The Rochester City School District’s School 19 is among 39 priority schools that received State Education Department funding this week to implement wide-ranging changes in the school. The $2.5 million School Improvement Grant funds the added cost of services that would be provided by Geneseo as an educational partnership organization (EPO). Under the EPO designation, Geneseo would function as its superintendent and implement a teacher-led community school model to improve educational outcomes for the students.
“The approval of this grant submitted by RCSD is great news and will allow us to move forward on formalizing the partnership,” said Anjoo Sikka, dean of the Ella Cline Shear School of Education. “In developing the EPO, we will conduct a needs assessment at the school, meet with school leadership and faculty and staff at Geneseo to determine our plan of action based on that assessment. The teacher-led model planned for this school resonates strongly with us as it honors the critical role that teachers play in the P-12 education and elevates the teaching profession.”
Jane Morse, professor of education, will be assigned full time to work with the teachers at the school and is already spending her days there. The School of Education also will be placing teacher candidates at the school for practica.