EDUCATION

Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota,
Ed.D., Teacher Education and Leadership

Kean University, Union, NJ
MA, Early Childhood Leadership

Cook College, Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ, BA, Sociology

CERTIFICATIONS

NJ Department of Education, Certifications

• Standard Certificate, School Administrator, no expiration

• Standard Certificate, Supervisor, no expiration

• Standard Certificate, Teacher of English as a Second Language, no expiration

• Standard Certificate, Elementary School Teacher, no expiration

• Standard Certificate, Teacher of the Handicapped, no expiration

Forest School Teacher Institute

• Forest School Teacher Training

Hope4Education, Consultant

Senior Advisor, ReadM app

Spring 2022-Present

Bergen County Technical Schools, Adult & Continuing Education, Hackensack, NJ
2019 – Present

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE SERVICE PROVIDER

Meet the needs of a diversity of student learning styles and abilities, while assisting in their workplace readiness.

Employs intake system to determine adult English language placement skills.

First ESL certificated service provider at various Bergen County non-public schools; passed the WIDA assessment certification.

• All students progressed to next grade level, 90% of all students show at least one level of growth.

• 90% of students exit the program within three years; 80% of adult students enter and finish the programs.

New Jersey Department of Education, Trenton, NJ
2019 – 2021

APPOINTED to the ASSESSMENT OUTREACH, ACCESSIBILITY & DIFFERENTIATION PRACTITIONER WORKING GROUP

Create a non-biased set of questions to evaluate a student’s English language arts and math comprehension and potential abilities.

Crafted specific, concrete recommendations for the next generation of statewide assessments.

Collaborated with the head librarian/media specialist to order diverse and equitable materials for the students and staff.

• Built an educators’ support network to discuss assessment experiences, resources, and lesson plans.

Yeshivat He’Atid, Teaneck, NJ
2017 – 2021

MIDDLE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, CURRICULUM COORDINATOR, HEAD TEACHER of HUMANITIES

Raise the bar on the quality of education and teachers using new staff and student assessment tools.

Organized the first multi-grade level commemoration of September 11th, Diversity Day for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Created and implemented the first project-based learning experience, standards-based progress report card.

• Co-authored the first winning application for a Promising Practice, Character.org, located in Washington, DC.

• Partnered with Liberty Science Center to provide professional development to the staff and science instruction to students.

• Expanded an elementary school to a middle school; the first graduating class of 8th graders attended one of 3 high schools.

Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
2016 – 2020

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, TESOL PROGRAM COURSES

Make the courses at Seton Hall competitive with similar institutions.

Assessed and taught students using Blackboard, a hybrid educational platform.

Graded, guided, and advised students on next course selection and helped them with job placement, applications, interviewing.

• Students completed the courses, obtained jobs, and received New Jersey certification in a timely manner.

Secaucus Public Schools, Secaucus, NJ
2016 – 2017

DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION

Embrace the burgeoning diverse population to catalyze the faculty and administrators to provide ESL curricula.

Monitored and submitted NCLB/ESSA title grant applications.

• Facilitated new-teacher mentoring program to onboard district staff and increase retention.

• Co-authored district’s NJDOE-approved five-year technology plan and passed NJQSAC to ensure independent control of district.

• Created a STEAM program, engaged the students and teachers in a sustainable commemoration.

North Plainfield Public Schools, North Plainfield, NJ
2008 – 2016

DISTRICT SUPERVISOR, K-12, ELA, SOCIAL STUDIES, LIBRARY & MEDIA SERVICES

Create an inviting environment where immigrant students from intergenerational households feel welcome.

• Coordinated documents for QSAC monitoring team to achieve a passing score for ELAL department

• Facilitated uniform assessments as screening tools for dyslexia

• Co-authored NJDOE’s Achievement Coaches Grant along with three award-winning Promising Practice

• Attained 90% graduation rate and co-authored the district’s first Guide to Literacy Across the Curriculum, K–12

• First Fellows Award winner from the Legacy of Families of 9/11, became an artifact in the Newseum

Edison Township Public Schools, Edison, NJ
1985 – 2008

LITERACY COACH, ESL TEACHER, TEACHER OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Service the ESL, bilingual, special needs, and general ed population in a large school district.

Showcased on Classroom Close-Up NJ television show and organized first group of district ESL students to exhibit.

• First Literacy Coach in the school district

• 100% of ESL students exit three consecutive times, passed HSPT and earned diplomas

• Won NJEA Hipp Foundation grant and Middlesex County Governor’s Teacher of the Year Award

• Blecher-Sass, Hope and Maryellen Moffitt. See It, Be It, Write It: Using the Performing Arts to Improve Writing Skills and Test Scores. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit.

• Blecher-Sass, Hope, Merry Law, and Catherine Waddington. A Travel Guide Through Children's Literature. NH: Upstart.

• Blecher-Sass, Hope. Sharon Russell-Fowler. New Jersey Do-Nows. Andover, NJ: Afton Publishing.

• Blecher-Sass, Hope. 100th Day of School Activities. CA: Teacher Created Materials.

• AASA, School Administrator, Book Reviewer. Ongoing

• NJ Principal and Supervisors Association, Educational Viewpoints. Spring 2022 and previous years.

• See more on the MEDIA page of HOPE4EDUCATION.com

• Cultural Diversity Award for district-wide commemorations of September 11th

• First district winner, Promising Practices, Character.org

• NJPSA, Fall Conferences, multiple years

• NJTESOL-NJBE, Spring Conferences, multiple years

• Union County Gifted & Talented Convocations, Kean University, multiple years

• Sullivan 180, Community Health Champion

• Literacy Volunteers of America, Sullivan County branch

• Parksville Priorities Committee

• Worldwide Daffodil Project

• Books-Bikes-Brew, Communities of Hurleyville and Liberty, NY

• New York State Women, Professional Women of Sullivan County

• Friends of the Liberty Public Library, Recording Secretary

• Educational content contributor, Hadassah

• Arrowhead Ranch and Horse Rescue, freelance photographer