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.
Contact
Site Coordinator
Joanne Mason
ltt@slu.cuny.edu
25 W 43rd St
10th Fl #1008
New York, NY 10036
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
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:
LTT Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to most common questions regarding eligibility, program availability and more.
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
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.
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.
New York State Teaching Assistant Certification Exam Preparation Workshop – Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills (ATAS)
The Murphy Institute’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), the required test for getting the teaching assistant certification. For more information, please contact ltt@slu.cuny.edu
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Training
Under the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, The Murphy Institute’s LEAP to Teacher Program is an approved NY State DASA Training Provider. 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. For more information, please contact ltt@slu.cuny.edu
NY State Teacher Certification Exam Preparation Workshops
NY Teacher Certification Exam Preparation Workshops – Master test taking study strategies for the CST: Combined Early Childhood & Childhood Multi-Subject Test and EAS: Educating All Students.
Mathematics for Elementary Educators (MFEE)
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
Math Connection Conference (Spring Semesters Only)
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, and 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
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.