The Teacher Center of Central Westchester (TCCW) is funded by the NYS legislature under Education Law 316 that calls for the provision of systematic, ongoing professional education services to NYS teachers. A Policy Board composed of 51% teachers as well as representation from higher education, school boards, parents, administration and business professionals governs the Center. The requirement that teachers comprise the majority of the board reflects the founding principle behind teacher centers which is “Teachers Teaching Teachers.” Consortium members interested in joining our policy board should have their local union president contact us.
NYS Teacher Centers were established in 1984, thanks to the lobbying efforts of NYSUT, and are the largest professional learning communities in NYS with approximately 125 Centers located throughout the state. While each Center has its own unique characteristics, all of them recognize that professional growth is integral to teachers’ work.
For the 2021-2022 school year, the Center received state funding to be used to fund staff salaries and associated benefits/indirect costs and to design and customize professional development initiatives in our consortium schools. Since our funding is through a state appropriation that requires annual legislative approval, each year Teacher Centers must submit a Continuation Application to the SED to request continued funding. The SED is the administrator of the grant and oversees disbursement of teacher center funds. Our grant monies are disbursed to the Mount Vernon School District, our Local Education Agency, that serves as the fiscal agent for the teacher center.
To view the Statewide Teacher Center Organization http://www.nysteachercenters.org/