NJBIZ Conversations: Teach for America NJ Executive Director Tahina Perez

While New Jerseyans are rightfully proud of their state's education system which is regularly cited as an asset in attracting businesses and economic development good schools should not be taken for granted. In fact, several organizations have been sounding alarms about troubling trends that could dent the carefully cultivated image of a highly educated and skilled workforce.

Last year, for example, JerseyCAN, an education research and advocacy organization, published findings showing that reading scores are falling around the state. Paula White, the group's executive director, went over the implications in an interview with NJBIZ last October.

In this edition of NJBIZ Conversations, Tahina Perez , the executive director of Teach for America New Jersey, takes up the same issue. While New Jersey continues to rank highly in national assessments of educational achievement, Perez cites statistics showing that just over 40% of New Jersey third graders are proficient in reading. That number is sobering, despite the state's reputation relative to its neighbors.

Perez discusses how Teach for America works to improve educational equity, the central importance of communities to successful schools and what businesses can and should do to help maintain a quality system.

To watch the interview, click on the video below:

To listen instead, click on the podcast below:

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