Background
The DeWitt Clinton High School-Middlebury College Partnership was the brainchild of the Middlebury New York Diversity Task Force. The Partnership was initiated to enhance opportunities for programs at an urban public school. The Task Force (a group of concerned Middlebury alumni, educators, and friends) studied the curriculum, student body, and faculty/staff commitment of a number of NYC schools before electing DeWitt Clinton as the ideal partner school for an ongoing relationship.
JTerm Internship
The January internship at Dewitt Clinton may be the surprise success of the Partnership. The internship has served to provide students interested in teaching the opportunity to experience the New York City Public School system. During the January semester at Dewitt Clinton, students engage public schools in New York City. Students spend approximately two and one half weeks at Dewitt Clinton. While at Clinton students are assigned to a Clinton House, (much like Middlebury's Commons system in terms of advising, counseling and scheduling) two academic classes, and a teacher/faculty mentor. In addition they receive a daily briefing from a teacher/administrator on a particular operation or program at the school. Workshops and dialogue with the host coordinator at Clinton, Clinton Principal, and assistant principals are ongoing. Students are often given the opportunity to teach a class and tutor. Students also conduct workshop/lectures on the College experience.
The internship includes a number of activities outside of Clinton. Students spend one week at a charter elementary school, the Harbor Charter School in East Harlem. They visit middle schools in the Bronx that serve as feeders for Dewitt Clinton, high schools in boroughs outside the Bronx and independent NYC schools led or staffed by Middlebury alums. Middlebury students also participate in lectures, workshops, panel presentations, and social outings with students from Amherst, Williams, Smith and Syracuse who are also spending time in January learning about NYC public schools. This annual collaboration is coordinated by Philip Smith from Williams Colege and Leroy Nesbitt of Middlebury in partnership with the Foundation For Excellent Schools led by a Middlebury parent. In the December before J-term students attend two orientation sessions.
Students are housed at the 63rd St. YMCA near Lincoln Center. They receive a 30 day Metropass, daily school lunches at Clinton and the Harbor Charter School, tickets to at least one Broadway show, a tour of Robin Graham's gallery (A Midd trustee) and at least one good meal with Leroy each week. Leroy Nesbitt spends at least four days with the students including the first and last days at Dewitt Cliton and the Harbor Charter School. Eighty Middlebury students (56 under the direction of L. Nesbitt and 24 under the direction of D. Dollase) completed this experience. During the years of the internship 1997 - 2003, 13 students participating in this internship have pursued careers in elementary or secondary education and 2 aspire to teach at the University level.
Comments from Previous Participants
"Spending a month as a teacher's intern at Clinton made me realize that, even though I'm a college student, I can learn from students who are my peers. It was both a teaching and learning experience. It also felt different standing in front of a classroom and remembering that I was in their seat two years ago." (Middlebury student)
"The Partnership programs expand everyone's horizons and because of that, the experience is a true education." (Clinton teacher)
"It is difficult to describe what the partnership has meant to Clinton because it impacts on almost every aspect of school life. Middlebury's presence is felt in our classroom, college office, and in the aspirations of our students. It is that pervasive." (Former principal at DeWitt Clinton)
"I was very surprised at the impact I made on these kids. They were very upset when we said good-bye. In a way I like that. It gives me a feeling of completion: I got part of the job done." (Middlebury student commenting on winter term teaching internship at Clinton)
Schedule
Housing: 63rd Street YMCA at 5 West 63rd Street in Manhattan between Central Park West and Broadway. The telephone number is 212-875-4100. The YMCA has 24-hour security, a cafeteria, and typical YMCA amenities but does not have telephones in the rooms. Housing is dormitory style with shared bathrooms and double rooms and hallway public telephones. Linen service is provided but you may wish to bring your own pillow and small rug. You can check in on January 4, 2004 after Noon.
Our contact at the facility is Venetta Griffen in group sales. You will be provided with funds for a 30 day Metropass for unlimited use of the bus and subway systems. Please (if you have not provided it) send me your full mailing address during the Christmas holiday so that a check in the amount of the 30 day Metropass can be sent to you. I also need your student ID number. Please also forward a telephone number where I can reach you during the Christmas holiday.
We will be starting on January 5, 2004 and I will meet you in the lobby of the YMCA at 10:00 am. When entering Clinton, the security guard may ask you to sign in and show your Middlebury College ID. Remember to bring your ID to NYC with you. On the first day, we will begin with an orientation. At that time, your daily schedule will be given to you and you will have an opportunity to discuss your duties and responsibilities with the teachers and administrators. Ms. Phyliss McCabe, Director of the MACY Program at DeWitt Clinton, will be the coordinator with whom you will work during the internship. She may be reached at (718) 543-1000, the telephone number of Clinton.
Please remember the three books you are asked to read. They are:
Will My Name Be Shouted Out by Stephen O'Connor;
Radical Equations: Civil Rights from Mississippi to the Algebra Project by Bob Moses; Bootstraps by Victor Villanueva. Read O'Conner, Moses, and then Villanueva . Remember that you are responsible for keeping a daily journal so please remember to bring something to write your journal in.
In preparation for the college workshops you will conducting at Clinton, I ask you to review the Middlebury College Admissions and Alumni web pages as you will be considered a representative of the College throughout your time in the NYC schools. Your expertise in the college application process as a successful veteran of that process will likely be of great interest to DeWitt Clinton students. Until December 18th I can be reached at my office in Middlebury (443-3166). From December 18th until January 4th I can be reached in Washington, D.C. at (202) 237-8474 and my cell number is 802-989-9242. The daily class schedule is below. See you on January 6th. Have a good holiday.
Daily Plan
Jan. 4th Arrive NYC West Side YMCA 5 West 63rd Street, (212) 875-4204.
Jan. 5th Intro to Dewitt Clinton High School Meet Leroy Nesbitt in lobby of YMCA at 10:00 am Visit to Harbor Arts and Science Academy 2:30 pm. Dinner with Leroy.
Jan. 6th Dewitt Clinton 8:20a.m.Tutor Training by Stanley Kaplan Williams Club, 24 East 39th St. 4:30 pm Dinner to follow at JT's Bar and Grille.
Jan. 7th Dewitt Clinton 8:20 am.
Jan. 8th Dewitt Clinton 8:20 am.
Jan. 9th Dewitt Clinton 8:20 am 3 pm Visit to Middle School IS 184 778 Forest Ave. Bronx, N.Y. Contact Josette Claudio '94 917-327-9256.
Jan. 10th Visit to Graham Gallery 11 am 1014 Madison Avenue Contact: Priscilla Caldwell 212-535-5767.
Jan. 12th Dewitt Clinton 8:20 am Visit to Ethical Culture Fieldston 4:00 pm.
Jan. 13th Dewitt Clinton 8:20 am College Panel at Clinton Lecture by Prof. Sam Intrator, Smith College Williams Club, 24 East 39th St. 4:15 pm Dinner to follow at JT's Bar and Grill.
Jan. 14th Dewitt Clinton 8:20 am College panel at Clinton (target date).
Jan. 15th Dewitt Clinton 8:20 am.
Jan. 16th Dewitt Clinton 8:20 am.
Jan. 19th MLK Holiday.
Jan. 20th Amherst, Middlebury, Smith, Williams & Syracuse Alumni Young NYC Teachers Panel 4:15 Syracuse University's Lubin House 11 East 61st St. 212-862-0320.
Jan. 21st.The Harbor Science and Arts Charter School, 1 East 104th St., School Contact Joanne Hunt 212-427-2244 ext.627 8:15 am.
Jan. 22nd The Harbor Science and Arts Charter School 8:15 am Visit to Town School 3:15 pm 540 E 76th St New York NY 10021 Contact Dana Kugelman 212-288-4383.
Jan. 23rd The Harbor Science and Arts Charter School 8:15 am.
Jan. 26th The Harbor Science and Arts Charter School 8:15 am.
Jan. 27th The Harbor Science and Arts Charter School 8:15 am Visit to Graduate Education Department, New York University 5 pm Contact Dr. Robert Wallace 917-885-7916.
Jan. 28th Tour Bronx School for Law and Government 9 am Noon Luncheon at Dewitt Clinton . Depart New York City.
Grading
This Internship is pass/fail. Successful "passing" requires attendance at every day of the internship unless excused by a physician or extraordinary family circumstances. In such cases where more than one or two absences have occurred due to medical reasons or extraordinary family circumstances students may have to accept an "Incomplete" as the internship grade. All students must complete a daily journal in which reflections regarding their experiences in the schools and the assigned texts are written. In addition, students are required to attend the extra seminar sessions that may be added to the schedule. These extra seminars will focus on the readings assigned and how the readings might inform students' understanding of teaching and learning in New York City.