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Fall 2026 Educator Professional Development
Friday, October 23 | 9 AM – 3 PM | In-person
The Changemaker Classroom: Media, Voice & Civic Impact Through New Jersey Stories
Spend a full day at the New Jersey Hall of Fame with The College for Education and Engaged Learning at Montclair State University for a FREE immersive, in-person educator professional development experience.
This session combines the content of our two virtual workshops with our Educator Preview Day programming, giving educators a firsthand look at NJHOF and the inspiring stories, resources, and classroom connections our inductees offer.
Monday, November 16 | 4:30 – 5:30 PM | Virtual
Media, Identity, and Voice: From Radio Waves to Reels with New Jersey Hall of Fame
Join us for a hands-on workshop where educators explore how media shapes storytelling, identity, and representation. Through the New Jersey Hall of Fame, educators will explore exhibits spanning different historical media breakthroughs. From news anchor Connie Chung to Thomas Edison’s invention of the first camera, to the iconic music of Whitney Houston, educators will become experts in multiple avenues of media production, bringing media literacy directly into their classrooms. They will choose a project to develop, apply learned skills through Canva, and leave ready to support students through podcasts, reels, or digital shorts tied to New Jersey.
Please Click Here to RSVP Ahead of Time
Monday, December 7 | 4:30 – 5:30 PM | Virtual
Civic Leadership and SEL: Lessons from NJ Changemakers with New Jersey Hall of Fame
Civic Leadership and SEL: Lessons from NJ Changemakers invites educators to explore how the powerful, personal stories of New Jersey Hall of Fame inductees can serve as catalysts for meaningful social-emotional learning and authentic civic engagement in today’s classrooms. By examining moments of courage, empathy, advocacy, and ethical decision-making in the lives of New Jersey leaders, educators will uncover practical ways to help students build self-awareness, social awareness, and a sense of agency.
Drawing from the lives and legacies of Peter J. McGuire (Father of Labor Day), Dorothea Dix (mental health reformer), David Mixner (political activist, author, and playwright), and Clara Maass (public health pioneer), participants will analyze how these changemakers confronted injustice, advocated for vulnerable communities, and took action in times of social and public health crises—making abstract concepts such as fairness, wellness, and justice tangible and relevant for students.
Educators will compare and contrast AI-powered lesson generators, including MagicSchool and Curipod, and create SEL or civic action lessons and student activities using inductee stories, leveraging AI scaffolding to differentiate instruction for diverse learners. This workshop empowers educators to transform local legends into catalysts for empathy, critical thinking, and civic participation—helping all students see themselves as the next generation of changemakers.