Expectations for C.U.R.E. students
As C.U.R.E. students, you are held to high standards and supported to be successful at Cortland and as a teacher. The C.U.R.E. Student Handbook covers all of the expectations for you and the support that is here for you. The C.U.R.E. Program offers mentoring, tutoring, and leadership development opportunities for you to be successful on campus and in the classroom.
You can do it!!
As a C.U.R.E. scholar, you are receiving a unique preparation to become a successful urban educator. You have agreed to take on the challenges of this scholarship program so that you can work in some of the most challenging schools and make a difference in the lives of children. These words from graduates of the C.U.R.E. Program can motivate you when the work seems hard and the road seems long:
A lot of urban teachers view teaching here as: “This is the last place I want to be. I’m going to come in every morning and let the kids know that” and C.U.R.E. motivated me not to be that teacher. Here, I never have a boring day. It’s challenging, but you realize at the end of the year or the end of the day how much working through the challenges pays off. I try to teach them not only about academics but also about what do you want to do with your life and how can you get there. I try to be a positive role model – one strong rock in their life. And when I feel like I get through to my students, that’s a success to me. And that’s the most rewarding part of working here, being an important person in the lives of these children.
Katherine Ortiz, English teacher in Queens, NY
I feel like I am something my students can look up to. I want them to look at me like - “She’s young. She’s not on the streets. She’s going somewhere” – but to know that they have to work for it – “Do you think I slept through all my classes?”. I play that side up all the time.
Tara Gourdine, Math teacher in Syracuse, NY
I felt more prepared because I was in C.U.R.E.; there’s no question about that. It helped teach me about being open-minded – which would be my number one piece of advice for new teachers – and I’m still learning today. Through course readings, field experience and observations – and other students at Cortland have to wait three years to get in the classroom – and guess speakers. I do feel like C.U.R.E. gave me a good idea of what to expect on the job. It’s one of the reasons I feel I’ve been successful so far.
Mike Witkowich, History teacher, NY
