School of Education Dean Diana Sukhram, Associate Professor of Exceptional Education and Learning Lina Gilic, Associate Professor of Adolescence Education Xavier Marechaux, and Assistant Professor of Exceptional Education and Learning Shalinie Sarju traveled to Dallas, Texas, recently to participate in the BranchED's 2024 Transformation Center Convening.
They were joined by representatives of the Hempstead School District: Associate Superintendent for Human Resources Rodney Gilmore and Director of Student Support Services Cynthia Moore-Drayton. SUNY Old Westbury and Hempstead Schools were announced in December 2023 as members of the fifth national BranchEd transformation center cohort. Supported through a $300,000 grant from BranchEd, the partnership enabled each organization to join a unique community of practice where each institution’s faculty, staff, and leadership and their respective school district partners access enhanced resources and professional development, network with others, share data, and learn from each other to move forward with sustainability and innovation.
The gathering of the 2024 cohort in Dallas focused on the theme "Multiple Pathways: Innovate, Integrate & Inspire." The SUNY Old Westbury/Hempstead team were among 15 peer presenters from cohort institutions and district partners around the country who presented on the accomplishments and challenges of their grant work relating to the Teacher Residency Programs and Teacher’s Academy Pipeline initiatives.
Over three jam-packed days, they explored innovative pathways in education with some of the brightest minds in the field. Across the convening, a wide range of topics were covered, like "Anecdotes to Evidence: Understanding Teacher Shortages through Data," "Bridging the Gap: Aligning Coursework with Residency Experiences for Future Educators," and "Recruiting in the Ecosystem: Innovative Strategies for Multiple Pathways in Educator Preparation."
BranchED is the first and only non-profit organization in the nation dedicated to strengthening and growing educator preparation at Minority Serving Institutions, with broader goals of both diversifying the teaching profession and intentionally addressing critical issues of educational equity for all students.
Web banner photo caption (from left to right) -- From Hempstead School District: Associate Superintendent for Human Resources Rodney Gilmore and Director of Student Support Services Cynthia Moore-Drayton; From SUNY Old Westbury: Assistant Professor of Exceptional Education and Learning Shalinie Sarju, School of Education Dean Diana Sukhram, Associate Professor of Adolescence Education Xavier Marechaux and Associate Professor of Exceptional Education and Learning Lina Gilic