Nazareth College is pleased to announce its commitment to devote its resources for the success of students at Rochester City School District’s (RCSD) School 9. Nazareth President Daan Braveman and RCSD Superintendent Bolgen Vargas have formalized what has been a long-standing partnership between Nazareth and the city school.
“Nazareth for years has supported our critical need to improve literacy throughout the District,” said Superintendent Bolgen Vargas, Ed.D. “By bringing the tremendous resources of Nazareth College to one of our schools with an expanded-day schedule, this agreement promises huge and lasting benefits to the students at School No. 9.”
“Nazareth College has had a strong commitment to the Rochester City Schools for decades,” said Daan Braveman, “and we now are very pleased to announce this comprehensive partnership with School 9, which we hope can become a model to be replicated at other schools.”
Key components of the partnership include:
Nazareth College is now responsible for what was known as the Mercier literacy program. Founded in 2004 by Rochester businessman George Mercier, the program’s mission is to provide reading and writing instruction to high need children throughout elementary schools in Rochester.
“Nazareth provides support not only to our students and families but also our community partners such as BADEN street,” said School 9 Principal Sharon Jackson. “I appreciate the support throughout the years and I look forward to future support. Finally, our former students who are now adults still talk about their experiences with the graduate tutors and Dr. Erdmann.”
Nazareth has a long-standing history in helping School 9. It began in 1995, when Naomi Erdmann, director of the Nazareth’s graduate literacy programs, served as a consultant to School 9 to and was successful in getting the elementary school off the School Under Registration Review (SURR) list.
The School 9 Partnership with Nazareth will also include programming at the Baden Street Recreation Center (attached to School 9) with Nazareth athletes teaching sports skills and reading to the children.
Other potential collaborations include: hearing screenings with the Communication Science and Disorders program at Nazareth, health and wellness programming with Nazareth College Physical Therapy students, and practicums in pediatric nursing at School 9 and Baden Street.
Julie Long, Nazareth Chief Public Relations Officer: (585) 389-2456; jlong2@naz.edu
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
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