District one of of three to receive State Ed grants to train new teachers

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 10, 2012) -- The City School District of Albany is one of three districts statewide that will receive New York State Education Department grants to strengthen and enhance mentoring programs for new teachers in shortage teaching areas.

Education Commissioner John King announced the receipients of the Model Induction Program grants April 5. Albany's public schools will receive nearly $425,000 over the next two school years. Eleven district schools will participate, enabling the district to build induction models that serve new teachers of English language learners, students with disabilities and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Buffalo and Wyandanch are the other districts selected to participate in the Model Induction Program.

The grant will help the district provide individualized support to new teachers based on an assessment of their abilities. The program also will build a group of mentor teachers who will continue to work with new teachers after the grant period ends June 30, 2014.

Receipt of the funds is contingent on the district gaining approval of its 2012-13 Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) plan for teacher and principal evaluation.

"Our district has been and continues to be a statewide leader in APPR development, and I have every confidence that we will meet State Ed’s requirements to receive these much-needed funds beginning July 1," said Superintendent Raymond Colucciello, Ed.D.

Dr. Colucciello commended several individuals whose leadership helped the district obtain this grant:

• Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Community Relations Linda Jackson-Chalmers

• Grants Administrator Eileen Leffler

• Mentor Teacher Coordinator Rita Floess and the district's entire Mentoring Committee

• Albany Public Schools Teachers Association (APSTA) President Cathy Corbo

• Albany Public Schools Administrators Association (APSAA) President Kim Wilkins

The mission of the City School District of Albany is to educate and nurture all students to be responsible citizens, critical thinkers and lifelong learners to successfully compete in the global community by providing an academically rigorous and safe environment in partnership with parents, students and the community. The district serves about 8,700 students in 15 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students, including four themed academies at Albany High School.