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spotlight on schools ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ DECEMBER 2006PROFILES IN EDUCATIONJoyce Cowin, Trustee, Teachers CollegeBy Joan Baum, Ph.D.Joyce Cowin, a trustee at TeachersCollege (TC) and liaison to its prestigiousAlumni Council, exemplifies by wordand deed the meaning of “philanthropy,”a word that comes from the Greek andmeans love of mankind. To hear hertalk—an enthusiasm she exhibits for whatshe has already done in education andwhat she hopes still to do for her almamater (her Masters at TC)—is to listen tosomeone who truly believes in noblesseoblige. Among her numerous projects,however, she cites as her “happiest” thefunding and founding several years agoof the Heritage School at 106th Street &Lexington Avenue, a 9-12 high schoolthat has already made a difference in thelives of so many of its needy students.She notes, for example, the school’s fifthgraduation and adds that while othersmight conclude that the 50th percentileis hardly an achievement, for the studentswho attend the Heritage School, thegraduation rate most certainly is a “milestone.”Coming in with academic and familialdisadvantages, among them the fact they startrelatively late— in the 9th as opposed to the 6thgrade—Joyce Cowin says she is amazed at whatthe Heritage students have achieved: a movementfrom 12 percent passage on the math regents, forexample, to 85 percent, a striking increase thatshe attributes to the “wonderful” mentoring thestudents receive from Teachers College facultyand interns. Hardly one to rest on her laurels,Joyce Cowin is now aiming her sights at improvingreading scores, as well.Originally conceived as a school that wouldteach all classes through the arts, Heritage hasevolved a program over the last few years that isnow being replicated by other schools. Thoughshe wishes the space-challenged institution wouldhave a gym and a cafeteria, she takes heart at leastthat a library now exists. In the basement? Sowhat, that’s what other schools, particularly thosein Washington D.C., that have no expansion roomare doing. What would she like to see happennext? Without missing a beat, she says, payingattention to problems of “nutrition.” And she’dlike to see continued focus on computers. Theseare the “equalizers,” she says, the kids love them.Whenever she can and especially at meetingsof the Teachers College Board of Trustees shecelebrates the accomplishments of the HeritageSchool and encourages further support.A TC trustee for over 25 years and an importantliaison to the TC Alumni Council, Joyce Cowinknows, of course, that her own “golden” childhoodand relatively easy years at Smith Collegeare far different from the lives of Heritage Schoolstudents, but she believes that it is essential thatpeople like her “get involved.” And stay involved.She’d like to expand mentoring opportunities– why not trips to Albany? She’d also like to seethe reinstitution of something like the GalleryPassport program of some years ago wherebypublic school youngsters were engaged in curricularactivities that involved going to museums.And she’d be delighted if the TC board wouldaccelerate its deliberations on distance learning,which she believes, is “the wave of the future.”She also looks forward to the official openingof the Cowin Conference Center at TeachersCollege and to its publicized integration as aplace for greater faculty exchange.#We must expand islands of excellence intocontinents of success.-Newark Mayor Cory BookerThe federal government shouldn’t have anyrole in education accountability.-Richard Rothstein, Economic Policy InstituteEducation Update is now accepting nominations forOutstanding Educators of the Yearfor our June 2007 event at the Harvard Club.Forms are online at:www.educationupdate.com/awardsAcademic ProgramInstituto Cervantes de Nueva YorkThe Spanish Cultural Center of New YorkPresents itsTeacher Development ProgramWorkshops for Spanish Language TeachersDecember January 2007 2006 –– May 2007This series of workshops, led in Spanish, offers teachers practical andtheoretical strategies on how to teach Spanish as a foreign language.Next seminar: Friday, January December 19, 2007 1, 2006 5:30 5:30 – 8:30 – 8:30pm“El“Experiencia uso de la Webquest en la enseñanza la enseñanza de la traducción de español en los como EEUU” lenguaextranjera: Una nueva forma de aprendizaje on-line”• Develop practical & theoretical teaching techniques• Learn Develop to practical use Spanish & theoretical culture inteaching the classroom techniques• Enjoy Learn interactive to use Spanish seminars culture conducted in the classroom in Spanish• Share Enjoy interactive experiencesseminars with other conducted teachersin Spanish• All Share levels experiences of teaching with experience other teachers welcomeAll levels to follow of teaching all seminars experience welcome• Q & A to follow all seminarsFor more detailed information on all seminars, regular language courses,and cultural events please visit our website: www.cervantes.orgUpcoming Upcoming seminars: seminars: January 19,February 2 & 9, March 2, 16 & 30, April 13 & 27, May 4 & 18All seminars are held at Instituto Cervantes on Fridays from 5:30 – 8:30pmIndividual seminars: $15 $10 for Instituto Cervantes MembersYou may register in advance by telephoneInstituto Cervantes at Amster Yard211 East 49 th Street New York, NY 10017Tel: 212-308-7720 Fax: 212-308-7721classprogram@cervantes.org