Making Connections

Making Connections

Schedule/Activities Teacher Feedback

 

MENTORING NEW YORK CITY TEACHERS:

A SCHOOL-COLLEGE COLLABORATION

"Our mentor has been wonderful. She understood the time and administrative constraints of the building while providing support, feedback, resources, and guidance." -- Making Connections Participant

"We have found that the meaningful partnerships that develop between ASHP/CML mentors and high school educators have a profound affect on teaching and learning for students and teachers alike." -- High School Administrator

Who are ASHP/CML Faculty Mentors?

Alberta Arnold, a mentor from LaGuardia Community College, shares lunch
and discusses a morning activity with Stephanie Coleman and Michele Barry,
two of the three teachers she mentored at Springfield Gardens High School
(Queens).
Making Connections brings together faculty from the City University of New York and New York City secondary schools to strengthen teaching and learning in humanities classrooms. Faculty mentors are either college professors or retired high school teachers with backgrounds in history, English, or social science. The college faculty come from a range of CUNY campuses including LaGuardia, Hostos, Bronx Community, Borough of Manhattan, and Queens. Mentors who are retired teachers have extensive experience in the NYC schools.


What do Faculty Mentors Do?

  • Work at school sites with teachers in planning sessions, classrooms, and faculty meetings. In classrooms, mentors observe and critique, teach model lessons, team-teach, and work with students in groups.
  • Attend the seven monthly seminars at the Graduate Center
  • Work with school administrators to implement the ASHP/CML program and support teachers and students.
  • Share experiences with other mentors and ASHP/CML staff and contribute to the assessment of program activities.

What do Teachers Say About Mentors?

Teacher evaluations of Making Connections have consistently praised the mentor program for helping them to understand college-level expectations, develop more academically challenging lessons, and utilize CUNY's rich intellectual resources.

"ASHP/CML respects teachers as professionals. The mentoring it provides for teachers is the true strength of the program. I am given support to try new ideas and engage students with content in more meaningful ways." -- High School Teacher

Lorraine and Roberta Lorraine and Roberta.

How do Mentors and ASHP/CML Educators Benefit?

As faculty mentors work closely with teachers, the seminars, planning sessions, and classrooms become sites for professional growth. CUNY faculty partners gain insight into the backgrounds of many CUNY students and have opportunities to reflect on and strengthen their own teaching skills. During the school year, ASHP/CML educators learn about the needs of teachers and students and make ongoing efforts to improve resources and programs.

"This experience has enhanced my professional development by making me aware of the challenges, changes, and priorities that teachers and students are confronted with each day in the high school system. Developing relationships with teachers has been a very special part of my work." -- CUNY Faculty Mentor

How can I Participate?

If you are interested in becoming an ASHP/CML faculty mentor, contact Donna Thompson Ray, Project Director of Faculty Development Programs, at (212) 817-1963 or dthompson@gc.cuny.edu