When Tech International Charter School staffers pack up for the weekend, a second crop of educators file into the Kingsbridge classrooms for Touro College’s education courses.
The college — which made its Bronx debut on Oct. 14 — has six graduate education courses in classrooms rented from Tech International. Originally founded to enrich Jewish heritage, the school has been eying the Bronx for years because it was the only borough where Touro didn’t have classes.
Lorli Dima-ala, the deputy chair of education and special education, said the Graduate School of Education plans to expand its course offerings as Bronx students complete the six foundational classes currently offered at 3120 Corlear Ave. on Sundays.
“We’ve been having inquiries about having a program in the Bronx for the longest time. Finally, it has happened,” said Ms. Dima-ala. “I think I only have one or two [students] who are not from the Bronx, but they like the area.”
This semester, students are studying the history and philosophy of education and special education, child development and learning, assessment of individual differences in general and special education from a socio-cultural perspective, introduction to teaching students with disabilities, literacy in a bilingual classroom and theory and practice of bilingual and multicultural education.
Touro’s Graduate School of Education has about 3,600 students and sends more graduates into special education careers in city public schools than its competitors, according to Dean LaMar Miller. The school boasts the largest number of minority graduates in New York State and aims to prep students for challenging schools.
“We hope to be there to stay,” Mr. Miller said. “We will take a look at what the demand is and see what areas they’re interested in. We will try to tailor our offerings.”
