 
Support Grows for CSI Teaching Scholars
Program offers future teachers a
chance for hands-on experience
Staten Island Advance - Thursday, July 03, 2008
Even as the school year comes to a close, the Teaching Scholars
program at the College of Staten Island is picking up support and
funding, to continue its mission in the fall.
The program, administered through CSI's Discovery Institute, is
designed to provide teacher support in classrooms in some two dozen
of Staten Island's public schools. In turn, the initiative gives
about 200 CSI students the opportunity to see the world of education
in action, whether they are planning to become teachers or have
never given teaching a thought as a career goal.
State Sen. Andrew Lanza, who provided $100,000 in funding for the
Teaching Scholars program, was recently honored by the college for
his support.
For the Republican legislator, funding the program was a no-brainer.
"There's no greater calling than the calling to teach. Teachers
truly do have the future in the palms of their hands, and the
opportunity every day to have a positive influence in the lives of
students," Lanza said.
Prof. Ivin Doctor, director of the Teaching Scholars program, noted
that the program is a cost-effective way for public schools to gain
assistance in the classrooms from the college students who are
closer in age and may have more in common with their younger
charges. "It's an opportunity to build lasting relationships while
providing much-needed teacher support.
Kristina Niesi, a CSI junior pursuing a degree in linguistics, just
completed her first year as a Teaching Scholar, assigned to New Dorp
High School. She asked her young students to jot down their thoughts
about having her in their classroom.
One student wrote that "having two adults in the classroom should be
mandatory."
Another student commented that college students make good role
models in the classroom. "My student-teacher graduated high school
only a few years ago, so she knows how difficult it is, and she
gives good advice to future high school grads," he noted.
"I can always turn to my student-teacher for help and support,"
added another.
Professor Doctor said the program aims to attract high-performing
CSI students from other career pursuits with the hope that when they
become involved in work with and helping schoolchildren, they will
be attracted to teaching as a career.
"When they can turn on the light in a youngster's eye and see that
smile; when he or she finally understands that which seemed a moment
ago to be impossible, it's a force hard to ignore," he said.
By Diane Lore
Reprinted here with permission
from the
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