Mount Professor Recognized for Service to Charter High School
6/22/2017
Riverdale, N.Y. – Mary Ellen Sullivan, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor of Teacher Education at the University of Mount Saint Vincent, was recognized for her extraordinary service to the Charter High School for Law and Social Justice at its annual gala June 8.
Dr. Sullivan was awarded a dedicated service plaque for her commitment to the School, which is the product of a unique partnership between Mount Saint Vincent and New York Law School. Grounded in the themes of law and social justice, the School provides students from undeserved communities a high-quality education focused on preparation for college and potential careers in the legal field.
As the School’s co-founder and former vice president of its board of trustees, Dr. Sullivan helped shape a distinct curriculum aligned with the Common Core State Standards while integrating law and social justice as a framework for students to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve academic success. Students follow a rigorous curriculum that includes four years of English Language Arts, math, social studies, and science. Students also have the option to complete a course sequence culminating in a law office internship.
“The biggest challenge of implementing the curriculum was making what was on paper come alive in the classroom,” Dr. Sullivan said.
Beginning this fall, the School will serve as a crucial piece of the Mount’s new M.S. in Adolescent Education and Special Education dual certification program. Designed for career changers or recent college graduates, the 14-month accelerated program allows students to receive two New York State teaching licenses, one in special education, the other in a content area such as English, biology, history, or math.
The program blends vital academic content with practical classroom teaching experience through a Teaching Fellows residency program. Fellows are paired with a classroom mentor-teacher. Teaching Fellows work alongside their mentors in a grade-appropriate classroom, attend school-based staff meetings and professional development seminars, and assume instructional responsibilities as assigned. “The charter school will be the site of the program’s urban residency component,” Dr. Sullivan said. “We’re thrilled and excited to see how the program will continue to evolve.”
Dr. Sullivan added that what she loves most about the Mount is its students. “Education is their gateway to a stronger future,” she said—a value the charter school also reflects. With research interests in literacy development, urban and secondary education, and the learning process, Dr. Sullivan said her experience developing the School’s curriculum gave her the opportunity to leverage her background into something meaningful. “I’m honored to receive this award, and to be part of the Mount,” she said.
About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational, and career opportunities of New York City, the College equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for lives of professional accomplishment, service, and leadership in the 21st century.