Partnership for Teacher Excellence

 

The NYC Partnership for Teacher Excellence brings together The City University of New York (CUNY), New York University (NYU, including the Steinhardt School of Education and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences) and the NYC Department of Education (DOE) to develop and implement an innovative new model for the preparation and ongoing development of aspiring teachers that better prepares them to be successful in high-needs secondary New York City public schools and equips them with the skills and ongoing support they need to build their careers there.

In doing so, the Partnership addresses one of the challenges currently facing public education in New York City - the need to dramatically improve the recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers - and in doing so is proposing a solution that can serve as a model for urban public school teacher education across the nation.

In January 2006, Mayor Bloomberg announced the formation of the Partnership and the initial funding of $15 million from the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation. Under the leadership of the Partnership's Executive Director, Amy McIntosh, key stakeholders from the DOE, NYU, and CUNY spent the first half of 2006 planning this initiative. The two universities welcomed its first cohorts of students under the Partnership for the academic year 2006-07.

NYU has welcomed 46 Masters candidates in shortage areas (e.g. math and science) who have accepted scholarships committing them to teaching in a high-needs school for two years. Several Petrie Scholars who graduated in May 2007, have accepted full time positions in some of our Partner Schools.

There are several distinctive elements to the Partnership's programs at each university.

Immersion in "host" public schools

All the aspiring teachers in these programs are immersed in intensive field work in one of 36 specially-selected DOE "host" schools from across all 5 boroughs. Of the 36 host schools, NYU has partnered with 19 schools in the Lower East Side, East Harlem and the South Bronx. The Partner Schools will provide exposure to the full range of student needs in New York City while demonstrating how collaborative communities of educators can successfully drive student achievement.

Curriculum that closely integrates theory and practice

Aspiring teachers will develop strong content knowledge while learning the pedagogical skills they need to teach the content. These skills will come through integrated coursework and field work that blends theory and practice. For example, some of coursework for aspiring teachers is co-planned and co-instructed by university faculty and seasoned DOE teachers, often delivered on-site in host schools. Additionally, many Faculty are also involved in Curriculum Projects that are seek to tailor curriculum for urban teaching.

Both universities are continuing this year to collaborate across the education and arts and sciences faculties as well as with DOE educators to enhance both the content knowledge and pedagogy provided by their programs and to tightly link curriculum and fieldwork to the skills and instructional practices that teachers need to be successful in NYC public schools.


Ongoing support and professional development for graduates

University and DOE collaboration continues after the aspiring teachers graduate and enter teaching full-time. Professional development builds seamlessly on the skills and practices taught during education school, and the universities have committed to provide a series of professional development events. NYU conducts the Early Career Project, which supported and  further developed alumni who are currently teaching in New York City schools.  

Additionally, Teachers, Coaches and Liaisons, Student Teachers and NYU Faculty have attended a series of Professional Development focusing on strategies for mentoring aspiring teachers. For more information about various Professional Development Opportunities and Events and NYU, please click the Professional Development link on the purple tab above.

Career Fairs and Advertising Positions

During the Spring Semester, two Career Fairs were conducted in Partnership Schools. In March, the Lower East Side Job Fair was held at the Seward Park Complex and in May, an East Harlem/South Bronx Job Fair was hosted in the Manhattan Center Complex. Graduating NYU students interested in obtaining teaching, counseling and social work positions in our Partnership Schools attended and were able to meet administrators and teachers from our host schools. As of June 30th, 2007, 12 NYU recent graduates will be teaching in several Partner Schools in September. Additionally, Positions at our Partnership Schools are regularly emailed to our students and posted on this website, as well.

Partnership Events

NYU has hosted several Partnership Events over the course of the 2006-2007 Academic Year. Recently, a Learning Partners Retreat was held at the Marriott in May. Host Schools have also opened their doors on several occasions, welcoming NYU faculty and students to events being held at their school. Recently, East Side Community invited members of NYU's community to take part in their Round Tables.

CUNY

CUNY has launched its brand-new undergraduate Teacher Academy to train math and science majors to be secondary school teachers. The first cohort of 118 students has met demanding admissions standards to be admitted to six senior colleges for the start of the 2006-07 academic year. All Teacher Academy students receive a full four-year scholarship and stipends for work in public schools and will commit to teach for at least two years in a high needs NYC school upon graduation. CUNY expects to grow its program to enroll 300 new aspiring teachers each year and will add a seventh campus for 2007-08. For more information please visit CUNY Teacher Academy.

Additional information