K - 12 Education

CERC works to support K-12 teachers and schools through professional development & course offerings, partnerships with public school leaders, and grant programs. Our efforts promote the effective use of inquiry and experiential learning to create authentic student centered instruction.

Teacher Training

Teachers have the opportunity to earn credits through attendance of Columbia University courses. All of these courses can be used toward the "30 points above" for position and salary increase for NYC public school teachers.
 
CERC Teacher Training Institute: for K-12 teachers from both public and private schools each summer in the Dominican Republic. Teachers and aspiring teachers earn six graduate credits in human ecology and conservation biology.
 
“P” In-Service courses: through the NYC Department of Education After School Professional Development Program (NYASPDP) and Columbia University during the regular academic year.

Partner Schools

CERC has partnered with several schools in an effort to facilitate the contextualization of core curriculum within inquiry and integration.

Our Partner Schools include:

- Peter Rouget Middle School 88 in Brooklyn, NYC Principal, Ailene Altman Mitchell

- Dual Language Middle School in Manhattan, NYC Principal, Claudia Aguirre

- Brown School in Schectady, NY Associate Head, Marc Meyer

- NYC Academy for Discovery, NYC Principal, Jennifer Flandro

- School for Global Leaders, NYC Principal, Carry Chan

- PUNTACANA International School, Dominican Republic

Grant Projects

CERC is proud to be the recipient of several grants that support our partnerships with K-12 schools including:
 

- National Science Foundation Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education

The GK-12 Program supports fellowships and training for graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through interactions with teachers and students in K-12 schools, graduate fellows can improve communication and teaching skills while enriching STEM content and instruction for their K-12 partners. NSF Fellows will be working with M.S. 88, the Dual Language Middle School, and the PUNTACANA International School starting July 2008.