It has been almost three years since the city Department of Education announced the creation of two curriculum campaigns: NYC Reads and NYC Solves. We as a union had reservations, but we agreed there was a need for curriculum change and quality professional development. Emphasis on quality — the kind provided daily by the UFT Teacher Center.

We know that with any curriculum rollout, there is a need for teachers to be working alongside coaches in their classrooms: standing hip-to-hip modeling and instructing students. The Teacher Center grew its capacity to include district literacy and math coaches who were in the trenches immediately to support schools. The Teacher Center grew its capacity to include district literacy coaches in the majority of Phase 1 districts and a handful of math coaches in specific high school districts. Both sets of coaches were in schools daily, supporting as many teachers as they could reach.

We learned quickly that educators citywide were excited to participate in high-impact, comprehensive professional development that was purposeful and relevant. In the summer prior to the implementation, over 1,000 educators enrolled in the P-Credit/CTLE courses held by the Teacher Center at UFT headquarters. Since then, classrooms citywide have had Teacher Center coaches and education liaisons as co-teachers in their classrooms, providing supports in the evening to plan and collaborate, and serving as thought partners in pedagogical decisions.

NYC Reads has shown literacy gains across many districts. Educators who have a UFT Teacher Center and have utilized literacy coaches have shared the phasing in of a new curriculum and method of teaching. Those shifts weren’t as arduous with the support of the Teacher Center. Those who were left to DOE consultants and turn-key training struggled. Teacher Center literacy coaches worked diligently to provide evening/weekend office hours to offer support in a multitude of capacities.

Conversely, the rollout and implementation of NYC Solves has been ineffectual at best. However, teachers in NYC Solves schools should not have to struggle to find supportive resources. In September, the Teacher Center created three math content specialists who have been assisting teachers in their classrooms, creating lesson plans and ensuring all topics on the Regents are covered in a timely manner.

We have also learned what doesn’t work: DOE consultants who only give feedback and hold low-impact, minimal-benefit meetings. We learned that sometimes, you just need someone willing to do the work alongside you, showing you best practices, enhancing your teaching in myriad ways.

The DOE’s TEACH Hub is difficult to navigate, and many pedagogues have shared that resources promised are not always readily available in their schools, thus rendering it useless.

So how do you get the support and resources you need?

• Look for UFT emails with links to registration for courses and workshops.
• Follow the UFT Teacher Center on Facebook and Instagram, where it posts all workshops and courses.
• Reach out to your district’s assigned Teacher Center field liaison and literacy coach. Ask them to co-plan and co-teach with you. Each Teacher Center literacy coach offers office hours after school and in the evenings. Each Teacher Center education liaison is readily available to visit your classroom to assist in small group instruction.
• Attend information sessions for the AFT’s National Academy for AI Instruction, housed at UFT headquarters, to get support on developing lesson plans with specific supports for the learners in your classroom.

Know that your union and the UFT Teacher Center are there not only to provide you with contractual assistance, but to be with you on your growth and professional journey, right alongside you, every step of the way.