A total of 200 first-year teachers will benefit from the grant. 

            Established in 1998, New Teacher Academy is a year-long program designed to build support for and encourage retention of new teachers in school districts throughout the U.S.  Focusing on leadership, differentiation, standards and community, experienced teachers within each school district serve as program facilitators for new teacher groups after receiving intensive professional development from Teachers College Innovations. 

            "We are delighted that New Teacher Academy has been selected as a beneficiary of the Jones New YorkIn The Classroom program," said Ann Armstrong, president of Teachers College Innovations.  "New teachers face so many challenges in their early years in the profession that it is estimated that almost 20 percent leave in their first year and 50 percent are gone within five years.  New teacher attrition hurts school districts and ultimately, students.  New Teacher Academy has helped to reverse this trend by providing new teachers with a real sense of community and offering them a practical curriculum based on Teachers College research and practice, to enhance their skills-'"the Jones New York In The Classroom funds allow us to further expand that effort."

"We chose New Teacher Academy as one of our beneficiary organizations because its retention record-'"91 percent retention for teachers graduating from their programs-'"fits right into our mission," saidStacy Lastrina, Vice President of Jones New York In the Classroom and Senior Vice President of Creative Services, Jones Apparel Group.  "According to our research, each time a teacherleaves the profession, it costsroughly $11,500 to recruit, hire, provide orientation andprofessional development for his or her replacement," Lastrinaadded.  "The New Teacher Academy is addressing this issue head on."

            As a grantee, the New Teacher Academy will also benefit from the proceeds of the Jones New York In The Classroom "Shop for Education" week, October 15 through October 22, 2005.  During that week ten percent of the selling price of apparel from the Jones New York lines-'"Collection, Signature, Sport, Dress, Suit and Outerwear (up to $500,000)-'"purchased at Macy's East, Macy's West, Macy's Central, Hecht's and Carson Pirie Scott will be donated to Jones New York In The Classroom, which intends to use the donation for the benefit  of New Teacher Academy and the three other non-profits in the Jones New York In The Classroom program, to help supplement or expand their programs and activities.

Teachers College Innovations is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting equity and excellence in education and overcoming the gap in educational access and achievement by bringing high-quality professional development programs to teachers and educational leaders in the cities, states, districts and schools where they live and work.  Teachers College Innovations is part of the Center for Educational Outreach and Innovations, a unit of Teachers College, Columbia University, one of the nation's oldest and most respected schools of education.

Jones New York In The Classroom, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) organization that aims to improve the quality of education for children through the recruitment, retention and support of teachers in America's public schools, while inspiring others, both individuals and corporations, to do the same. Jones New York In The Classroom supports the following non-profit charities committed to supporting teachers and education enhancing programs:

-         TeachersCount

-         New Teacher Academy

-         Fund For Teachers

-          Adopt-A-Classroom

For more information on Jones New York In The Classroomand its beneficiaries, please visit www.jnyintheclassroom.org.

For more information on the New Teacher Academy please visit www.newteacheracademy.org

Published Monday, Oct. 24, 2005