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Curriculum and Instruction

Social Studies

Additional Resources

Civic Readiness Initiative

Task Force Mission Statement: Encourage students to believe in the power of their own voices and actions.  Equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to engage responsibly in our culturally diverse democracy.  Empower students to make informed decisions to enhance our interconnected world. 

New York State Department of Education chose to include the Civic Readiness Index in our Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan as a tool to measure school's success. 

The Social Studies Content Advisory Panel and the Civic Readiness Task Force are working together on the following goals:

  1. Ensure students develop the knowledge and skills to meaningfully transition to postsecondary opportunities and to exercise civic responsibility
  • Define Civic Readiness
  • Create the Criteria for the Seal of Civic Readiness
  • Explore capstone projects
  1. Create guidance and resources that support the following K-12 NYS Social Studies Framework Practices:
  • Civic Participation
  • Gathering, interpreting and using evidence
Civic Readiness Task Force
Name Title Organization
Allison Armour-Garb Senior Advisor P-20 Policy Coordination and Strategic Planning New York State Department of Education
Dawn Bartz Director of Social Studies Yonkers CSD
Laura Bierman Executive Director New York State League of Women Voters
Brian Carlin Social Studies Instructional Coach New York City Department of Education
Michael Coppoteli Associate Superintendent Public Policy and Student Services Archdiocese of New York
Cheryl Couser Deputy Director of Public Information New York State Board of Elections
Barry Derfel Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES
Michael DiMezza Director of Career Technical Education Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES
April Francis Social Studies/Online Learning Curriculum and Staff Development Specialist Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES
DeNora Getachew New York City Executive Director Generation Citizen
Bill Hecht District Superintendent Orange-Ulster BOCES
Jessica Karnes Coordinator of Staff Development, Curriculum, Differentiated Instruction and Data, K-12 Social Studies Erie 1 BOCES
Lisa Kissinger Academic Administrator for Social Studies, Grades 6-12 Shenendehowa CSD
Steve LaMorte Director of Social Studies Rochester City SD
Debra Lesser Director Justice Resource Center
Tony Lopez Executive Director Zone 126 Neighborhood Community Schools
Aruna Patel Instructional Specialist New Visions for Public Schools
Charles Perreaud

Jury Commissioner for the NY State Courts in Monroe Co. and Court Interpreting Coordinator

 7th Judicial District
Christy Radez Associate, Office of Curriculum and Instruction, Lead Facilitator for the Civic Readiness Initiative New York State Department of Eduation
Michael Rebell Executive Director, Center for Educational Equity, Chairman of the Civic Readiness Task Force Teachers College, Columbia University
Joe Rogers Director of Public Engagement, Senior Researcher, Center for Educational Equity Teachers College, Columbia University
Peter Sawyer History Department Chair, Director for Service Learning and Civic Engagement Hudson Valley Community College
Joe Schmidt Social Studies Instructional Coach New York City Department of Educatoin
David Scott Law and Civics Educator Coordinator Northport CSD
Chris Sperry Director of Curriculum, Project Looksharp Ithaca College
Ellen Sullivan Assistant in Educational Services New York State United Teachers
Tara Thibault-Edmonds School Media Library Specialist Roundout CSD
Christine Zapata Social Studies Instructional Lead, District 31 New York City Department of Education
Kamorudeen Olayokun Jr. Assistant Principal PS 78, Staten Island
Joseph Zaza Founding Principal Nicotra Early College Charter School
Nicholas Norman Field Liaison United Federation of Teachers
Jenna Ryall Social Studies Instructonal Coach NYC DOE
Joseph Karb Middle School Social Studies Teacher New York State United Teachers

 

Content Advisory Panel Application

Content Advisory Panel Application