About Teacher Centers
History
Teacher Centers were established by the New York State Legislature to provide comprehensive teacher-to-teacher professional learning and support services to NYS teachers, in order to enrich their teaching practice and improve student learning and achievement. The New York State Teacher Center Network is comprised of 124 regional Teacher Centers, all of which provide critical professional learning opportunities to build teacher capacity at little to no cost to school districts or educators. Using evidence-based practices, collaboration, and classroom research, educators develop the skills they need to meet the current learning of students while preparing them for the future. NYS Teacher Centers currently serve over 275,000 educators.
The Greater Capital Region Teacher Center (GCRTC) is the largest consortium Teacher Center in the state and one of the original NYS Teacher Resource and Computer Training Centers, established in 1984 by Education Law 316. The Center operates out of South Colonie CSD and serves 88 public school districts and BOCES, as well as 33 non-public and charter schools. GCRTC currently offers professional learning to 18,000 educators.
VALERIE LOVELACE, ED.D.,
GCRTC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
NYSTC SPRING SYMPOSIUM
New York State United Teachers (NYSUT)
New York State Teacher Centers are funded through a state appropriation that requires annual legislative approval. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is the administrator of the grant and oversees disbursement of Teacher Center funds.
NYSUT provides on-going advocacy for Teacher Center funding, including supporting the attendance of Teacher Center representatives at the Committee of 100. NYSUT also maintains a standing statewide committee which provides information to NYSUT on local Teacher Center issues and professional learning programs. Read more.
New York State Education Department (NYSED)
The Office of Curriculum and Instruction acts as the program office for the statewide network of Teacher Resource and Computer Training Centers, Regional Networks, Standing Committees and statewide projects. The program office provides oversight, leadership, and guidance to this Teacher Center network on the grant application process, as well as a wide variety of topics related to NYS learning Standards and school improvement.
Teacher Centers provide direct assistance with the development and training of school district Professional Development Planning Committees and mentoring programs that are required under Commissioner’s Regulations 100.2 (dd). The Centers are governed through Education Law 316 and Commissioner’s Regulations Part 81 provides further guidance.
Mission, Vision & Values
Vision Statement
Our vision is a community where all students are enriched by educators who have access to meaningful and innovative teacher-led professional learning.
Mission Statement
The Greater Capital Region Teacher Center elevates teacher expertise to advance learning for every student. We do this by:
Teaching educators to excel in research and experienced-based practices
Offering challenging professional learning
Incorporating the latest pedagogical and neuroscientific research
We do this to cultivate an engaged, informed and adaptable citizenry, and to guarantee all students an equitable opportunity to learn and earn.
Values Statement
The Greater Capital Region Teacher Center values teachers as:
Judicious decision-makers about their own learning
Life-long learners
Reflective practitioners
Collegial collaborators
We acknowledge teachers as agents of change who are empowered to recognize a fundamental difference between choosing options provided and creating their own options.
GCRTC PARTICIPATING EDUCATORS,
CURRENT TRENDS AND LEGAL ISSUES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
LIZ DALEY, GCRTC TEACHER LEADERSHIP COACH FOR SPED, DEVELOPING GLOBAL AND CULTURAL COMPETENCIES THROUGH A PROFESSIONAL EXCHANGE
GCRTC PARTICIPATING EDUCATORS,
WHY (NOT) INQUIRY LABS, MEETING NYSSLS AND DOING REAL SCIENCE IN CHEMISTRY