At the end of every summer a new school year begins and with it a new cohort of Cotsen mentors and fellows. To prepare our mentors for a successful year of coaching and mentoring, the Foundation offers an initial two-day training session, as well as three days of follow up training aimed toward preparing these teachers […]
It gives the Cotsen Foundation great joy to see so many alumni, mentors and fellows alike, taking on new challenges and roles as leaders in their schools/districts. The following is a list of Cotsen alumni who have taken on new leadership roles as of the 2017 – 2018 academic year and/or have received advanced degrees […]
A collaboration between the Riordan and Cotsen Foundations has opened up new grant opportunities for Cotsen schools. Melrose and Beethoven Street Elementary Schools were selected this year as recipients of the Riordan Foundation’s Instructional Innovation Grants. Last year, another Cotsen school, Mill School and Technology Academy, also received an Instructional Innovation grant from the Foundation. […]
Over the course of three consecutive years of Cotsen Strategic Opportunity Grants, Fountain Valley School District has utilized collaboration as a tool for professional development to transform teaching and learning in the area of mathematics. The catalyst behind this transformation was a Cotsen alumna fellow, who had a big goal – to bring together teachers […]
Kim Bass’s presentation at Cotsen’s first-ever Playground Challenge was literally garbage. But as regularly happens in innovative classrooms, a pile of trash can yield pedagogical treasures to facilitate collaborative STEM/STEAM teaching and learning. Bass, a third grade teacher at Robert C. Fisler School in Fullerton, stood in front of a table covered with a maze […]
Reflection, Gratitude, and Humor The ART of TEACHING celebrated its annual culmination once again at the Skirball Art and Cultural Center on May 6th where 69 mentors and fellows were honored for their successful completion of the two-year fellowship. Following remarks by Executive Director Jerry Harris, Dr. Uri D.Herscher, president of the Skirball, gave […]
Each year the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) recognizes school leaders across the state of California who represent the dedication and commitment to public education. This year ACSA recognized two school leaders who have been a part of the ART of TEACHING Cohort. Elementary Principal of the Year was awarded to Margaret Lynch, Principal […]
Offer a lab day to a Cotsen mentor or fellow and whether the lab is for reading, writing, or math, the response is a quick “I’ll be there.” Teachers know the day will be “hands on” work with students and Cotsen colleagues in a volunteer teacher’s classroom. Enthusiasm is heightened by the opportunity to interact […]
The Cotsen Foundation for the ART of TEACHING continued to host Balanced Literacy trainings for the 2016-2017 school year. The trainings were facilitated by Growing Educators, Momentum in Teaching, Senior Program Officer, Angela Bae, and various teachers at Alvarardo Elementary School. Along with professional development days for all current fellows and alumni hosted at various […]
Second annual event provides support and professional development for educators from their colleagues. As educators we need to constantly ask, what is best for our students and how will our teaching prepare these students for their future as learners? Each year, the Cotsen Foundation for the ART of TEACHING offers countless opportunities for professional development, […]