Pathway for Hispanics to be teachers

Hispanic and minority students enrolling at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in Flushing this fall through next year will have a unique opportunity to become New York City teachers in five years thanks to a $700,000 federal grant.
Under the grant made by the United States Department of Education on August 8, Vaughn College, located at 86-01 23rd Avenue, will partner with Metropolitan College of New York, located at 140-15B Sanford Avenue, Flushing, to give Hispanic and other low-income students the opportunity to enter a streamlined, high-quality teacher education pathway.
Those in the program will attend Vaughn as undergraduates for four years and move on to Metropolitan, where they'll be able to attain a Masters of Science in just one year, thus becoming certified teachers.
The Title V grant is under the Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program, which was created by Congress to encourage and aid in the education of Hispanics. Community leaders feel that this grant can have a lasting effect that even extends far beyond the classroom.
&#8220The funds will be used for development of education strategies focused on Hispanic students as well as meeting existing needs for two colleges in Queens,” said Jordan Goldes, a spokesperson from Congressmember Gary Ackerman's office.
&#8220While the money will go to the two colleges, the ultimate beneficiary is our community. The money will be used to help primarily Hispanic students in keeping with the authorized purpose of the program under which the grant was awarded,” Goldes said.
&#8220These institutions provide Queens and other New York residents educational and career opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach,” added Goldes.
&#8220It will offer alternative career opportunities for students,” said Kalliopi Koutsoutis, the school's director of development and alumni relations. &#8220It will help us establish an online advice portal.”
The grant will also be used to create after-hour academic and writing labs for students who are unable to attend during regular hours.