NYSUT has a strong commitment to meaningful and appropriate professional development for teachers throughout their careers. The union was instrumental in the passage of regulations that require school districts to provide professional development to teachers. NYSUT provides and supports a wide variety of resources to enhance the learning of new teachers. These resources are accessible through your local teachers union by contacting your building representative or union officers. You can also find resources at http://www.nysut.org/.

• Master's Degrees through NYSUT

• State-Mandated Mentoring for New Teachers

• Graduate or In-service Courses Through NYSUT

• Programs for School-Related Professionals

• Professional Development Workshops through NYSUT

• NYS Teacher Centers

• National Board Certification

• NYSUT Subject Area Committees

• NYSUT Department of Research and Educational Services

NYSUT Education & Learning Trust Master's Degree Partnership Programs

The NYSUT Education & Learning Trust (ELT) has partnered with accredited colleges and universities in New York to provide teachers access to quality programs at reasonable costs. These partnerships allow ELT to offer courses that feed into state-approved graduate programs in education and the liberal arts and sciences. Teachers may use these programs to fulfill the graduate degree requirement for professional certification. Contact the Trust at (800) 528-6208 or ELTmail@nysutmail.org.

State-Mandated Mentoring for New Teachers

As of February 2004, districts are required to provide mentoring to initial certificate holders during their first year of teaching. The requirement is a district responsibility and is addressed through collective bargaining with the local teachers union. As a new NYSUT member, ask your building representative about this support program.

Graduate or In-service Courses through NYSUT

NYSUT, through the Education & Learning Trust, provides its members access to professional development courses for either graduate or in-service credit. Courses address topics such as classroom management and discipline, literacy, special education and inclusive classrooms, and the NYS Learning Standards. All courses are taught by practicing teachers specifically trained in these areas and are offered at affordable tuition rates. Contact the Trust at (800) 528-6208 or ELTmail@nysutmail.org.

Programs for School-Related Professionals (SRPs)

NYSUT, through the Education & Learning Trust, offers education and training opportunities for SRPs that can enhance their skills and knowledge and improve overall job performance. Workshop offerings include: Dealing with Students with Special Needs; Managing Student Behavior; Structured Bus Environment; School Secretary: First Contact/First Impression; and Skills for Effective Communication. Undergraduate courses are also available to help teaching assistants meet certification requirements. Contact the Trust at (800) 528-6208 or at ELTmail@nysutmail.org.

Professional Development Workshops through NYSUT

NYSUT, through the Education & Learning Trust, provides professional development workshops for its members. Several workshops, such as The Parent-Teacher Conference, are specifically designed for new teachers and are accessible by contacting the union building representative or union officers. These workshops can be delivered in any school across New York and can be used to fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements. Contact the Trust at (800) 528-6208 or ELTmail@nysutmail.org.

Department of Research and Educational Services

NYSUT's Department of Research and Educational Services provides up-to-date critical information on educational issues. The department regularly conducts member phone surveys and publishes Information Bulletins and Briefing Bulletins on emerging educational issues from pre-K through post-grad. This information can be found at the NYSUT Web site, http://www.nysut.org/, by clicking on the Information Bulletins link. This NYSUT department sponsors the Annual Professional Development Institute as well as statewide and regional meetings and conferences.

NYS Teacher Centers

NYSUT strongly supports the network of 132 teacher centers funded by New York state. Teacher centers provide high quality, research-based professional development programs and services for teachers that are developed and implemented by teachers. Teacher centers form partnerships with colleges, state and county agencies, local businesses, and numerous institutions and organizations to provide opportunities for new learning for teachers. When teachers are actively engaged in learning more about content and instructional skills, more students are likely to achieve the high standards of performance required in New York state. For more information go to NYSUT Information Bulletin No. 200304, Teacher Centers, or http://www.teachercenters.org/.

National Board Certification

Offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, National Board Certification calls for documentation of a candidate's teaching practice and content knowledge over time as measured against high and rigorous standards. It is a way for teachers to deepen subject matter knowledge and become more skillful in daily classroom instruction and student assessment. The credentials attest "that a teacher has been assessed by his or her peers as one who is accomplished, makes sound professional judgments about student learning and acts effectively with those judgments." The NYSUT Education & Learning Trust offers workshops and courses to assist members pursuing national certification.

National Board Certification is voluntary and complements, but does not replace, state licensing. Teachers with three (3) or more years of experience are eligible to apply. A National Board Certificate is valid for 10 years and is renewable. Currently the participation fee is $2,635, but candidate fee subsidies are available through the NYS Albert Shanker Grant Program. At present, more than 90 NYSUT locals have negotiated incentives for participants and New York state's National Board Certified Teachers. For more information, go to http://www.nysut.org/ or http://www.nbpts.org/.

NYSUT Subject Area Committees

In 1997, NYSUT established nine subject area committees to assist the Board of Directors in developing policy regarding the New York State Learning Standards and Assessments. In addition to reviewing State Education Department documents pertaining to curriculum, instruction and assessments, the committees have also developed workshops that are presented at the annual NYSUT Professional Development Institute, conferences of the professional organizations and superintendents conference days. Many of the committee members serve on various academic and assessment committees for the state, NYSUT, AFT and NEA.

Additional Professional Development Resources

Members who help their local union in the areas of leadership, public relations, communications, finances, record-keeping, negotiations, contract enforcement, school restructuring and reform or data processing can take advantage of workshops and material from NYSUT on each of those topics. NYSUT also sponsors statewide conferences for members of constituent groups within the union, including community colleges, SRPs, BOCES, health care and retirees. The sessions focus on issues and concerns unique to each group.

On-the-job safety and health concerns such as indoor air pollution, asbestos hazards, toxic chemicals, and the importance of local safety and health committees are addressed in NYSUT workshops and literature. NYSUT also offers workshops and training programs that are of special interest to SRPs.

Your NYSUT labor relations specialist is the local union's source for information about training on union topics and other workshops, including assertiveness training, conflict resolution and other subjects.

Our national affiliates, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA), are sources of training and information. They make available to members videos and other materials on many topics and offer courses, workshops and conferences for members. This includes the AFT's Educational Research and Dissemination (ER&D) training, a professional development program. Ask your local president if your local participates in these programs. If not, you can inquire about these offerings through your regional office or the AFT PSRP division at (800) 238-1133.

Be sure to check the NYSUT Web site (http://www.nysut.org/) for courses offered through the Education & Learning Trust.

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