LEAP to Teacher

The Murphy Institute’s LTT is a supportive program works in collaboration with the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU) and our participating CUNY colleges. The LTT’s mission is to empower participants to become more effective in their schools and more impactful in their communities. The variety of LTT services are specifically designed for UFT and DC37 paraprofessionals, teachers, daycare workers, and other school personnel. Participants can pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees to advance their careers in teaching or any other field of study. The program is offered at:  BMCC, Bronx Community College, Brooklyn College, College of Staten Island, the CUNY School of Labor & Urban Studies (non-teaching degrees), Lehman College , Medgar Evers and Queens College

College Entrance Support

• Pre-college preparation classes
• Pre-admission advisement

College and Career Support

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

Funding College

• SLU LEAP to Teacher  Scholarship: This scholarship was created to assist Paraprofessionals/Teaching Assistants employed with the NYC Department of Education. Applicants must be admitted and enrolled graduate students in a teacher shortage area at one of the LEAP to Teacher collaborating CUNY colleges.
• Assistance with financial aid and grant opportunities.
• Information on DOE vouchers and reimbursement program.

NY State Teacher Certification Exam Prep Workshops 

• Educating All Students (EAS)
• Combined Early Childhood and Childhood Multi-Subject (CST) grades K-6^th

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.