Site Coordinator
Joanne Mason
25 W 43rd St
10th Fl #1008
New York, NY 10036
LTT@slu.cuny.edu
The Murphy Institute’s LEAP to Teacher (LTT) program at the CUNY School of Labor & Urban Studies (SLU) serves as a central resource for participating paraprofessionals who have issues, questions, or concerns about any aspects of their learning journey at SLU. The main purpose of the LEAP to Teacher program at SLU is to enable employed paraprofessionals in the NYC Department of Education (D.O.E) to further pursue their education, advance their career, and empower their work as activists and community leaders. We help each student to enter and complete all certificate and 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
CUNY SLU offers a bachelor’s program as well as a range of undergraduate certificate programs, including:
Graduate Studies
CUNY SLU offers multiple advanced certificate and master’s programs, including:
Earning Credits for DOE Salary Differentials
At CUNY SLU, we offer multiple advance certificate programs, earning up to 16 credits, as well as two master’s programs that all count toward the DOE salary differentials.
“Salary differentials are pay increases granted to teachers for credits earned beyond a bachelor’s degree. Each differential can add thousands of dollars to your annual earnings — permanently — and cumulative differentials can make a big difference in your earning power.
You must apply in order to receive differentials. To ensure that you receive pay retroactively from the date you earned the additional credits, you must apply within six months of earning the credit.”
Differentials are included in the Teachers’ Salary Schedule.
Please reference the “Graduate Studies” section above for the full list of advanced certificate options at SLU.
Academic Support
On-Campus LTT Services
The LEAP to Teacher program provides a full range of support services from pre-admissions through post-graduation, for undergraduate and graduate students. These services may include:
- Assistance with the application and admission process
- Ongoing advisement with a SLU advisor to ensure a positive and rewarding college experience
- Writing Center at SLU
- Career and Professional Development
- Student Wellness Center
- Assistance with special opportunities including scholarships and other financial assistance*
*Please note, we are currently in the process of securing the ability to accept the Department of Education (DOE) Career Training Program (CTP) Voucher for up to 6 credits per semester (spring, summer, and fall) of undergraduate study. For updates, please contact us at LTT@slu.cuny.edu.
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.
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 Site Coordinator to complete an application.
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 advisor to get more information.
Scholarship Opportunities
At CUNY SLU, students are able to apply for multiple different scholarship opportunities, including:
- Tuition Scholarship
- Adult Learner Scholarship
- Persistence Scholarship
- Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship
For more information, please visit our Institutional Scholarships page by clicking here.