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York Gets My Brother’s Keeper TOC II Award

Congratulations to the York College Teacher Education Department on its My Brother's Keeper TOC II award!

The funding will provide $99,196 per year over a five-year period. York is one of four CUNY colleges to receive the grant at varying dollar figures. In total, 17 colleges/universities across the state have received funding “to increase the rate of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged individuals in teaching careers,” according to a State Education Department announcement. The project period spans September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2026, with an anticipated allocation of $3.45 million annually.

“Our project is focused on preparing our candidates to teach for social justice across their discipline areas,” says Dr. Leslie S. Keiler, department chair. “This is a department-wide initiative of which we are very proud!” 

Our Department of Teacher Education will collaborate with entities across York College, such as the Africana Studies Center, the Social Justice Institute, and academic departments with relevant expertise to implement monthly Social Justice Colloquia, which will be open to all interested community members. The Greater Queens Chapter of the Links, Inc. and three of York’s partner schools- Flushing International High School, I.S. 59Q: The Springfield Gardens School, and P.S. 95Q: The Eastwood School- will collaborate on recruiting Teacher Opportunity Corps members and supporting our TOC members in implementing social justice programs for K-12 students based at York College and our partner schools.   

“This program will be an outstanding support of our ongoing efforts to prepare students from the community to become teachers for the community,” Dr. Keiler continued.

The other CUNY recipients are Queens College, Hunter and Medgar Evers.