During the February New York City Department of Education Midwinter Recess, The MEC Learning Community Network hosts its Annual New Teacher Professional Day. Holding this important event during the annual winter public school recess ensures maximum teacher participation and no disruption to the students' instruction. The unanimous, positive feedback from participants confirms the need for such an event, as well as the need for The Learning Community Network.

The targeted audience for this event is new and not so new teachers, in particular recent Medgar Evers College Teacher Education Program graduates. Public and private teachers and school support staff working in districts surrounding MEC (CSD 13, 16, 17, 19, 23, and 32) are invited to attend. The planned workshops are beneficial and applicable to the development of effective educators. Workshop presenters address ways to meet the mandates set forth by the new educational legislation, No Child Left Behind, and most importantly, the six critical developmental pathways (e.g., cognitive, linguistic, ethical, social, psychological, physical), along which all children at every level, p-12, must proceed in order to become productive and successful citizens in the 21st Century. Workshop presenters are MEC faculty and graduates (who are currently NYC Public School teachers) and Network members (e.g., Botanic Garden staff).

The MEC Learning Community Network is a recognized NYC Department of Education Authorized Conference Representative. New teacher participants receive new teacher stipend monies from The New York City Department of Education.

The Annual New Teacher Professional Day represents the ongoing collaborative efforts of MEC, local public schools, and community organizations. This collaborative activity reflects the vision of The National Council For Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). NCATE standards are based on the belief that all children can and should learn. In order to attain this goal, NCATE believes that accredited school, colleges, and departments of education should ensure that new teachers attain the necessary content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge and skills to teach both independently and collaboratively. In addition, this event reflects MEC's commitment to support quality education for in New York City.

On Friday, February 22nd, during The New York City Public School System's Midwinter Recess, The Learning Community Network hosted a New Teacher Professional Day. The day's events were opened by a motivational, keynote speech by Vice Chancellor, Regent Adelaide Sanford. Medgar Evers College Education Department faculty and staff from a variety of Network member organizations presented a full day of workshops designed to enhance the skills of first year teachers. During the lunch break, participants had an opportunity to meet and talk with the author of Rookie Teacher: Journey of a First-Year Teacher, Dr. Kelvin L. Reed. Participants received six New York City Board of Education new teacher professional development credit. While the intended audience for the planned workshops was new teachers, all teachers and school support staff that attended found the workshops to be informative and useful for their development as effective educators.

On Friday, February 21st, The Medgar Evers College Learning Community Network hosted the second Midwinter Professional Day For Teachers. The annual Network event represents the ongoing collaborative efforts of Medgar Evers College, local public and private schools, and cultural and community organizations. This collaborative activity reflects the vision of Medgar Evers College and The National Council For Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The mission of Medgar Evers College and NCATE are based on the belief that all children can and should learn. Medgar Evers College and NCATE believe that accredited schools, colleges, and departments of education should ensure that new teachers attain the necessary content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge and skills to teach both independently and collaboratively. This event also reflects the commitment of Medgar Evers College to support quality education in New York City.

The Medgar Evers College Learning Community Network is a recognized NYC Department of Education Authorized Conference Representative. New teacher participants received new teacher stipend monies from The New York City Department of Education. The full day of workshops were designed to enhance the skills of new and experienced teachers, and student support staff. Medgar Evers College Teacher Education graduates and Network members served as workshop presenters.

The participants received words of encouragement and support from President Edison O. Jackson and CUNY Teacher Education Dean Nicholas Michelli. Keynote speaker, Dr. Joyce Coppin, Supervising Superintendent, Center for Recruitment and Professional Development eloquently shared the wisdom, expertise, and knowledge that she has acquired during her 30 plus years in the New York City Public School System. ...MORE... >>