The Murphy Institute’s LEAP to Teacher program (LTT) at Lehman College provides a wide range of free support services to help school and daycare workers succeed academically and to accomplish their career objectives. Please note, that you do not have to be pursuing a teaching career to participate in this program. A career change is another option to consider as you plan to pursue a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. We can serve as your support system to accomplish your goals.
Contact
Site Coordinator
Pablo Perez
pablo.perez@slu.cuny.edu
Call/Text: 201-839-0054
250 Bedford Park Blvd. West
Carman Hall, Room B54
Bronx, NY 10468
Prospective Students
- To learn more about the LTT program and its services, attend one of our monthly LTT open house sessions.
- Fill out the inquiry form, and our program specialists will contact you to set up a zoom or in-person meeting to answer your questions.
Academic Programs
Since many paraprofessionals who chose to pursue their education want to remain in the education field, some of our most popular programs and courses are focused in this area. Lehman College has made a strong commitment to the success of our education students as future teachers through the Lehman Urban Transformative Education (LUTE) initiative.
Lehman College offers the Adult Degree Program designed for adult learners. Paraprofessionals can take advantage of this opportunity to obtain their degree.
Selecting a Field of Study
Choosing a program can be overwhelming. Here is where your LTT Site Coordinator can step in to provide much-needed guidance and direction to make this difficult and critically important decision. Your academic and career journey you with your Leap To Teacher Site Coordinator will start well before the admission process begins and may continue years after you obtain your degree(s).
Undergraduate Studies
Although Lehman College does not offer an undergraduate degree in Education, you may earn your bachelor’s degree in another discipline and apply to the graduate programs in Education at Lehman College.
Graduate Studies
Lehman College has over 20 graduate and advanced graduate educator preparation programs leading to professional certification. One of the most popular Master’s programs is Dual General and Bilingual Special Education (Early Childhood or Childhood). This 48 credit course addresses the shortage of teachers in identified high-needs areas.
Keep in mind that switching to other career field is always an option for our LTT participants. For example, Nursing and Social Work are two of the most popular undergraduate and graduate level programs but there are many more to choose from.
Paraprofessional applicants with a grade-point average between 2.75-3.0 who are interested in childhood special education or early childhood special education may be eligible to apply to Lehman College via the Graduate Application for Non-Degree Admission.
Students who do not intend to be matriculated or complete a teacher preparation program must apply as non-degree students to only take education courses to seek New York State certification through specified pathways. Visit Lehman College’s Graduate Admissions page for more information.
If you would like more information regarding the LEAP to Teacher program, please feel free to RSVP to one of the upcoming open house sessions.
LTT Frequently Asked Questions – Answers to most common questions regarding eligibility, program availability and more.
LTT Academic and Career Support
The LEAP to Teacher program provides a full range of support services to undergraduate and graduate students. These services may include:
- Assisting with the admission and registration process to Lehman College
- Offering pre-admission services such as: essays/personal statement preparation
- Free College Preparation Program
- Ongoing advisement to students to ensure that their college experience is positive and rewarding
- Assisting with special opportunities including: scholarships, D.O.E Career Training Program (CTP) vouchers and tuition reimbursement initiatives and financial assistance .
- Online writing support and student success workshops– LEAP to Teacher students can contact Jean Soto, the Writing and Research Consultant, at 718-997-3079 or by emailing jean.soto@slu.cuny.edu
- Information about NYS requirements for teacher certification and free NYS teacher certification exam preparation workshops and
- Information about NYCDOE Paraprofessional Student Teaching Leave of Absence Program
- Career advisement and assistance with preparing resumes, cover letter, essays, applications
- Networking with alumni to provide career opportunities.
- Assisting with Teacher job search
- Sharing professional development opportunities
Workshops and Courses
The LEAP to Teacher program offers a variety of free noncredit courses and workshops designed to enhance students’ skills to pass different certification exams and provide an opportunity to complete some NY State mandatory training for educators.
- Student Success Workshops
This series of online workshops introduces LTT students to study skills and provides writing improvement tips. Here are some of the topics covered in the workshops: 1) Classroom skills and note taking 2) Reading Difficult Text 3) Drafting Strategies (4) Paraphrasing/Summarizing (5) APA/MLA Citations (6) Revision Strategies 7) Introductions and Conclusions 8) Time Management 9) How To Boost your GPA 10) Applying A.I. Tools for Academic Support. Please contact your LTT coordinator to get more information or email ltt@slu.cuny.edu
These exam preparation workshops focus on the strategies needed to succeed on the Multi-Subject Tests for Birth–Grade 6. Participants will review the overall exam format across all sections, including Math, Literacy and English Language Arts (multiple-choice and constructed responses), as well as Arts and Sciences. The session also offers practical test-taking strategies, tips, and helpful resources to support success on the exams.
This 3-hour Educating All Students (EAS) exam preparation workshop focuses on building the skills needed to teach diverse student populations. Participants will learn effective strategies for approaching multiple-choice questions, developing strong constructed responses, and applying proven test-taking techniques and additional helpful resources to support success on the exam.
This free non-credit course is a 32-hour online refresher course (eight 4-hour sessions) which is open only to LEAP to Teacher students. The course covers all required mathematics competencies for a NY State certified elementary teacher. Running consecutively on eight Saturdays, participants learn the importance of becoming an effective problem-solver, identifying common math misconceptions and how to teach math effectively.
- Students who complete this course are eligible to earn 20 CTLE credit hours.
This course is also helpful for students seeking certification in childhood education in the state of New York to prepare them to pass the math section of Childhood Education Multi-Subject Content Specialty Test.
Check out our Math for Elementary Educators.
Please contact your LTT coordinator to get more information or email ltt@slu.cuny.edu
This three-hour workshop provides a focused overview of the SWD-CST exam, including its format, objectives, and key competencies. Participants will review sample questions, explore IEPs and disability classifications, and strengthen their skills in analyzing and responding to constructed-response items. The session also offers practical test-taking strategies, tips, and helpful resources to support success on the test.
Special Education Essentials: A Comprehensive Review and Refresher Series This virtual refresher course comprises a six-week series of workshops that delve into the required NYS competencies for certified teachers working with students with disabilities. The sessions will thoroughly cover topics such as the foundations of Special Education, the 13 classifications of students with IEPs, utilizing assessments to guide instructional planning, and implementing research-based strategies to ensure student success across various placements. Through a case study approach, participants will engage in the analysis, synthesis, and application of content from each session.Completion of this workshop series qualifies participants to earn 12 CTLE credit hours. Additionally, this course serves as valuable preparation for students pursuing certification in Special Education in New York State, aiding them in successfully passing the Content Specialty Test for Students with Disabilities: SWT-CST (06) test.
This workshop is offered in partnership with the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), providing an overview of how to become a NYC Department of Education paraprofessional while exploring long-term career pathways in education. Participants will learn about the paraprofessional role, including eligibility, hiring steps, and union benefits, and will be introduced to LEAP to Teacher, a free support program that helps school and daycare workers advance their education and career.
This six-week exam preparation workshop is designed for students seeking New York State Teaching Assistant Certification. The program prepares participants for the NYS ATAS exam, with priority admission given to current CUNY students majoring in Education.
- New York State Mandatory Training for Educators
SLU is a New York State–approved provider. Upon completion of each training, participants will receive a certificate on their TEACH account. Contact your LTT coordinator to get more information or email ltt@slu.cuny.edu
This required SAVE Project training covers the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act. The course explores strategies to create safe, supportive, and positive school environments.
This three-hour required training on recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse and maltreatment. Participants will learn to identify physical and behavioral signs of abuse, understand their legal responsibilities as mandated reporters, and follow the proper reporting process.
This 6-hour required DASA training provides an overview of New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) and focuses on preventing bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Participants learn strategies to create safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for all students.
This 3-hour course provides a foundational understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and effective, evidence-based strategies to support students with autism. Participants will explore key characteristics of ASD and learn approaches to create supportive learning environments and strengthen school–family collaboration.
This 32-hour online course reviews key New York State math competencies for teachers in daycare and elementary settings. It focuses on problem-solving, common misconceptions, and effective teaching strategies. Participants who complete the course may earn 20 CTLE credits. The course also supports preparation for the math sections of the Childhood Education and Early Childhood Education Multi-Subject Content Specialty Tests. LTT students receive priority admission.
This 18- hour virtual refresher series reviews the key NY State competencies for teachers working with Students with Disabilities, including foundations of special education, the 13 classifications of students with IEPs, assessment-based instruction, and research-based strategies. Participants apply learning through case studies. Completion earns 12 CTLE hours and supports preparation for the Students with Disabilities CST (SWT-CST 060).
Notes from Students & Alumni
The benefit that LTT provides to their students is incomparable to any other institution. LTT provides great academic support to all students, in order to help them achieve their goals.
– Mayra Castillo, Lehman College
When I learned about the Leap to Teacher program, I said to myself “OMG. This is exactly what I need.” This program guided me through my education process. On many occasions, as students, we struggle because of the lack of information or skills. The LTT program provided me with the information and support I need to succeed in my career. I feel so fortunate for the encouragement and support, not only from the Leap to Teacher program at Lehman College, but also the writing courses and workshops offered at the Murphy Institute. Without their support, I don’t think I would have got this far. Right now, I’m pursuing my Masters in Special Education with a Bilingual Extension and I feel confident that I will reach my goal, thanks to the support of LTT program.
– Belkis Rodriguez