Education Update Thanks the Wonderful Sponsors Who Supported The Second New York Citywide Special Education Conference
The United Federation of Teachers
Representing more than 200,000 working people, the UFT is the sole bargaining agent for most of the non-supervisory educators who work in the New York City public schools. It represents approximately 78,000 teachers and 17,000 classroom paraprofessionals, along with school secretaries, attendance teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, education evaluators, nurses, laboratory technicians, adult education teachers and retired members. The UFT also operates two public charter schools and represents teachers and other employees of several other charter schools and private educational institutions. The allied Federation of Nurses/UFT represents some 2,500 registered nurses of the New York City Visiting Nurse Service and several private New York City hospitals and health care institutions. The union also represents 28,000 New York City home child-care providers for whom they secured collective-bargaining rights in 2007. Randi Weingarten is the newly elected president of the more than 1.4-million-member American Federation of Teachers.
Council of School Supervisors
and Administrators
The Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA) is Local 1 of AFSA, the American Federation of School Administrators, which in turn is part of the AFL-CIO. CSA is also part of NYSFSA, the New York State Federation of School Administrators. Headed by President Ernest Logan the CSA represents over 6,100 Principals, Assistant Principals, Supervisors, Education Administrators, Day Care Directors and Assistant Directors. CSA members work in public schools, charter schools and city-funded day care centers across the five boroughs, as well as offices of the Department of Education. CSA also represents more than 9,000 retirees and their spouses, as part of the union’s Retiree Chapter. CSA represents its members individually and collectively, in matters concerning salaries, working conditions and educational policies, and all other areas which relate to the administration and supervision of schools. CSA also assists members in matters concerning their welfare, and provides professional development through the Educational Leadership Institute (ELI) and the Supervisory Support Program (SSP).
The City University of New York (CUNY)
The City University of New York is the nation’s largest urban public university. Founded in New York City in 1847 as the Free Academy, CUNY comprises 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E. Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, the Graduate School and University Center, the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, the CUNY School of Law, the CUNY School of Professional Studies and the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education. The University serves more than 243,000 degree-credit students and 240,000 adult, continuing and professional education students. College Now, the University’s academic enrichment program for 32,500 high school students, is offered at CUNY campuses and more than 300 high schools throughout the five boroughs of the City of New York. The University offers online baccalaureate degrees through the School of Professional Studies and individualized baccalaureate degrees through the CUNY Baccalaureate Degree. The University Teacher Academy provides free tuition for highly motivated mathematics and science majors who seek teaching careers in the city.
Landmark College
While many colleges offer special programs for students with learning difficulties, Landmark College is one of the only accredited colleges in the United States designed exclusively for students with dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), or other specific learning disabilities. Landmark teaches the skills and strategies necessary for success in college and the workforce. Students at Landmark get far more personal, directed assistance than at other colleges. Each student receives individualized attention from classroom instructors—in courses tailored to meet their educational needs. There are courses for skills development, college credit, and an Associate Degree Program for individuals who have average—to superior—intellectual potential. The experienced advisors meet frequently with students to review and guide their progress.
Queens College
To those who are familiar with Queens College, it comes as no surprise that The Princeton Review has again recognized it as one of the nation’s “Best Value” colleges. For more than 70 years, we have been providing a premier liberal arts education to the New York metropolitan area’s best and brightest while maintaining very low tuition. For many students caught up in the current unsettled economic climate, our formula of quality and affordability has taken on even greater significance. From graduate and undergraduate degrees, honors and pre-professional programs to research and internship opportunities, we have consistently offered students—regardless of economic circumstance–countless options for realizing their potential under the guidance of our talented and respected faculty. Building upon their Queens College experience, many of our graduates have risen to the highest levels of their professions—in some instances, becoming household names. Only minutes from Manhattan, the Queens College campus is situated on 77 beautiful, tree-lined acres with a traditional grassy quad and a mix of historic Spanish-style buildings and contemporary state-of-the-art facilities reflecting the latest in education technology. Our campus reflects our determination to embrace the best of what’s new while respecting tradition.
Teachers College,
Columbia University
Teachers College, Columbia University, is the oldest and largest graduate school of education in the United States, and also perennially ranked among the nation’s best. Created in 1887 to prepare a new breed of school teacher to educate immigrant children, the College has been home to many of the defining figures in American education, including John Dewey, James Earl Russell, Edward Lee Thorndike, Isabel Maitland Stewart, Morton Deutsch, Edmund Gordon and Maxine Greene. Today the College continues to work toward social change for the better by focusing on education in and out of the classroom and across the human lifespan. Through its three main emphases -- teacher preparation, nursing education and psychology -- TC prepares educators, psychologists, policy makers and planners to grapple with some of society’s most complex and multi-faceted problems, including the gap in educational opportunities, expectations and classroom achievement that separates the nation’s poorer students from their wealthier counterparts. Dr. Susan H. Fuhrman is the President of Teachers College, Columbia University, founding Director and Chair of the Management Committee of the Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE), and President-elect of the National Academy of Education. In January 2009, she was named co-chair of a new Roundtable on Education Systems and Accountability (RESA), established at the request of the U.S. Department of Education by the National Research Council’s Board on Testing and Assessment.
McGraw-Hill Education
McGraw-Hill Education is a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), a global information services provider for the financial services, education and business information markets. We are a leading global provider of educational materials, information and solutions for the Pre-K through 12th grade, higher education and professional markets. Our mission is to be the premier worldwide provider of products and services that improve and shape teaching and learning in the digital age.
Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes
Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes, internationally renowned for educational programs and research, has pioneered instructional models to develop the sensory-cognitive processes that underlie reading, spelling, comprehension, critical thinking, and math. Lindamood-Bell® Learning Centers provide one-on-one instruction using our groundbreaking programs; Lindamood-Bell® Professional Development offers workshops for educators and also provides research-based school/district implementation services. For more information, please visit www.LindamoodBell.com or call us at 800-233-1819.
The Winnick Family Foundation
The Winnick Family Foundation focuses its giving in the general program areas of Education, Health Care, Art and Culture, and the Jewish Community. The Foundation encourages innovative education solutions to children’s literacy and mentoring relationships; supports advances in clinical research aimed at global impact on human health; promotes artistic and cultural efforts to expand the imaginative horizons of young people through direct experience with music, the arts and the world of nature. The Foundation also nourishes the connection that Jewish students feel to their shared history, fosters world tolerance, and supports institutions and social services within the Jewish community.
Bank Street College
Bank Street College is a small, vibrant institution, passionately devoted to improving the education of children. Our Special Education Graduate Degree Programs lead to NY certification in general, special education, and inclusion settings in Infant and Parent Development and Early Intervention, Early Childhood, Childhood, and Middle School. You may also obtain a Bilingual Extension, allowing them work in dual language classrooms. New Perspectives extends Bank Street’s commitment to innovative and effective teaching by providing weekend and summer continuing education classes that are tailor-made for an educator’s busy schedule. Designed by educators for educators, we provide practical skills and innovative approaches that you can immediately apply to your work with students and families.
The Sterling School
Language based Learning Disorders and Dyslexia does not have to become an impediment to your child’s life. The Sterling School provides a nurturing environment along with research-based curriculum structured to help these bright but different learners succeed. These students need different teaching and the Sterling School staff is highly trained in Orton-Gillingham multi-sensory methodology to make sure that lessons succeed and each student progresses.The Sterling School program serves students entering 2 through 6th grade. Our program includes speech/language services and counseling if necessary. Sterling Schools’ mission is to empower children who have not thriving in school to maximize their potential and be able to find their place as lifelong learners in both school and life. Many of the students who came to Sterling School in its early years (1999) are now in College. They call and write to let us know how instrumental Sterling was in setting them back on a path to success. Ms. Arberman, the director, will gladly talk to you or review records to see if Sterling might be an appropriate place for your L. D. Child. Please feel free to visit us on the web at www.sterlingschool.com or to call Ms. Arberman at 718-625-3502.
New-York Historical Society
Founded in 1804, the New-York Historical Society (N-YHS) is New York’s first museum with Museum and Library collections comprising four million items that chronicle four centuries of New York and American history. With education at the heart of all we do, N-YHS offers dynamic exhibitions and public programs, as well as school programs that serve 150,000+ New York Metropolitan area teachers and students on- and off-site. In addition to current shows on Grant and Lee, FDR’s First 100 Days, and a spring edition of Audubon’s Aviary, 2009 features year-long programming (including family-oriented Civil War Living History days with re-enactors!) to commemorate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. An extraordinary exhibit of rarely, if ever displayed Lincoln documents (many in his own hand) is on view through July 12. Our largest exhibition to date, Lincoln and New York, opens this fall. Dr. Louise Mirrer is President and Chief Executive Officer of the New-York Historical Society. As CEO, she is responsible for all exhibitions, programs, activities, and administrative functions of the Society. Before joining the Society in June 2004, Dr. Mirrer was the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the City University of New York, where she established American History as a center of excellence, introduced coursework in American History as a graduation requirement, and designed the CUNY Honors College.
Fedex Office
We thank Fedex Office and Manager Valerie D’Oyen for their support of our Special Education Conference.
