My name is Barbara Etheredge, a proud Newark native and dedicated educator with over nine years of teaching experience. I currently serve as the Director of the New Pathways to Teaching in New Jersey (NPTNJ) / P–3 Alternate Route Program, a pivotal initiative that expands access to the teaching profession through alternate route certification. In this role, I oversee a comprehensive program that prepares individuals to become certified K–6 Elementary, K–12 Secondary, and P–3 Early Childhood Education teachers. My teaching philosophy, rooted in care, courage, justice, respect, and responsibility was shaped during my years as a P–3 teacher in Newark charter schools, where I learned the transformative power of blending joy and rigor in the classroom. I remain deeply committed to equipping educators and students alike with the tools, values, and confidence to thrive both inside and beyond the classroom.