12. Preparing Educators to Teach Climate Change

The Center for Sustainable Futures, in partnership with LEAP and NYC Public Schools, hosted its first Climate Education intensive this year. Experts from TC worked with 40 primary school teachers to bolster their capacity to understand and teach climate change. 

Supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the Center for Sustainable Futures has three more institutes planned for teachers of older students and will ensure long term support for educators through robust professional development resources.

11. Honoring an Impactful Alum

As a part of the ongoing restoration of the Tudor Room in Grace Dodge Hall, made possible by a generous award from the Myers Foundations, the College honored the significant contributions of TC alumna Shirley Chisholm (M.A. ’52) with a portrait by fellow alum Monben Mayon (M.A. ’23, Anthropology and Education). The commission was made possible by the Myers Art Commission Award from Gottesman Libraries.

“It brings me joy to know that TC students, now and after I graduate, will get to see Chisholm's likeness in the historic Tudor Room and be reminded of her impactful legacy on Teachers College,” says Mayon.

10. Celebrating a Reimagined Reunion

The first-ever TC (Re)Unites marked the first in-person gathering for alumni, faculty, and students on campus since 2019. A reimagined reunion focused on social impact, the week of festivities started with a series of virtual discussions about timely issues before culminating in a weekend of community building at the College. Festivities included the presentation of TC’s 2023 Alumni Awards, dance classes with Ballet Hispanico, hands-on AI demonstrations, clean-ups of Morningside Park and discussions on critical work related to affirmative action and more.

9. Focusing on Comprehensive Literacy Instruction

Literacy experts from TC, as well as Catherine Snow from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, offered their insights on teacher preparation for comprehensive literacy instruction designed to meet the varied, individual needs of students. “At TC, our literacy instructors focus on putting children and youth and their learning at the center of our pedagogy,” said Vice Dean for Teacher Education Celia Oyler at the symposium.

8. Celebrating TC’s Impact

In its second year, TC Impact Day mobilized the College community in a day of service and action. Honoring the foundational principles of TC to make real change in the world, more than 160 volunteers, 2,300 donated books, 65 letters to public officials, and $382,000 supported TC’s impact on education, health and psychology for the public good.

7. Welcoming Our New Provost and Dean

In July, TC welcomed KerryAnn O’Meara as its new Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost and Dean of the College. This fall, O’Meara, who joined TC from College from the University of Maryland (UMD), has been leading a series of community-wide dialogues to define and codify our commitments to our students, to our fields, to our schools and communities, and to each other in the context of our new mission.

“I have long admired TC's deeply held commitments to social justice, groundbreaking research, outstanding graduate programs, and multidisciplinary approaches to creating a more equitable world,” said O’Meara in the announcement of her appointment.

6. Furthering Adolescent Mental Health Research

New research from John Allegrante — the Charles Irwin Lambert Professor of Health Behavior and Education — and colleagues showcased the negative impact of the pandemic on youth mental health. Examining responses from more than 60,000 Icelandic teens, the study also made apparent the complex relationships teens have to social media and reduced in-person interaction while emphasizing the crucial role supportive parents and sufficient sleep play in promoting good mental health for teens.

5. Sharing Milestones and New College Initiatives

At his State of the College address to a packed audience in Milbank Chapel, President Bailey reviewed milestone accomplishments relating to the College’s five strategic priorities and announced three initiatives related to working for the public good, optimizing the College’s strengths, and supporting the community.

“These are the very societal issues we are prepared to address. Our history has led us here. Our future demands our collective response,” said President Bailey.

4. Weighing in on the Risks and Benefits of AI

At the beginning of this year, when the frenzy around ChatGPT was nearing its peak, TC education technology experts shed critical insight on the implications of the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence. Faculty from across the College and the Digital Futures Institute weighed in on concerns about cheating, inherent bias, and how classrooms can adapt to AI.

3. Introducing a New Mission Statement and Refreshed Visual Identity

TC unveiled a new mission statement and refreshed visual identity, reflecting a collaborative effort that drew upon insights from a variety of stakeholders. “Under our one mission and one identity, our community can remain united as we work together in courageous inquiry to increase our impact across the field of education, health and psychology,” said President Bailey.

2. Investigating the Impact of Book Bans

In the wake of a record-breaking number of book ban attempts and fierce discourse over what material is permissible in schools, TC experts from a range of programs shared insight on the history, legal context and implications of censorship in schools. “[Book bans] diminish the quality of education students have access to and restrict their exposure to important perspectives that form the fabric of a culturally pluralist society like the United States,” said Sonya Douglass, Professor of Education Leadership.

1. Marking Our Success

TC tied for first place in the U.S. News & World Report ranking for graduate schools of education, jumping six places over the previous year. The College’s gains in research funding and public prominence were driving factors in this shift, in addition to how U.S. News & World Report adjusted its rankings methodology.

“This year's results reflect the progress and hard work of our entire community — our faculty, staff, students, alumni, Trustees, donors, friends and supporters — to build TC for the future and continue our pursuit of a smarter, healthier, more equitable world,” President Bailey wrote to the community at the time. 

— Sherri Gardner