Husband, Father, Friend to many. Principal and learner. Life is good when you are happy. Life is best when others are happy because of you.

New Jersey, USA
Joined April 2016
Scott Bortnick retweeted
"Thomas Jefferson taught that a democracy was impractical unless the people were educated. No matter how stringent the protections of the people might be in constitutions or common law, there would always be a temptation, Jefferson thought, for the powerful, the wealthy, and the unscrupulous to undermine the ideal of government run by and for ordinary citizens. The antidote is vigorous support for the expression of unpopular views, widespread literacy, substantive debate, a common familiarity with critical thinking, and skepticism of pronouncements of those in authority—which are all also central to the scientific method." — Carl Sagan
77
953
78
2,212
55,478
We just crossed a line in medicine that humanity has been walking toward for a hundred years. For the first time, doctors can take a biopsy of your specific tumor, read its unique DNA mutations — the exact fingerprint no other cancer on earth shares — and build a custom mRNA blueprint written for one human being. Yours. It doesn't poison the cancer. It teaches your own immune system what to hunt. And this week, Phase 3 results confirmed it works. Added to the best immunotherapy we already had, this individualized cancer vaccine has been dramatically cutting the odds that high-risk melanoma comes back. In the earlier data, the combination reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 49%, and the risk of the cancer spreading to distant organs by 62%, compared to the standard treatment alone. This week's Phase 3 readout confirmed the benefit holds. That is not a modest tweak. That is a different trajectory for a human life. And melanoma is just the first door. The same approach is now in trials across lung, bladder, and kidney cancers — a whole program of them, racing forward. Understand what this actually means, because it's bigger than one drug. For all of history, we fought cancer with blunt weapons. Cut it out. Burn it with radiation. Flood the whole body with chemotherapy and hope the cancer dies before the patient suffers too much. We were swinging a hammer in the dark. This is a blueprint. A weapon designed atom by atom for one person's disease, that turns their own body into the thing that finds and destroys it. We are watching medicine shift from managing cancer to hunting it. I've spent my life as a physician, and I did not expect to see this so soon. We were told personalized cancer vaccines were a thirty-year dream. They are happening right now, in real patients, with real data, in our lifetime. I don't say this lightly, and I say it as a doctor who knows exactly how rare these moments are: this is one of the most hopeful things to happen in the history of the field. I woke up thinking of the words of the morning prayer — Modeh Ani — I thank You. Gratitude, the moment you open your eyes, for a soul returned and a day given. To be alive at the exact hour when human beings learned to teach the body to cure itself feels like standing inside that prayer. We are not at the end of cancer. But we are, unmistakably, at the beginning of the end of its reign.
310
3,042
275
14,281
828,150
It looks like you won't have time after the morning PD session to work on your classroom as originally promised. So, as a favor to you, the school will remain open after contractual hours and over the weekend for you to prep for your students. You're welcome!
46
38
6
438
22,285
RETWEET if you stand with Dr. Fauci!
1,034
13,138
170
31,372
306,788
Scott Bortnick retweeted
In 1992, 72% of 4th graders scored below proficient on the NAEP reading assessment. Today, those kids are 40-41 years old. They went on to earn 4-year college and advanced degrees at a rate surpassing all generations before them. My latest post: tomloveless.com/posts/litera…
25
106
42
334
95,919
Scotch Plains-Fanwood Schools is hiring! Come join Team #SPFProud - be a part of our amazing community of learners and leaders!
1
1
248
Scott Bortnick retweeted
#TECLI3 continues with its panel of early childhood practitioners/experts, moderated by @FideliaSturdiv1. Thank you @BortexEdD @DrDeniseKing2 @SoulfulTeachin for your inspiring messages! @NJPSA @NewJerseyDOE
1
5
1
19
1,106
Scott Bortnick retweeted
On this day, 55 years ago, my father delivered his last speech entitled, ‘I’ve Been to the Mountaintop’. Listen to his words.
330
4,141
426
14,372
1,425,646
3
36
3
108
11,143
Come join the SPF team! Part time lunch and recess aides needed#spfproud
3
2
532
Scott Bortnick retweeted
Vote for Julia!
Our honorees for this week's Athlete of the Week poll! ow.ly/TfHw50JaGts
"Mindfulness is not going to help with the kinds of structural problems that stretch teachers beyond their limits. Just telling a teacher to breathe when they haven’t had a break all day is not going to help at all," says @TishJennings. #K12MentalHealth edweek.org/teaching-learning…
Eat your heart out NYC. The Brunner Balloon parade is the best around!Happy Thanksgiving SPF!#spfproud
2
14
It’s tough right now. We are showing up imperfectly, but we are showing up. We are feeling ineffective, but we are learning and trying. We are insecure and uncertain, but we care deeply. My hope for all educators this weekend is that you rest and feel how deeply you matter.
22
482
60
1,899
I teach so that our students can make this country what it says it is. Critical, anti-oppressive education is patriotic. ♥️🇺🇲🏳️‍🌈✊🏾🙂
46
588
50
3,675
Teaching may be the toughest job, but principal may be the loneliest job. They're in a constant tug of war between mandates, directives, & expectations of the district and the needs & support for teachers. Its important for superintendents & teachers to recognize & show support.
80
499
149
4,465
#SPFProud is looking for some awesome additions to our team. If you teach HS Math or English, MS French or Italian, MS English or Science, Special Ed, are an LDTC or SAS for Diversity & Inclusion or an elem. classroom teacher, visit spfk12.org/apply for more info! #njed
5
2
12