Surviving the ‘Parents Rights’ Movement

America’s school boards remained at the crossfire of today’s most pressing issues this year, including book bans, gender-inclusion, race and more. With so much that was at stake during this critical election year, TC’s Jeffrey Henig, Professor of Political Science and Education, and Jonathan Collins, Associate Professor of Politics and Education, offered insights on the changing landscape of school boards politics and the variables contributing to today’s political strife in school districts, along with predictions for the future.

Giving Back on TC Impact Day

Earlier this spring, the TC community joined together through service, action and civic engagement for TC Impact Day. This year’s celebration achieved the largest turnout to date, with more than 200 volunteers participating in a variety of events, including neighborhood park clean-ups, community food drives, and engaging read-aloud sessions in local schools.Together, the TC community raised more than $500,000  to support critical functions at the College, including the TC Promise Scholars, academic departments, the Center for Sustainable Futures, the Hollingsworth Scholarship Fund and more. 

Uncovering New Data on Transgender Workplace Experiences

New research from TC’s Melanie Brewster and Brandon Velez uncovered new, critical data around transgender workplace experiences. The findings revealed that 17 out of 50 states still maintain laws and policies that discriminate against transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals in the workplace. 

“One of the things that I've seen TGNC individuals appreciate the most is having people check in on them,” shared Brewster. “As allies, the most important thing we can do is offer our support to those who need it most.”

Supporting the Future of English Language Learners

In 2024, the needs of migrant students brought to light significant deficits in bilingual and English as a new language education. Many, particularly those with disabilities, are at risk of being overlooked. Teachers are grappling with a severe shortage and face obstacles such as insufficient resources and a weak bilingual education infrastructure. 

To tackle these issues, TC experts offered evidence-based strategies for better supporting these students. “Our teachers are equipped to help new arrivals from diverse linguistic backgrounds navigate both the school system and the language learning process,” said TC’s Sarah Creider, Lecturer in Applied Linguistics and TESOL.

Empowering Future Leaders to Address Climate Change

More than 40 middle school educators gathered at Teachers College last summer for the 2024 Summer Climate Institute: Integrating Climate Education in NYC Public Schools,  which equipped educators with strategies to prepare their students for a world affected by climate change. The week-long program, hosted in the Smith Learning Theater, emphasized climate essentials and engaging, interdisciplinary pedagogy. The initiative was a collaboration between TC’s Center for Sustainable Futures (CSF), the LEAP Center at Columbia University and NYC public schools.

Expanding Access to Culturally-Responsive Learning

After three years of development, including a year of piloting in 120 classrooms across all five boroughs of New York City, TC’s Black Education Research Center (BERC) debuted a new curriculum, Black Studies as the Study of the World: A PK-12 Black Studies Curriculum for New York City Public Schools in July.

Led by TC's Sonya Douglass, the curriculum was created through collaboration with BERC, NYC Council, the EEAP initiative, educators, nonprofits, government leaders and NYC Public Schools, and is available as an open-source material for educators nationwide and is intended to be a national model for school districts across the country. The comprehensive curriculum plan includes detailed lesson plans, lesson accommodations and modifications for students with disabilities and English language learners, culturally-responsive reading recommendations and a robust resource directory.

Funding a New Fight for New York's Schools

In response to a broken budget formula, TC’s Center for Educational Equity (CEE) embarked on a project to create a more accurate and equitable school funding model. Led by Michael Rebell, the center’s founder and director, the project aims to collaborate with educators, parents, students and economists to build a new formula from scratch, with hopes of a proposal for improving the current Foundation Aid formula for the 2025-2026 school year.

Integrating the 2024 Election into the Classroom

This year, educators held an integral role in helping students better understand and navigate election chaos ahead of the November ballot. TC experts including Beth Rubin, Professor of Education, Ioana Literat, Associate Professor of Communication, Media and Learning Technologies Design, and more weighed in on opportunities in teaching students about the structures of democracy and its history, while offering them the chance to continue developing critical thinking skills through debate and discussion. 

Promoting a Culturally Inclusive Classroom

Despite ongoing challenges in education this year, from book bans to curriculum restrictions, research shows that culturally inclusive education enriches all students, fostering engagement and empathy. In efforts to address these challenges, five Teachers College faculty members offered advice and insights for creating more culturally inclusive classrooms, with recommendations like “giving students the space to explore their identities” and “understanding students’ families and cultures.”

A Tested Love Story

Alumni Ann Boehm (Ph.D. ’66) and Gary Robertson (Ph.D. ’67) celebrated a decade of marriage this fall — 60 years after first dating in 1964. 

Deeply inspired by their time at TC and their passions for higher education, the couple made a planned gift this year that will support the creation of a future endowed associate professorship in the School Psychology program, with an emphasis on early childhood, as well as a doctoral fellowship in the Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics program. Explore their journey from TC and beyond — a tale of successful careers in educational testing and making an impact together. 

Strengthening Connections on TC Alumni Day

In October, more than 200 alumni, students, faculty and friends convened at Teachers College for TC Alumni Day, a community reunion that focused on the benefits of building connections through the celebration of the College’s Alumni Awardees and a dialogue that honored the late Ruth K. Westheimer (Ed.D. ’70). The lively celebration brought together the TC community for networking opportunities, interactive panel discussions and highlights regarding the impactful work of the 2024 Alumni Awardees.

Supporting the Strength of the TC Community

At his annual marquee address, President Thomas Bailey highlighted important initiatives aimed at bolstering the strength and resilience of the TC community and its ongoing efforts. He detailed the College’s five strategic priorities: building optimal academic organization, institutionalizing diversity, equity and inclusion, enhancing student pathways, advancing research and leading in digital innovation, along with the Public Good Initiative.

“I am confident that as we work together, we will rise to any challenges together, just as we celebrate our successes together,” Bailey shared. 

Celebrating the Launch of TC’s Arnhold Dance Education Research Studios

The College’s new Arnhold Dance Education Research Studios welcomed members of the TC community and leaders in the dance world for its official ribbon cutting on Nov. 19. Established by a generous gift from Jody and John Arnhold, and the Arnhold Foundation, the new space will advance research and teaching in dance education while fostering community programming, and collaborative projects with community groups and other cultural partners.

The state-of-the-art space marks the latest chapter of dance education at the College, a destination for teacher educators, researchers and policy experts preparing to advance the medium’s potential to positively transform education and impact all children — the core belief of Arnhold’s work. 

NYC Council Funds Development of Latine Studies Curriculum

TC’s Edmund W. Gordon Institute for Advanced Study will play a lead role in developing a Latine Studies curriculum for the city’s public schools alongside United Way of New York City (UWNYC) and the Hispanic Federation. Launched with a historic $3 million in funding from the New York City Council as part of its Education Equity Action Plan (EEAP) initiative, the three-year project will allow educators to incorporate interdisciplinary, hands-on lessons into existing practice and standards. 

Collaborating closely with local organizations and educators, the Gordon Institute aims to empower students and their families as drivers of their own education — a critical methodology in this new chapter for New York’s Latinx people. 

— Jacqueline Teschon