Professional Practice and Community Partnerships

Queens College’s School of Education as an Educator Preparation Provider (EPP) strives to meet the professional development needs of its students, alumni, and members of the schools and organizations in the communities it serves. Collaborating with over 300 partners, most of which are located throughout the borough of Queens and on Long Island, we provide a rich array of aligned academic and professional experiences for our candidates. Such experiences allow them to participate in a coherent sequence of project-based and community-engaged clinical experiences that support their development towards fostering equitable and socially-just environments for all learners. The diverse and inquiry-based nature of these experiences also allow our candidates to advance their future role as leading citizens in an increasingly global, pluralistic, and inclusive society. Working closely with EPP’s candidates and faculty, the Professional Practice and Community Partnerships Office aims to optimize the teaching and practica experiences of all stakeholders through a multifaceted system of socio-educational support.

Guided by Queens College core values of Equity, Excellence, and Ethics (the 3Es), and in recognition of the essential role our partners play in supporting our candidates, we extend a wide range of opportunities for professional learning and support to our partner schools and other clinical sites. For our partner schools, those opportunities are geared toward supporting the schools’ efforts to design and implement learner-centered educational environments where students are socio-politically conscious and socio-culturally responsive as well as empowered to become proactive agents of social change. The Professional Practice and Community Partnerships Office continually seeks to respond to the current needs of our community partners’ through the provision of opportunities and services including tuition-free access to Queens College and CUNY-wide courses, professional development workshops with and by Queens College faculty, and professional development conferences and newsletters, as well as networking and appreciation events.

Whether you are interested in a placement with any of our partner schools or clinical sites, upcoming professional development opportunities, or joining our network of partners, we hope you will find the information and contacts below helpful.