Paterson Public Schools Celebrate 198 Seniors Earning New Jersey State Seal of Biliteracy

Paterson, NJ (June 3, 2026) – Paterson Public Schools is proud to announce that 198 graduating seniors have earned the prestigious New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy, a distinction awarded by the New Jersey Department of Education to students who demonstrate proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.

The Seal of Biliteracy recognizes students for their academic achievement, multilingual skills, and cultural awareness while preparing them for college, careers, and global engagement. To earn the Seal, students must meet specific criteria in both English and a partner language.

“Earning the New Jersey State Seal of Biliteracy is an outstanding accomplishment that reflects our students’ hard work, dedication, and perseverance,” said Superintendent Dr. Laurie W. Newell. “In Paterson Public Schools, we proudly celebrate the many languages and cultures represented throughout our district. We congratulate these students on this well-deserved recognition and commend them for their commitment to multilingual achievement.”

This year’s recipients represent the district’s continued commitment to supporting multilingual learners and expanding equitable access to academic opportunities that celebrate language diversity and cultural inclusion.

“This recognition represents the collective efforts of our students, families, educators, counselors, and administrators who work together every day to support multilingual achievement,” said Liza M. Rios Otto, Director of Multilingual Learners. “We are incredibly proud of our students for embracing biliteracy as a strength and for demonstrating the importance of multilingualism in today’s world.”

Among this year’s honorees is Doha Essaghir of John F. Kennedy High School, who earned the Seal of Biliteracy in both Arabic and French, making her trilingual and further highlighting the exceptional linguistic talent found across the district.

Special recognition is extended to Ms. Kayla Khaled, Supervisor of World Languages, whose leadership helped coordinate the Seal of Biliteracy testing and student identification process throughout the academic year. In partnership with multilingual supervisors, school administrators, counselors, and World Language teachers across the district, Ms. Khaled played a key role in supporting students through the certification process.