City College, CUNY, a Master of Arts in History from Rutgers University, a Master of Education from Montclair State University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University. Dr. Aboushi also serves as an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership program at Montclair State University.

Please join Montclair Public Schools in welcoming Dr. Aboushi back to the Glenfield community.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here.

For those of you who have heard the term “sandwich generation” and think it might refer to people who spend a good amount of time eating peanut butter and jelly all day, we have a news flash for you!

ROI-NJ is proud to present a fireside chat, on May 14, about the sandwich generation featuring three women who have leadership roles in the office and the role of sandwich generation caregiver in the home.

During this early evening networking event at Kenilworth’s Galloping Hill Golf Club, Melissa V. Skrocki, Kirthi Mani and Dr. Jessica Israel, will dive into a no-holds barred conversation about their own experiences being sandwiched between two distinctive and demanding generations – the generation of aging loved ones (predominantly parents or other relatives) and the generation comprised of their children (of all ages!)

According to research, the sandwich generation is mainly comprised of middle-aged adults in their 30s and 40s (although this varies) who are responsible for the care of their children and their parents simultaneously – which seems like an impossible task.

Studies show about 60 percent of the sandwich generation is comprised of women, who often are disproportionately called on as caregivers. What’s more, the pressure to be in two places at the same time can cause disruption in the workplace, possibly adding financial issues to the physical and emotional stress caregivers endure. Pepper in guilt and a sense of feeling burdened and you have a recipe for being completely overwhelmed.

But … the reports are not all gloom and doom.

Despite the potential for feelings of burnout and worry about feeling inadequate, a PEW Research Center study found that a significant portion of the sandwich generation adults reported being happy, or ‘pretty happy,’ with their lives.

So, join ROI-NJ at this heartfelt and thoughtful fireside chat and listen to Kirthi, Melissa and Jessica as they share coping techniques, insights, ways to find support, and how to move toward embracing a sense of satisfaction and joy.

Register today!

MENDHAM, NJ — Mendham Township Middle School tops the state in the latest performance review, claiming the number one spot with pride.

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) released the 2023-2024 School Performance Reports this month, detailing the performance of more than 2,400 public schools across the state. Districts are scored from 0 to 100 based on factors like standardized test scores, student academic growth, and graduation rates among other metrics.

The performance reports include school-by-school summative scores and ratings, which compare districts and provide a numerical measure of each school’s academic achievement and progress.

"Summative scores" are calculated on a scale from 1 to 99, reflecting key factors such as graduation rates and progress in English and math. Higher scores indicate better performance, while schools with lower scores are categorized for support and improvement.

Mendham Township Middle School, located at 16 Washington Valley Road in Brookside, earned the highest summative score in the state for the 2023-2024 school year, the district announced.

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The middle school also ranked second statewide, out of approximately 2,500 schools in New Jersey.

“Congratulations to our amazing students, supportive families, outstanding teachers, dedicated support staff and Board of Education,” said Principal of MTMS Dr. Patrick J. Ciccone. “Together, we continue to deliver a world-class education that equips our students with a winning mindset for success in school, in their future careers and beyond. These consistent academic achievements are a powerful reflection of our shared commitment to excellence and doing our very best for our kids.”

According to the report, Mendham Township students exceeded state standards in both English language arts and mathematics, while also meeting expectations on other assessments.

“I am truly so proud of our students, teachers and staff,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Salvatore M. Constantino. “This accomplishment is a direct reflection of them.”

The NJDOE website states that the 2023-2024 performance reports, the latest available data, serve as a tool to evaluate whether all students have equitable access to high-quality education.

The reports assess students' academic growth, whether it meets or exceeds state standards, and how schools compare to others in meeting those benchmarks.

Kevin Dehmer, Commissioner of Education, said the reports can also provide valuable information for families and the school community as a whole.

"They serve as a starting point, and a resource, for dialogue between the community and local school leaders about the school district’s accomplishments, priorities, and areas of need," he said in a statement.

View the full scores and ratings by clicking here.

Twenty-eight Rahway 7th and 8th Grade Academy were nominated for the 2025 Central Jersey Middle School Honors Band Festival, an event that recognizes the “dedication and musical achievements” of middle school students across six counties in the central region of New Jersey.

The nominated students represent a wide range of instruments, including flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone, and percussion. Nominated were:

Flute

Clarinet

Bass Clarinet

Alto Saxophone

Tenor Saxophone

Baritone Saxophone

Trumpet

Trombone

Baritone

Percussion

Unlike the All-Region Auditions, the Honors Band Festival is a one-day event that does not require an audition. Students are nominated by their band director and selected by the CJMEA Committee from a pool of nominees from participating school districts.

This year, five Rahway Academy students were officially selected by the CJMEA Committee to rehearse and perform with over 200 other musicians from 37 school districts at the festival on March 22. These students are Keyla Bernal-Serrano on clarinet, Jeison Hernandez on bass clarinet, Luis Leiva on tenor saxophone, Jonnathan Garcia Rodriguez on baritone saxophone, and Sebastian Lozada-Cougil on trombone.

Band director Amara Van Wyk emphasizes that being nominated for the Honors Band Festival requires a high level of dedication and commitment to one’s instrument. She stated, “This is ‘next level’ stuff and a musicians’ mindset must be geared up for it. There’s a need to devote an elevated amount of care, time, energy and priority to your instrument in order to be nominated.”

The pursuit of these ‘above and beyond’ experiences is driven by the students’ love for creating, studying, and performing music. To learn more about the Central Jersey Music Educators Association, go to http://cjmea.org/index.html.

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Submit Union County community news to union@njadvancemedia.com.

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Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff.

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WAYNE — Seventh and eighth graders are participating in an inaugural program this month to expose them to the rigors of the high school curriculum.

Saturday Academies is designed to give the nearly 100 students an early opportunity to decide the classes they should take as freshmen and, perhaps, the career paths they ought to pursue when they graduate.

The star pupils are getting a foot in the door — or, in some cases, an eye through the viewfinder of their future selves.

Katherine Pritchard teaches the photography academy, just one of the offerings in the four-week program. She said the participating students are acing the same lessons that her sophomores received this school year.

“They’re keeping up,” Pritchard said. “They’re not missing a beat.”

Story continues below photo gallery.

Their enthusiasm is probably owed to the fact that they do not have to be there.

The students volunteered for this chance, and local educators say it seldom comes along.

Kimberly Moreno, an assistant principal at Wayne Valley High School, where the academies are held, said there are few options for students to engage in scholarly activities outside of normal school hours. She said she is trying to change that.

“Knowledge is the key for students to make informed choices,” Moreno said. “I think that we’re filling a need for the community.”

Moreno conceived the program with Matthew Mignanelli, the director of secondary education for the K-12 district. The academies are sponsored by the Wayne Education Foundation, which also handled marketing and registration.

They include photography, auto repair, computer programming, fashion, graphic design, music production, robotics and science.

Students are paying $30 to be in the program, which ends this weekend, having run the past three Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. Participants split their time between two subjects.

Upperclassmen, including many in the National Honor Society, support the program as teaching assistants, Moreno said. Others are there to escort their younger peers around the building.

The program was spawned by another Moreno brainchild, known as the district's Tech Expo. The annual event is like the academies, but in reverse, as high school teachers visit the three middle schools to explain to students what they have to offer.

The expo, however, has no teaching component, and Moreno said it left some students wanting more.

Now they are benefiting from hands-on instruction in their future classrooms by those who could be their future teachers.

Jessica Dean, a consumer science teacher at Wayne Valley, is running the fashion academy, in which groups of aspiring designers drew silhouettes — called croquis — to serve as templates for their unique illustrations. The students created their model garments with tiny swatches of fabric, tracing paper and other supplies.

“There’s a lot of mystique around the industry,” said Dean, a former fashion designer who switched careers after the pandemic. “I wanted to come into the high school and demystify some of that, make it more realistic. It’s really awesome when I see that it clicks.”

Pritchard, the photography teacher and the Wayne Valley teacher of the year, said students in her academy acquired new techniques with their cellphone cameras. But they are so eager to absorb the material that she said she will introduce them to professional-grade cameras in their final session.

“You can see that ambitious nature in them,” Pritchard said. “It’s very honest — every single kid is going from bell to bell. They’re all interested in learning.”

Students in the robotics academy, meanwhile, built robots from scratch using 3D printers.

Patrick Slater, a veteran teacher at Wayne Valley, who is now in his 25th year, said the low-cost bots are worth about the price of two cups of coffee. Yet the experience is invaluable, he said.

“I wish that this existed when I was in middle school,” Slater added.

Sue-Anne Alonso, who teaches biology at Wayne Valley, said she challenged students in her academy with advanced classwork in environmental science. She said they studied the concept of biomimicry, or the practice of emulating nature to solve human problems. One group, she said, looked at how ants make trails as a way to simulate an improved design of the high school cafeteria.

“We don’t often have time for this sort of sustained inquiry,” Alonso said. “This is what science should be.”

Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news in your community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: devencentis@northjersey.com

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