LEAP to Teacher

The Murphy Institute for Worker Education’s LEAP to Teacher (LTT) at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies is a specialized set of support services designed to empower UFT members to become more effective in their schools and more impactful in their communities. As you consider enrolling in a graduate or undergraduate program in Education or other fields of study, the LTT program can assist you from the pre-admission stage through graduation at our partnering City University of New York (CUNY) colleges.

The Murphy Institute’s LEAP to Teacher program provides United Federation of Teachers (UFT) members working for the New York City Department of Education (DOE) with a set of free, ongoing support services in pursuing their education and advancing their careers in any field of study, including education. This program is a collaboration between the UFT, Worker Education at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, and four participating City University of New York (CUNY) colleges: Brooklyn College, College of Staten Island, Lehman College and Queens College. Each campus offers its own LTT Coordinator who can assist you with your educational needs at the graduate or undergraduate level, and all LTT staff members are committed to helping you achieve your academic and professional goals. Additionally, most campuses offer flexibly scheduled, one-on-one tutoring support with writing and math specialists.

College Entrance Support

• Free CUNY entrance exam preparation classes
• Pre-admission advisement
• Credit bearing Enhanced English and Math classes

College and Career Support

• Academic advisement (from admission to graduation)
• Tutoring, writing support, workshops
• Career advisement

Funding College

• Assistance with financial aid and grant opportunities
• Information on DOE vouchers and reimbursement program

NY State Teacher Certification

• Counseling on NY State requirements for teacher certification
• Free NY State teacher certification preparation workshops and courses

LTT was created in the mid-nineties to meet the needs of UFT para-educators attending Queens College. It was housed under the umbrella of the Queens College Worker Education Labor Education and Advancement Project (LEAP), established in 1984 to create a space within CUNY dedicated to addressing labor issues from an academic perspective and preparing future labor leaders.

In 2006, The Queens College Worker Education program joined forces with the Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies to better reach and serve union members throughout all of CUNY. In 2018, the Institute underwent an exciting expansion and became its own entity, now called the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU). Throughout all of these transitions, the LTT program has remained true to its original mandate of providing an adult-friendly environment catered to the specific needs of evening students and union members.

For more information, please attend one of our monthly open house events (button on the left), or contact one of our site coordinators to schedule an appointment at the college of your choice.