The Murphy Institute’s LEAP to Teacher (LTT) program at Medgar Evers College serves as a central resource for participating paraprofessionals with questions or concerns about any aspects of their learning journey at MEC. The main purpose of the LEAP to Teacher program at MEC 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.

Contact
Site Coordinator
Antoinette Adman
antoinette.adman@slu.cuny.edu
Call/Text: 929-320-0608
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
As a Paraprofessional or Teaching Assistant, you can continue your studies in many fields at MEC. If you are interested in teaching and becoming a certified teacher, MEC has three nationally accredited professional, career-oriented baccalaureate degree programs to provide you credentials to obtain the initial Teaching Certification and a pre-professional Associate’s degree.
- School of Education Majors
- AA Teacher Education
- Childhood Education
- Childhood Special Education (Dual certified in general and special Education)
- Early Childhood Special Education (Dual certified in general and special education)
LTT Frequently Asked Questions – Answers to most common questions regarding eligibility, program availability and more.
LTT Academic and Career Support
The LEAP to Teacher program provides a full range of support services to undergraduate students. These services may include:
- Assistance with the admission and registration process at MEC
- Assisting with the admission and registration process to Lehman College
- Offering pre-admission services such as: essays/personal statement preparation
- Free College Preparation Program
- Ongoing advisement to students to ensure that their college experience is positive and rewarding
- Assisting with special opportunities including: scholarships, D.O.E Career Training Program (CTP) vouchers and tuition reimbursement initiatives and financial assistance .
- Online writing support and assistance with assignment comprehension and writing improvement and student success workshops – LEAP to Teacher students can contact Jean Soto, the Writing and Research Consultant, at 718-997-3079 or by emailing soto@slu.cuny.edu
- Information about NYS requirements for teacher certification and free NYS teacher certification exam preparation workshops
- Career advisement and assistance with preparing resumes, cover letter, essays, applications
- Networking with alumni to provide career opportunities.
- Sharing professional development opportunities
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
Student Success Workshops
This series of online workshops introduces LTT students to study skills and provides writing improvement tips. Here are some of the topics covered in the workshops: 1) Classroom skills and note taking; 2) Reading Difficult Text; 3) Drafting Strategies; (4) Paraphrasing/Summarizing; (5) APA/MLA Citations; (6) Revisions strategies; 7) Introductions and Conclusions, 8) Time management
Please contact your LTT coordinator to get more information or email ltt@slu.cuny.edu