Four Adelphi University professors have been awarded SUNY Teacher Workforce Investment Grants totaling $1,244,035 to support a project focused on targeting and retaining diverse teaching professionals.
Adelphi is the only institution of higher education on Long Island to be awarded this grant from New York state.
Recipients of the grants include Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences faculty members Emily Kang, PhD, associate dean for academic affairs; Matt Curinga, EdD, associate professor; Tracy Hogan, PhD, professor; and Stephen Rubin, PhD, associate professor. They will use the grant to fund their project, R2E2ADI (Recruiting and Retaining Educators for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), in partnership with the New York City Public Schools.
“We are proud to play a part in diversifying the teaching workforce and bringing talented teachers to the children who need them the most,” said Dr. Kang.
R2E2ADI will support Adelphi’s newest teaching professionals through alternative certification programs, including the Transitional B licensure pathway to gain certification in math education (grades 7-12), science education (biology, physics, chemistry or earth science, grades 7-12), computer science education (grades K-12), or Students with Disabilities (SWD) (grades 7-12).
The SUNY Teacher Workforce Investment Grants are part of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $350 million investment in workforce development across the state. These grants are designated to provide incentives for teachers, address student needs and create a robust pipeline of future educators.
“Far more must be done to help New York’s school system overcome the challenges that existed before and were exacerbated by the pandemic,” Gov. Hochul said when the program was first announced in October 2022. “We must do more to support students and teachers in our state and encourage a new generation to enter the field of education so that New York never again faces the chronic staffing shortages we are seeing today.”
Learn more about the SUNY Teacher Workforce Investment Grants.