Biographical Profile

    Linda Kelly-Gamble is a Special Education Teacher at Newark Public School with a decade of experience in early childhood and special education professional development. I served as Chairperson of Professional Development with the School Leadership Team. First and foremost, my passion and commitment are to service the students and their families in the City of Newark. This is my twenty-eighth year teaching with Newark Public Schools. Also, I served in the capacity of an Academic Interventionist and Resource Teacher with Newark Public School. As a result, these roles prepared me to strengthen my skills to help students meet their benchmarks and experience a lifelong love for reading. The year before COVID, my students exceeded their benchmarks in reading, math, and science. As a result, the students were recognized for their six percent gain.

     I graduated from Kean University with a degree in Early Childhood/Special Education in 1994. In 2001, I also graduated with my Educational Leadership degree, and in 2016, I earned my School Business Administrator Certificate from Kean University and Post Master Classes at Montclair State University. In addition, I am a certified Notary. In my career received a Boy Scout Award and Delegate Assembly Award Certificate. I fundraised for College Women to attend college through the Educational Advancement Fund with Beta Alpha Omega-Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 

     In addition, I have been actively involved with New Jersey Education Association as long as I have been in my teaching career. Moreover, I was the FAST Coordinator (Families and School Work Together for our children). This program collaborates with the families in the community to partner with your PTA/PTO and plan amazing workshops for the families according to their needs. Currently, I am the Treasurer of the Newark Teacher’s Association, serving two hundred and six members.   I have worn many hats over my career, from Vice President of the Newark Teacher’s Association to Commissioner and now Treasurer. My role and responsibilities are to keep our members informed and engaged in current events that may affect them directly and offer many members benefits. Therefore, I am the New Jersey Education Association Membership Chair for Essex County Education Association, serving over ten thousand members.

   Next, I served on the Essex County Democratic County Committee and Bloomfield Democratic County Committee to educate the families and community to get the vote out. I feel passionate about citizens having a voice and voting in the community. Also, I made over ten thousand calls to check on our members. On that day, I will call it Wellness Wednesday. In my town, I volunteered to visit the food pantry and deliver food and clothing to the less fortunate and senior citizens. I served as a Boy Scout Leader when my son was in boy scouts’ that was my most significant achievement because I helped many youths earn their badges in becoming Boy Scouts. We did a lot of outdoor camping adventures to bond and got to know one another. I believe building relationships are vital to being successful.

    In closing, I am passionate about lifelong learning and community service. I am a General Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In addition, I am a member of the ELKS Club. I always look forward to new adventures and am willing to serve with integrity, humility, and compassion.  

The culture of teaching will change when the learner is fully engaged.

                                                                            -Linda Kelly-Gamble, M.Ed.

Notary