East Rutherford, NJ December 22, 2025 – The New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) at American Dream invites New Jersey educators to participate in a series of FREE, high-impact professional development experiences in February 2026, designed to bring civic leadership, media literacy, music, and social-emotional learning to life through the stories of New Jersey’s most influential changemakers.
The College for Education and Engaged Learning at Montclair State University and NJHOF have formed a strategic partnership to deliver high-impact professional development experiences that support educators with meaningful, classroom-ready learning. Launching in February, NJHOF is proud to host the first professional development sessions, marking The College for Education and Engaged Learning at Montclair as the New Jersey Hall of Fame’s first higher education partner in this meaningful work.
The New Jersey Hall of Fame is also strengthening its collaboration with TeachRock through a full-day professional development session that introduces educators to TeachRock’s rich lesson library, where music serves as a powerful entry point for engaging students through standards-aligned, classroom-ready instruction.
Why Educators Love NJHOF Professional Development with TeachRock
“The TeachRock PD at NJHOF was fantastic. They provided various ways to incorporate both music and the artists into my lessons. My favorite was the presentation on protest songs and Lesley Gore.” – Commissioner Ane Roseborough-Eberhard, The Amistad Commission
“I found the NJHOF x TeachRock PD very interesting and informative. The lessons were engaging, easy to modify for all grades, and tied beautifully into SEL. My students loved the interactive components, and it truly broke up ‘traditional’ learning.” – Katelyn Washuta, Middle School Educator
Upcoming February 2026 PD Opportunities
February 4, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Civic Leadership and SEL: Lessons from NJ Changemakers
Examine moments of courage, empathy, advocacy, and ethical decision-making to develop practical strategies that build student self-awareness, social awareness, and agency in this workshop that explores how the personal stories of New Jersey Hall of Fame inductees, including Peter J. McGuire, Dorothea Dix, David Mixner, and Clara Maass, can drive meaningful social-emotional learning and civic engagement. Participants will use AI tools such as MagicSchool and Curipod to create SEL and civic action lessons, leveraging inductee stories to differentiate instruction and empower students as future changemakers.
February 18, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Media, Identity, and Voice: From Radio Waves to Reels
Explore how media shapes storytelling, identity, and representation through the lens of the New Jersey Hall of Fame in this hands-on workshop. Engage with exhibits that highlight key media breakthroughs, from Connie Chung’s influence on broadcast journalism to Thomas Edison’s early film innovations and the cultural impact of Whitney Houston, and examine how stories are created, shared, and amplified across time. Participants will develop practical media literacy skills, select a project to work on, and apply their learning using Canva, leaving them prepared to support students in creating podcasts, reels, or digital shorts that are connected to New Jersey and student voice.
February 27, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Teaching History Through New Jersey Music Legends
A dynamic full-day professional development experience presented with TeachRock, this session highlights musicians from New Jersey whose work has had a lasting impact on the music community and the world at large, encouraging educators to extend learning through a connected field trip experience at the NJHOF at American Dream.
- Use music as a primary source in Social Studies, ELA, and the Arts
- Explore standards-aligned lessons featuring NJHOF inductees such as Frank Sinatra, Lesley Gore, Whitney Houston, Wyclef Jean, Frankie Valli, and more
- Analyze performances, interviews, and historical context
- Design student-centered lessons that build critical thinking and media literacy
- Includes free classroom resources, museum tour, and complimentary lunch
These free sessions offer meaningful content, practical tools, and unforgettable experiences inside one of New Jersey’s most engaging cultural destinations. Space is limited. Early registration is encouraged.
For more information on educational programming and opportunities at the New Jersey Hall of Fame, please contact Alexandra Genova, Director of Educational Programs, at alexandra@njhalloffame.org.
