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The Urban Teaching and Leadership Program (UTL) is a comprehensive approach to recruiting, preparing, and providing professional development to current and future urban educators. Beyond the program’s initiatives, UTL serves as a nexus for university, school, and community stakeholders to come together to discuss and collaborate on solutions to some of the Rochester City School District’s (RCSD) most significant challenges. The primary goal of the UTL program is to improve student learning in the RCSD through initiatives that foster inclusive approaches to teaching and leadership.
In an attempt to move beyond traditional school-university partnerships, the program relies on the collaboration of the University of Rochester, the RCSD, and the teachers union to provide initial preparation, professional development, and collegial support to urban educators. The UTL program also seeks to encourage urban educators to think broadly about their roles and respond to change while remaining focused on the promotion of student growth, learning, and the realization of equity and social justice in and through education.
The work of the UTL program is carried out through five program dimensions that focus on:
Teacher Preparation
Students in the UTL Initial Teacher Certification program enroll in a master’s program in teaching and curriculum, leading to NYS Initial Certification in early childhood, elementary, and secondary education. Upon completion of the master’s program, Warner students teach in an urban school for at least two years and continue to take courses toward a Certificate in Urban Teaching and Leadership offered by the Warner School. Teachers who already have NYS Initial Teaching Certification may apply to the UTL Professional Teacher Certification program where they complete a master’s program leading to NYS Professional Certification while continuing to teach in schools. In addition to the coursework and field requirements in the master’s program, UTL Teacher Certification candidates take additional courses and participate in a series of experiences as part of an Urban Education Concentration.
The Fifth Year in Teaching Scholarship provides a limited number of awards to University of Rochester undergraduates for full tuition and on-campus room and board for graduate study at the Warner School of Education. Recipients of the award include individuals who are able to increase the diversity of the urban teacher population or increase the number of certified teachers in specializations where there are the highest shortages in the Rochester area. During the 2006-07 academic year, these areas were identified as science, mathematics, and Spanish. Additionally, up to 10 Rochester City School District (RCSD) teachers pursuing their first master’s degree can take advantage of the UTL/RCSD Teaching Fellows Reimbursement Initiative, and receive financial assistance from the Warner School and the RCSD Office of Careers in Teaching to cover tuition costs for their degree.
Professional Development
In addition to workshops offered primarily for UTL teacher preparation candidates, Professor James-Wilson, UTL program director, provides job-embedded professional development opportunities to teachers and school administrators through school-based collegial learning circles. These groups are small, professional learning communities among practitioners, on both the elementary and secondary levels, that address topics and concerns that are of interest to circle members. On the elementary level, UTL-sponsored learning circles draw on educational research, community members, and the collective expertise of members to better understand and address the cultural and religious backgrounds of immigrant and refugee students. Members of the high school learning circle work collaboratively across various subject areas to tackle the challenge of low graduation rates. These teachers have referred to educational research, theory, and best practices to help ensure students not only graduate from high school, but also continue on to community colleges or four-year institutions.
Teacher Leadership
The mission of the Urban Teacher Leadership Academy (UTLA) is to develop teachers as leaders who serve as catalysts within and beyond the classroom to influence others toward equity-based educational practices and school improvement. UTLA is co-facilitated by Professor James-Wilson, UTL program director, and Michele Hancock, Rochester City School District’s Chief of Diversity and Leadership Development. Teachers apply to the Academy in teams of three and commit two years to completing the program, which meets once a month for nine hours over the weekend. In 2006, 33 teachers, representing 10 Rochester City School District schools on both the elementary and secondary levels, were enrolled as the first UTLA cohort.
www.rcsdK12.org
Community Engagement
Urban Teaching and Leadership (UTL) Forums provide a space to learn about the work and initiatives of the Rochester City School District (RCSD). District personnel are invited to campus to talk about new programs, successes, challenges, and opportunities for university faculty and the community to support their work. These events, which are free and open to the public, have attracted students, Warner School faculty, parents, and community agency representatives. They have also served as a catalyst for discussions about ways the Warner School and the District can collaborate on research and program development. Past UTL Forums have included the following presentations:
2005-06
• Leading Change in Urban Districts: The Rochester City School District’s Strategic Plan, RCSD Superintendent
• Becoming Part of the Community Development Process: The Rochester Children’s Zone, RCSD Chief Planning Officer
• Supporting the Growth of Urban Educators: The Professional Development of Rochester City School District Teachers and Administrators, RCSD Director of Professional Development, RCSD Chief of School Development and Academics, and RCSD Coordinator of Mentor-Intern Program
2006-07
• Innovative Approaches to Teaching Immigrant, Refugee, and SIFE Students, RCSD Bilingual and TESOL Teachers
• Rochester City School District Secondary School Restructuring and Redesign, RCSD Chief of Academics and Small School Development
• Developing Effective Leaders of Culturally Diverse and High Poverty Schools, RCSD Chief Diversity and Leadership Development
Social Activism through Education Workshops brings scholars and practitioners together to explore issues of inequity and injustice for the purpose of providing teachers with practical approaches to social activism that can be used with their students. Professor James-Wilson, UTL program director, and UTL teacher candidates partner with local organizations to deliver a two-day session that includes a formal evening lecture on a selected theme, followed by an afternoon of teacher-led workshops and informal discussions with keynote speakers.
Scholarship
The scholarship generated through the Urban Teaching and Leadership Program (UTL) is designed to support educators in describing, thinking critically about, and sharing ideas for innovative practice. It also is intended to encourage practitioners to identify, analyze, and use theory to inform practice, including conceptual frameworks developed by Professor James-Wilson, UTL program director, over the past five years. In some cases scholarship involves helping educators translate research in ways that are relevant to their work with students and families. At other times, Professor James-Wilson provides coaching, facilitation, and assistance in the implementation of the strategies, arrangements, and initiatives required to make a significant impact on the lives and academic achievement of students. Scholarship initiatives also may entail helping practitioners make more explicit connections between their tacit or craft knowledge and existing theories in the field, or introducing educators to innovative program models that have a proven track record of success with urban youth.
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