This generous fellowship awards full-time classroom teachers in New York City public schools with a fully sponsored educational trip with NYU Steinhardt faculty.
Professor of Science Education Catherine Milne (far left, multicolored jacket) with members of the 2024 Astor Fellows cohort, who shared about their summer travel at the 10th anniversary celebration.
On October 30, NYU Steinhardt celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Astor International Travel Fellowship for New York City Teachers in the Grand Hall at the Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life.
Made possible by a generous gift from Mrs. Brooke Astor, the Fellowship celebrates the accomplishments of full-time classroom teachers in New York City public schools by awarding them a fully sponsored educational fellowship with Steinhardt faculty. Over the last 10 years, the Astor Fellowship has impacted nearly 150 teachers by expanding their horizons and deepening their pedagogy through trips to Shanghai, Buenos Aires, Sydney, and more.
The October 30 event included many teachers and Steinhardt faculty leaders who have participated in past Astor Fellows programs, as well as Steinhardt administrators and other stakeholders inside and outside the School.
Dean Jack H. Knott at the 10th anniversary event.
“We very much appreciate all our New York City partners—teachers, principals, administrators, and others—who provide invaluable experiences for our students,” said Jack H. Knott, Gale and Ira Drukier Dean of NYU Steinhardt, in his remarks at the event. “Thanks to the training and guidance our students receive under your supervision, we are proud to graduate some of the most skilled, diverse, and well-prepared future teachers in the country."
The Astor Fellowship involves funded summer travel for the participants in which they focus on a specific theme with Steinhardt faculty. Recent cohort travel themes included “Finding Joy Engaging with the Earth: Biodiversity, Fossils, and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy” in London with Catherine Milne, professor of science education, and “School-EdTech Partnerships in Startup Nations” in Tel Aviv with Yoav Bergner, assistant professor of learning sciences and educational technology.
2024 Fellows Bernadette Gloster, Sasha O'Connor, and Jessica Bouret share their experiences about visiting London and the Jurassic Coast.
At a symposium event after their travel, Fellows present about their experiences to the NYU community, teacher colleagues, and program alumni, which gives participants the opportunity to reflect on their experience, share the impact of the program on their pedagogy and classroom practices, and promote innovation in teaching.
Applications are currently underway for the 2025 cohort of Astor Fellows. The theme is “Building Bridges: Working with Newcomer Students and Multilingual Learners,” and the program will focus on preparing New York City public school teachers to serve newcomer students and multilingual learners across disciplines and age groups. The 2025 cohort will travel to Paris to learn about European models in this arena, expand their understanding of the field, and strengthen their teaching practice. They will work alongside Robin E. Harvey, clinical associate professor of TESOL, bilingual, and world language education.
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