NYC Chancellor Dennis Wolcott at CSA Conference at Fordham

The Council of School Supervisors & Administrators (CSA) met last week at the Fordham Lincoln Center campus, with NYC Schools Chancellor Dennis Wolcott (GSS '80) addressing almost 200 New York City school principals and administrators on July 14th.

Click here to read the full story in Inside Fordham.

Alumni in the News: Dr. Valerie Rowe

Dr. Valerie Rowe is investing in the future of New York City high-school students.

Dr. Rowe earned her doctorate at Fordham University and was a Clinical Associate Professor at GSE in the Division of Curriculum and Teaching from 1999 to 2009.  She has continued to support GSE and education in New York city- with a recent gift of $1 million to Student Sponsor Partners, an organization that provides scholarships to at-risk high-school students, 61 young people will be able to pursue their education at a nonpublic high school. With the organization's 85% graduation rate, most of the students are expected to earn a diploma and the majority will go on to college.

Click here to read the full story in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).

GSE Awarded $2.5 Million Clinically Rich Teacher Education Grant

We are pleased to announce that last week, GSE was awarded a $2.5 million grant under the NY State Education Department's Clinically Rich Teacher Education endeavor.  We were among 38 educational institutions (including K-12 as well as higher education) to apply, and 1 of 11 to be funded.  Ours was the second highest scoring proposal reviewed. 

Congratulations to the faculty in the Adolescence programs in our division of Curriculum & Teaching, especially Drs. Marshall George and Jane Bolgatz, who worked with Anita Batisti (Director of the Center for Educational Partnerships) on the development of the proposal.  The first cohort of students under the grant will begin their studies in May 2012.

Center for Educational Partnerships Conducts Citywide Institute

A three-day institute, "Building Language, Content and Standards-Based Instruction for English Language Learners," conducted under contract with the New York City Department of Education by the Center for Educational Partnerships at GSE, was held on July 5th through 7th at the Fordham Rose Hill campus.  The institute brought over 50 teachers together for professional development geared to meeting the needs of English language learners. Teachers left with new skills and knowledge that will enable them to make content learning more accessible, build academic vocabulary, and develop writing skills using the Common Core State Standards. We are proud to report a 91% satisfaction rate from participants, and comments such as:

“ I have learned so much in the three days about how to modify and cater to the need of ELLs.”

“I hope that there are more of these institutes and learning opportunities to come!”

“…would love to sit under these presenters again—excellent!"

“A very high-quality experience, plenty of useful ideas to apply.”

GSE in Inside Fordham: Institute on Multilingualism Addresses Poverty in Schools

On July 7th, Stephen Krashen, Ph.D. (Professor Emeritus at the University of Southern California) spoke at Fordham College at Lincoln Center as part of a 10-day institute on "Multilingualism in Schooling and Learning: Contemporary Perspectives," sponsored by the Graduate School of Education and organized by Dr. Aida Nevarez-La Torre, Ed.D. (Associate Professor of TESOL Education and Director of the Office of Multilingual Education at GSE). The goal of the Institute is to convey the significance of multilingualism and show current and future educators how to advocate for it in their school systems. 

While various aspects of multilingualism and ways of strengthening students ability to learn English were addressed, Krashen disputed the notion of "our failing schools" and said the real problem facing American schoolchildren is poverty.  "Children of poverty have practically nothing to read," he said. "More access to books results in more reading. In addition Krashen argues that "Even (in) undisciplined, free, random reading, you build a huge knowledge of the world," while also absorbing the rules of language in a way that’s more effective than grammar drills and frequent testing".   

Click here to read the full story in Inside Fordham.

Click here to read more about the Institute on Multilingualism.

Alumni News: Kathleen Curatolo

Ms. Kathleen Curatolo (MSE in Administration and Supervision, GSE '03), who has been principal of the Immaculate Conception school in Staten Island, NY for 11 years, will take on a new role as the Associate Superintendent for Leadership and Recruitment in the Archdiocese of New York's Education Department.  Her new position will involve visiting schools citywide and mentoring new principals, in addition to assisting veteran principals deal with the many changes concerning education ongoing within the Archdiocese.  Ms. Curatolo is currently continuing her education at GSE as a Ph.D. candidate.

Click here to read the full story.

Happy Independence Day!

The Graduate School of Education wishes you a happy and relaxing July 4th holiday weekend!