News & Events

On November 12, 2024, Dr. George and Mr. Mullins, joined by Board leadership—Mr. Scott McCue and Mr. Joseph Isola—met with Senator Vin Gopal and his Legislative Aide, Mike Illiano, to discuss several significant initiatives and legislative priorities.

Key topics of discussion included a conversation focused on the potential certification of New Jersey Virtual School (NJVS) as a school district. This certification would allow NJVS to directly issue course credits and diplomas to students unable to participate in traditional schooling. Currently, NJVS provides courses, but credits are granted by the student’s home district. The administration is exploring certification pathways to expand NJVS’s capabilities.

The group also discussed two key proposed legislation including A4854 which would revise state aid allocation for auxiliary and remedial services provided to nonpublic school students. To address related challenges, a meeting between MOESC administration and the bill’s sponsor is in the process of being coordinated. Also discussed was bill S3537 which would require the state to partially fund transportation costs for certain homeless students, aiming to ensure consistent access to education for this vulnerable population.

This meeting underscores ongoing efforts to advocate for innovative solutions and policies that support students, schools, and the broader educational community. Stay tuned for updates on these initiatives.

Big things are growing at the Regional Achievement Academy and The Shore Center with the recent expansion of their Greenhouse programs, including the addition of four state-of-the-art hydroponic systems.

These systems are a great way to introduce students to the cutting-edge world of sustainable farming. Unlike traditional soil-based gardening, hydroponics uses water enriched with nutrients to grow plants faster and more efficiently—saving both space and resources.

The best part? Students have taken the reins, managing the systems themselves. This hands-on experience brings science, agriculture, and environmental sustainability lessons to life, giving students a deeper understanding of these important fields.

With these new systems, the schools are growing more than just plants—they’re planting the seeds for future careers in sustainable agriculture and environmental science. Who knows? The next big innovation in farming might just start here!

Stay tuned as our students dig in and make their mark in the exciting world of farming and hydroponics!

Monmouth-Ocean Educational Services Commission has partnered with the Monmouth University Graduate Speech Department to support their future speech clinicians with a hands-on learning experience as a part of their graduate training to become certified speech-language pathologists (SLPs). 

Graduate students are being mentored by our MOESC speech therapists to provide articulation, fluency, and language therapy to elementary-age children in our nonpublic schools. Our SLPs are also providing direct instruction in the assessment of articulation and language disorders. 

Kelly Denega, MOESC Speech Language Specialist, shares her feedback on her experience as a graduate clinical supervisor: “I'm so grateful whenever I have the opportunity to be a clinical supervisor for graduate students. I was lucky to have the guidance of passionate and creative therapists back when I was in graduate school, and I can only hope to live up to their example. Through clinical internships, graduate clinicians are able to hone their skills in a real-world work environment with the guidance and encouragement of a licensed therapist. They typically come into the experience with so much knowledge. Internships allow for an opportunity for them to strengthen their clinical skills and gain confidence in their abilities.”  

Keira, a Monmouth University Graduate Student, mirrors Kelly’s feedback on this program. “It is such a privilege to have Kelly as a supervisor. She has gone above and beyond to ensure my success here, as well as moving forward in my career. I am so thankful for the experiences I have had here so far!”

MOESC is grateful to Saint Rose of Lima for welcoming this program into their school. We look forward to expanding the MOESC and MU-Speech Graduate mentorship program across our other schools and for school years to come. 

At the New Jersey School Public Relations Association (NJSPRA) 2024 Communication Awards Ceremony on October 10th, 2024, MOESC was recognized as one of the winners and honored with an “Award of Merit” for our website redesign, a project we collaborated on with Laura Bishop Communications.

The Website category is based on the overall impression derived from the website, including content, clarity, appropriateness and freshness, graphic design including the use of color, fonts and photographs/videos, usability, functionality, navigability, and overall depth of information. Overall, there were 98 unique submissions for 8 different award categories, including newsletter, branding, media coverage, photography, social media, and special interest publication. MOESC is honored to be one of the few selected and we look forward to continuing to expand and innovate our website and overall public relations campaign.

Oksana Telipska joined Monmouth Ocean Educational Services Commission (MOESC) in December 2022 as a 1:1 paraprofessional in an elementary inclusion classroom at Freehold Learning Center. With a background as a certified teacher in Ukraine, Oksana balanced her full-time role while pursuing U.S. teacher certification—a testament to her dedication and drive.

Her hard work paid off, as she recently achieved certification as an ESL teacher. Recognized as MOESC Paraprofessional of the Month during the 2023-2024 school year, Oksana earned praise from colleagues for her commitment, professionalism, and ability to connect with students. "We requested to work with her again because of the remarkable support and dedication she provides to all students,” shared her classroom teacher.

Reflecting on her time at MOESC, Oksana expressed gratitude for the supportive environment and opportunities to grow. She now embarks on the next chapter of her career as an ESL teacher with Howell Public Schools.

Congratulations, Oksana, and best wishes in your new role—your future students are fortunate to have such an inspiring educator!

The GED Program at Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) has a new name and a fresh approach. Now called the "MCCI Learning Center," the program has expanded far beyond its original focus on GED preparation, offering a wider range of educational opportunities tailored to the needs of its students.

In addition to GED instruction, the MCCI Learning Center now provides basic skills classes and English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction. These additions are already making an impact: the basic skills program has become a valuable stepping stone for those working toward their GED, and the ESL program is thriving, thanks to the innovative use of Burlington English software to support English language learners.

The changes reflect a deeper understanding of the diverse needs of the inmate population, helping more individuals build foundational skills and confidence. The GED program remains strong, on track to surpass last year’s record-breaking graduation numbers, while the expanded offerings ensure even more students can achieve their goals.

Through the MCCI Learning Center, education is proving to be a powerful tool for change—equipping students with the skills they need to succeed, both now and in the future.