Site Coordinator
Jonathan Rubin
Office: 718-982-4081
Call/Text: 718-569-8587
Jonathan.rubin@slu.cuny.edu
2800 Victory Blvd
Building 3S, Room 208
Staten Island, NY 10314
The Murphy Institute’s LEAP to Teacher (LTT) program at the College of Staten Island serves as a central resource for participating paraprofessionals with questions or concerns about any aspects of their learning journey at CSI. The main purpose of the LEAP to Teacher program at CSI is to enable employed paraprofessionals in the NYC Department of Education (D.O.E) to further pursue their education and advance their career. We help each student to enter and complete all degree requirements in a timely fashion and without undue stress. We have the best interest of each and every student at heart.
Academic Programs
Undergraduate Studies
The College of Staten Island School of Education provides undergraduate programs for teaching in Early Childhood/Pre-K programs, Elementary and Secondary schools. The College also offers a variety of programs including (but not limited to): Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering Science, Physics, English, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology/Anthropology, and World Languages and Literatures.
Graduate Studies
The School of Education provides graduate programs in Childhood Education, Adolescence Education, Special Education; and a Post-Master’s Advanced Certificate for Leadership in Education. One of the recent additions is a program called “Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) MSEd. The College also offers a variety of master’s programs in other fields of study in addition to education.
Academic Support
On-Campus LTT Services
The LEAP to Teacher program provides a full range of support services to undergraduate and graduate students. These services may include:
- Assistance with the admissions and registration process at CSI and GRE registration
- Assistance with applying for Financial Aid and accessing other special opportunities including scholarships and D.O.E Career Training Program (CTP) vouchers
- Tutoring services
- Career advisement
- Ongoing academic advisement
- Information about NYS requirements for teacher certification and free NYS teacher certification exam preparation workshops
- Referrals to appropriate departments
Off-Campus LTT Services
The LEAP to Teacher program offers a variety of free non-credit courses and workshops designed to enhance students’ math and writing skills, and to prepare them for the New York State Teachers Certification Exams.
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
The CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU) is an approved DASA Training Workshop Provider and through the Murphy Institute’ s LEAP to Teacher Program offers DASA training. The 6-hour training will address the training for harassment, bullying, and discrimination prevention and intervention in schools. After satisfying the requirements, students will receive their DASA certification on their TEACH account. Please visit the DASA training schedule to apply. For more information please contact LTT@slu.cuny.edu.
New York State Teaching Assistant Certification Exam Preparation Workshop
Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills (ATAS)
The Murphy’s LEAP to Teacher Program offers a free 6- week exam preparation workshop for CUNY students who have over 40 credits interested in obtaining the NY State Teaching Assistant Certification and becoming a Teacher Assistant/ Teaching Paraprofessional to provide direct instructional services to students under the general supervision of a certified teacher. The workshop prepares students for taking the New York State Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills test (NYS-ATAS), which is the required test for getting the teaching assistant certification. Please visit the test preparation workshops schedule to RSVP. For more information please contact LTT@slu.cuny.edu.
Educating All Students (EAS)
The EAS exam preparation workshop focuses on the skills needed to effectively teach diverse populations. Please visit the test preparation workshops schedule to RSVP.
The workshop covers the following topics:
- Techniques to approach various multiple choice questions
- Constructing an effective constructed written response
- Test-taking strategies
Combined Early Childhood and Childhood Multi-Subject (CST)
The CST exam preparation workshop focuses on the strategies required to be successful in the multi subject specialty test for grades K- 6th. Please visit the test preparation workshops schedule to RSVP.
The workshop covers the following topics:
- Literacy and English Language Arts (Multiple choice and constructed written response)
- Mathematics (multiple choice and Constructed written response)
- Arts and Sciences (multiple choice)
- Test-taking strategies
The Mathematics for Future Teachers Course certificate program is a free course that focuses on how to efficiently teach Pre-K and elementary mathematics. Running consecutively on Saturdays, students learn the importance of becoming an effective problem solver, how to identify common math misconceptions, as well as how to prepare for the CST exam. Embedded tutoring is also provided. To apply for this course, please contact your LTT Site Coordinator to complete an application.
Embedded Mathematics tutoring is available for students enrolled in EDE 603 – Teaching and Learning Mathematics in Elementary Education. During the class time, the tutor is in the classroom with the professor to provide additional support services to students. The tutor also meets with students before and after class, explains concepts that are harder to understand, and works on several examples on the particular subject. Students have the opportunity to ask additional questions regarding assignments and receive personalized feedback on weekly extra credit problems.
As a collaborative effort, the LEAP to Teacher Program and the School of Education at CSI organize the annual Mathematics Connection Conference every May. The conference offers: a wide variety of interactive presentations, panel discussions, activities for children, specially designed for teachers and educational students. Please contact your LTT coordinator to get more information or email ltt@slu.cuny.edu
Notes from Students & Alumni
The LTT students at CSI have a rewarding experience when using our services.
“I love being a part of the LEAP to Teacher program. They helped me prepare for my teacher certification exams and improve my writing skills. This program gave me the assistance that I needed to become a future teacher.”
– Radwa Ahmed, 2017 Graduate Student
“As a paraprofessional for several years, I never thought accomplishing my master’s degree was within reach. It wasn’t until I attended a ” Leap to Teacher” meeting ran by Tunde Jakab, Site Coordinator, did I feel my dream of becoming a teacher was possible. The support I received from the tireless staff at the Murphy Institute is exactly what I needed to get me back to where I should be academically.”
– Joanne Reitano-Trerotola , 2018 Prospective LTT Student