The School of Education at SUNY New Paltz invites education professionals, parents, students and community members to the 27th annual Multicultural Education Conference on Friday, March 25, from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Student Union Building on the New Paltz campus.
This year’s conference will be organized around the theme of “Collectives and Connectives: Creating Pathways of Support and Sustainability,” with panels and workshops exploring how to navigate educational relationships in times of social unrest.
The program draws on the power of educators who see their work as justice making, relying upon the support of those doing similar, but not the same, work. It encourages educators to build networks with others who share related experiences, desires, and hope for change.
Please use this link to register for the 2022 Multicultural Education Conference at SUNY New Paltz.
The Multicultural Education Conference provides an excellent professional development opportunity for teachers, administrators and counselors. Attendees will be eligible to receive Continuing Teacher and Leader Education credit hours.
Registration is $50 general, $10 for students. The deadline to register is March 11. The full conference program is available here.
About the Conference: Program Summary
The keynote panel for this year’s conference features Hudson Valley school leaders Eric Rosser, Raymond Sanchez and Angela Urbina-Medina, superintendents of the Poughkeepsie, Ossining and New Paltz school districts, respectively.
Morning and afternoon workshops will be offered on topics ranging from creating inclusive school cultures and climates, to managing mental health in the classroom, to disability studies-informed frameworks for curriculum development. All workshops will be guided by multicultural education experts from schools, colleges and universities, and advocacy organizations throughout the Hudson Valley.
The conference program also includes a self-guided tour of “Somewhere in Advance of Nowhere: Freedom Dreams in Contemporary Art” at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art.
Participants are also invited to a special event with Tina Campt, Owen F. Walker Professor of Humanities and Modern Culture and Media at Brown University, who will read from her book “A Black Gaze: Artists Changing How We See” and discuss the work with Asilia Franklin-Phipps, assistant professor of educational studies & leadership at New Paltz.
The Multicultural Education Conference is presented by the SUNY New Paltz Social Justice Educational Studies Program (formerly the Humanistic/Multicultural Education Program) with co-sponsorship from the Black Studies Department, Campus Auxiliary Services, the Latin American & Caribbean Studies Program, the Office of Alumni Relations & Development, the School of Education, the Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies Program, the Mid-Hudson Migrant Education Program, the Mid-State Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network, the Mid-Hudson School Study Center, the Mid-Hudson Teachers Center, Ulster BOCES and SUNY New Paltz.
About the Keynote Panelists
Eric Jay Rosser, superintendent of Poughkeepsie City Schools, is a first-generation college graduate who attributes his academic accomplishments to his motivation to fulfill his life’s work of advocating for every student to receive a quality education, particularly those impoverished and those who will be first generation college attenders.
Raymond Sanchez became the superintendent of the Ossining Union Free School District in 2013 and has led the district to a period of tremendous growth. He has been key in developing partnerships with local agencies, organizations and educational institutions to provide books, school supplies, food, clothing, enrichment classes, parent training, and technological assistance for both students and parents.
Angela Urbina-Medina segued from a career in law enforcement to education over 20 years ago. She became the superintendent of New Paltz Central School District during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020. Previously, she served for two years as the superintendent in Ellenville Central School District.
About the School of Education
The nationally-accredited School of Education at SUNY New Paltz carries on a rich tradition of teacher preparation that dates back to the early 19th century New Paltz Normal School. Today, the School offers a suite of modern programs in teaching & learning and in educational studies & leadership, and serves as a resource and professional development hub for teachers throughout the Hudson Valley, NYC Metro area and upstate New York.
