Springtime is in full swing, and the New York State Museum is kicking off the month of May with a new exhibition feature on Timbuctoo, a little-known Black settlement near Lake Placid, New York. The exhibition, Timbuctoo: Gerrit Smith’s Experiment, will be on view in Adirondack Hall until December 31, 2022. In addition, filmmaker Paul A. Miller’s documentary, Searching for Timbuctoo, tells the history of this forgotten settlement and follows an archaeology team looking to unearth evidence of the community. The film will officially air on WAMC/PBS in June 2022.
NYSED recently awarded nearly $95 million in subgrants to school districts, not-for-profits, institutions of higher education, and other community-focused organizations to establish or expand 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) across the state. The funds will support 136 programs and will be used by the districts and organizations to provide supplemental services and enrichments for students most in need of additional supports. For a full list of school districts and organizations receiving awards, please visit the Department’s website.
NYSED also recently announced that two New York State mathematics teachers and two science teachers are state-level finalists for the 2022 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) at the elementary level. The PAEMST, one of the most prestigious honors in the nation for teachers, recognizes exemplary teaching and leadership in mathematics and science education. Biographies for each of the finalists can be found on NYSED’s website. Congratulations to the honorees!
Finally, last month, NYSED hosted the 2022 New York State My Brother's Keeper (MBK) Virtual Symposium. Hundreds of students, parents, educational leaders, and citizens from across New York State gathered virtually for the two-day symposium on the MBK initiative to help young men of color - and all students - realize their full potential. In addition to providing resources and a program to motivate and inspire participants, we inducted our fifth cohort of MBK Fellows. Video recordings of the event will be posted in the coming weeks, and I encourage you to check out our MBK website to hear from MBK students and programs that shared their success stories, challenges, and strategies at the symposium. You can also subscribe to our MBK newsletter for regular updates.
Thank you for taking the time to read about what's happening at NYSED. I appreciate all you do to support strong family and community involvement in our schools.
