Jamall Connell is a 19 year-old who has been at the NEIU Learning Campus for six years. Jamall has made great strides toward independence in self-care, communication, pre-vocational skills, and socialization skills. Jamall uses his communication device to get his wants and needs met and to participate in all activities. He is working on pre-vocational tasks and does jobs like delivering breakfast from the cafeteria to his classroom. He has been eating his lunch in the cafeteria with two new friends from another high school classroom. Jamall is well known by staff and peers alike because of his love of playing on The Learning Campus Lions basketball team. His other favorite activities at school are yoga, physical education, pet therapy, art therapy and STEM. Jamall enjoys spending time with his family travelling and recently returned from a trip to Paris, France. He can often be seen in the community with his mother and sister getting ice cream, at the farmers' market or at other shopping venues in the area. He enjoys music and dancing and going to the park. Showcasing his amazing progress, it should be noted that he went from practicing his consumer skills by purchasing a donut from the Coffee Cart that is run by another classroom to becoming a member of that other classroom as well as a proud member of the Coffee Cart Staff! Although his friends from his previous classroom miss him greatly, they will see him at basketball games and in his new job on Fridays. Congratulations and Good Luck to you, Jamal!

We are thrilled to recognize Molly Weber for her dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to our Early Intervention program. Molly began her journey with NEIU in 2014 and has taken on mulitple roles throughout the years, including Autistic Support Teacher, Training and Consultation Specialist, School Age Program Administrator, and most recently, Early Intervention Coordinator. A proud graduate of St. Francis University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education (2012) and a Master of Education from Penn West Edinboro, Molly has continually sought ways to grow in her field. Most impressively, she recently completed her coursework in Special Education Supervision at Gwynedd Mercy University (December 2024) and passed her certification with flying colors in February in 2025! Beyond her professional achievements, Molly brings an incredible energy to our team. Whether she's dressing up in fun costumes, dancing and singing at staff in-services, or simply brightening the day with her bubbly personality, she never fails to make those around her smile. Her ability to listen with intent, solve problems, and take on responsibilities with confidence makes her an invaluable part of her department. We are so proud of Molly's hard work and dedication, not only in advancing her own career but in continuously strengthening our Early Intervention program.

Students in Miss Robin's Early Intervention class have been developing essential social skills, including sharing, following two-step directions, and adhering to routines. As part of their daily routine, snack time provides an opportunity for students to practice cleaning up through teacher and peer modeling. Since many students in Early Intervention have challenges in these areas, consistent practice and structured routines help support growth and bridge gaps in learning.

Miss Shannon's Early Intervention class is learning how to engage in group activities, This month, they are practicing new Valentine's Day songs to sing while transitioning between activities.

Great things are happening at our STRIVE program at Marywood University. Pictured below are STRIVE students working with the cafeteria staff to prepare a room for a special luncheon. Also shown is Norah, on her last day of STRIVE and her last day as a 21 year old. Norah recently celebrated her 22nd birthday.

Students in SOAR and STRIVE celebrated lunar new year with "lion dancing" and other traditional rituals. Both teams have also been hard at work preparing for the upcoming "snowball roll" and raised $600 on campus for students going on service trips to Guatemala and Puerto Rico.

On February 11, 2025, 41 teachers in the LETRS Volume 1 Cohort successfully completed the first half of their two-year literacy journey. Throughout this phase, they deepened their understanding of advanced phonics, morphology, and etymology- key components that bridge phonics to comprehension. Congratulations to all on this significant achievement! Cary Coalson is a certified LETRS trainer who has been leading the LETRS initiatives across all of our schools.

Erin Pencek hosted a virtual networking session for school counselors from across the region in celebration of National School Counselor Week. This session provided an opportunity to recognize the invaluable contributions of school counselors, share experiences, and collaborate on shaping the newly forming NEIU School Counselor Network. Participants reflected on their motivations for entering the profession, discussed challenges such as increasing student mental health needs, and provided input on the structure of future meetings. The session concluded with a deep appreciation for the essential role school counselors play in supporting students.

In partnership with Luzerne Intermediate Unit, NEIU hosted a special workshop entitled Leading the Future: School Leaders Integrating AI for Success, bringing together 60 educational leaders to explore AI's evolving role in education. Speakers included, Stephanie Williams, IU19; Superintendent Paul Brennan, Riverside; Mark Walz, Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams, and Dr. Deanna Mennig, LIU18, spotlight presentation. Presented and discussed was AI's transformative impact on teaching and learning. AI in education, data privacy, and legal considerations. A foundational understanding of AI's evolution and its practical applications in schools, and the importance of collaboration between K-12 schools and higher education institutions in preparing students for AI--driven careers. The workshop also included break-out sessions, and a higher education panel discussion, including representatives from Kings College and Luzerne County Community College. This workshop fostered meaningful discussions and equipped administrators with the knowledge to lead AI integration in their districts.

Melissa Orman and Jessica Capwell attended a 3-day ECRI Training of Trainers at PaTTAN Harrisburg. The three days prepared TaC to lead ECRI Foundational Skills and Vocabulary & Comprehension Trainings. Participants must complete and submit (to their PaTTAN mentor) vetting projects such as written tasks and video submissions. Training continues in February with two more full day sessions. Pictured are Melissa and Jessica with Carol Dissen, lead author of the Enhanced Core Reading Instruction curriculum.

Wendy Brown participated in the Northeast Polar Plunge in support of Unified Sports, inclusive Bocce and Track and Field teams. Lakeland was the top fundraiser of 16 district teams. Wendy was in the top 5 of 390 individual fundraisers and looks forward to leading an IU team of plungers and chickens next year!

NEIU 19 held their Design K'Nex Challenge at Johnson College on February 4, 2025. Over 85 students from local districts tested their STEM skills by designing prototypes addressing real-world problems in infrastructure, transportation, and urban development. Students from Wayne Highlands, Wallenpaupack Area, Howard Gardner MI, All Saints Academy, Riverside, Old Forge, Forest City Regional, Western Wayne, and Lackawanna Trail showcased incredible creativity, working to make cities and systems more efficient, sustainable, and accessible. Lackawanna Trail took first place in the 6-8th grade group. Wayne Highlands took first place in the 4th-5th grade group.

Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society, from activists and civil rights pioneers such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Marcus Garvey, Martin luther King Jr., Malcom X and Rosa Parks to leaders in industry, politics, science and more.

The American Dental Association celebrates Dental Health Month during the month of February to reinforce the importance of oral health in chidren as well as helping parents with tips to keep their child's smile on track. This month long observance reminds families that children should adopt good oral health habits early. This improves the chance of children having healthy teeth and gums throughout their life. Oral health is a window to our overall health.

President's Day occurs on the 3rd Monday of every February and is used to celebrate our past and present U.S. Presidents. We celebrate them because of their great contributions to the United States and to our democracy. The day is sometimes understood as a celebration of the birthdays and lives of all U.S. presidents.

MISSION : The NEIU is an educational agency that supports the diverse needs of all learners by collaborating with families, educators and community partners to provide innovative leadership, programs and services.

VISION: NEIU—the leader in advancing education and community partnerships