Faculty

Suzanne C. Carothers

Professor of Early Childhood Education

Phone: 212-998-5460
Email:

Suzanne C. Carothers is a Professor in The Steinhardt School of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning at New York University. Prior to assuming this position, she was a Professor at The City College of The City University of New York in the Department of Education, the Elementary Education Program. In her former position as the Adult Literacy Program Director in the Office of the Mayor of the City of New York, Dr. Carothers coordinated the New York City Adult Literacy Initiative, a ground breaking effort which is in the forefront of the movement to provide literacy instruction and services for adults with limited reading, writing and English speaking skills. A graduate of Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, she received her Masters Degree from Bank Street College of Education and her Ph.D. from New York University in 1987. Dr. Carothers has done extensive teacher training and staff development work in a variety of settings for more than 25 years. Her work has included developing early childhood curriculum materials, conducting process writing workshops and giving papers and presentations on educational and women?s issues. As a teacher of early childhood, Dr. Carothers taught three-year-olds for several years at the Bank Street School for Children of the Bank Street College of Education. Her work with the three?s resulted in the development of a filmstrip called Children Can Cook. This teacher training filmstrip helps teachers understand the thinking and process involved in planning for the developmental needs of young children by using cooking activities as the core curriculum. The Rationale for the filmstrip became her Masters thesis. Dr. Carothers teaches graduate level early childhood and elementary curriculum education courses and conducts undergraduate student teaching seminars. She has also developed programs for parents, children and child care workers in collaboration with community agencies. Most recently at their 2001 Commencement Exercises, Bank Street College of Education awarded Dr. Carothers an honorary doctorate for outstanding achievement as a teacher, leader in education and mentor.


Degrees Held

  • M.S. Bank Street College of Education 1973
  • B.A. Bennett College 1971
  • Ph.D. New York University 1987

Awards

  • 2002 : Thirteen/WNET New York Community Leadership Award
  • 2001 : Honorary Doctorate, Bank Street College of Education
  • 1996 : Recipient of Third Annual Ofelia Barcia Spirit of the Community Award, City College Community Education Center
  • 1996 : Recipient, CITYWOMEN of the Year Award, City College

Publications

  • Catching Sense: Learning from Our Mothers to Be Black and Female, in Families in the United States: Kinship and Domestic Politics, Ed.s, Karen V. Hansen and Anita Ilta Garey. Temple University Press, 1998.
  • Taking Teaching Seriously, in To Become A Teacher: Making A Difference in ChildrenÆs Lives. Ed., William Ayers, Teachers College Press, 1995.
  • Keynote Speaker, Partners for Success: Linking Communities, Families and Schools û School of
  • the 21st Century Conference. Sponsored by the Yale University Bush Center in Child Development and Social Policy. Speech entitled: Where Does Literacy Live in All of Us? New Haven, CT. July 17, 2002.
  • Keynote Speaker, Thirteen/WNET New York and The Office of Adult and Continuing
  • Education of the Board of Education of the City of New York 12th Annual GED Graduation and Student Recognition Ceremony. Speech entitled: Celebrating Student Progress and Achievement. New York, NY. June 25, 2002.
  • Keynote Address, Peer Conference: Linking After-School to Community. Sponsored by the After
  • School Corporation. Speech entitled: Making Linkages Among Learning, Literacy, Families and Communities.ö New York, NY. December 18, 2001.
  • Keynote Speaker, Opening Ceremony for Teaching Fellows Partnership, Bank Street College of
  • Education and Community District 5. Speech entitled: The Power of Teachers and the Stories They Leave Behind. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York, NY. June 18, 2001.
  • Panelist, AERA, Presented on Panel for DvK-Invitational Session: Do You See What I See? û Knowledge and Skills Where Teacher Education Leaves Off. Paper entitled: Beyond Naming Approaches to Understanding Needs of Learners in Classroom Settings. Seattle,
  • Panelist, National Association for the Education of Young Children 2000 Annual Conference. Panel Topic: Universal Pre-K Fellows: An Innovative Model of University Partnerships to Support Professional Development. Atlanta, GA. November 9, 2000.
  • Presenter, The Forum on Children and Families at NYUÆs Child and Family Policy Center. ôStrengthening Parent Involvement in Preschool and the Early Grades.ö Topic: Promoting Parental Involvement: The Role of the Teacher and Teacher Education Programs.

Research Interests

  • Curriculum
  • Teacher development