Verna A. Gray
Founder, Executive Director, and Principal of The Gray Charter School
Miss Verna A. Gray was born in Newark but grew up in Orange, New Jersey.
Miss Gray earned a B.A. Degree from Rutgers University Newark College of Arts and Science. She earned a Masters Degree in Administration and Supervision from Montclair State University. She also has a Master Equivalency in Urban Education from William Paterson University. She has several licenses including Music Education, Elementary Education, a Principal’s License, and a Supervisor’s License. Miss Gray taught Music Education, grades K-8 for seven years in the Newark Public Schools. She also taught Elementary Education, grades K-8 for seventeen years. This is a total of 24 years teaching experience in the Newark Public Schools. Miss Gray has recently been honored; she appeared in National’s Register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals 2003-2004 Edition.
From the time Miss Gray entered into the profession of educating children, she was destined to play a vital role in shaping young lives for the good of society. She was a super teacher who refused to be average. Miss Gray had a drive to always continue to strive for excellence in order to truly educate disadvantaged inner-city children. After 24 years teaching in the Newark Public School System, Miss Gray felt that it did not offer enough to the children. So, she started and opened a public school herself.
Miss Gray founded and opened The Gray Charter School in Newark, New Jersey on September 5, 2000 at the urging of parents who wanted true choice in public education for their children. She trained dedicated teachers who believed in making every child an achiever. Although The Gray Charter School is a public school, Miss Gray, who is an education expert, runs the school like an elite private school. She truly is making a difference in children’s lives. Miss Gray has high standards but achievable goals for the children of The Gray Charter School. For example, the children in all grades, K-8 read the classics, non-fiction literature, and biographies. They give a book report on one book every week or 4 books a month, totaling nearly 2 million words in a year of reading. Miss Gray believes that one day these children will be leaders because they are learning how to read well, think critically, and communicate effectively with people. Thus, literacy brings freedom.
The Gray Charter School has only been open for 10 years but has achieved remarkable success.
On the NJ ASK State Test the third graders are 90% proficient in Reading and 97% in Mathematics. All students who took the NJ ASK State Test met or exceeded the NJ State Department of Education’s Annual Yearly Progress score for all ten years the school has been open. The Gray Charter School has been nominated as a NJ Distinguished Title I school. Miss Gray and the Gray Charter School’s students have appeared twice on News 12 Spotlight NJ to discuss and display their outstanding achievement.
Miss Gray was the recipient of two awards. The 2005 Legendary Principals Award of Excellence and the 2007 Excellence in Education award for her strong leadership and tireless dedication to the children of Newark by the New Jersey Education Consortium.