Empowering Success for All Learners: °ϲ Hosts Inspiring Panel on Culturally Responsive Education
From left to right: Dara Joseph, Layla Munson, Josefa Martinez, Madeline Diamond, Keturah Proctor
In April, °ϲ’s School of Education welcomed educators, alumni and students to the Westchester Campus for “Empowering Success: Supporting All Learners,” a dynamic evening focused on culturally responsive and sustaining education. The event featured a panel discussion and poster presentation, culminating in a powerful dialogue about inclusive practices that celebrate diverse identities and foster student success.
Hosted in the Rotunda, the workshop was designed to highlight real-world strategies for building inclusive, high-impact classrooms.
Moderator Dr. Keturah Proctor, director of leadership and equity at Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, asked thoughtful questions of the panel of education leaders, inviting them to explore ways to transform learning environments. She periodically paused to invite the audience to share recollections of their own childhood learning experiences.
“We need to recognize that even our youngest students have experiences worth sharing,” Dr. Proctor concluded. “Effective learning happens when student voices are genuinely heard and valued, not just as listeners but as co-creators.”
Kristina Sarr, a special education teacher at Sleepy Hollow High School, shared a slide presentation that illustrated her creative use of “academic circles” as a tool to foster deeper engagement in her English classes. Her approach builds on the practice of “restorative circles” that encourage equity and collaboration.
Dara Joseph, Superintendent of Greenburgh-Graham UFSD and °ϲ alumna, emphasized the importance of integrating culturally responsive principles into all district practices, not just individual classrooms, schools or programs. “Culturally responsive education is not a program. It’s a mindset shift,” she said.
Dr. Madeline Diamond, director of human resources for Public Schools of the Tarrytowns, revealed strategies to foster a more inclusive and equitable hiring process. “The goal is to see candidates’ full potential and to value their unique contributions to education, not just their years of experience,” she said.
When it comes to creating more engaging learning experiences for very young students, panelist and °ϲ alumna Josefa Martinez had much to share about her practices. “We are building trust with students as well as their families,” she said, adding that in her Pre-K classroom she insists on a safe, affirming space where “it’s okay to make mistakes.”
“Commitment, communication, collaboration, and consistency,” was the takeaway message from Dr. Layla Munson, director of literacy for Ossining UFSD. She advised supporting diverse learners in understanding their own progress—where they are and where they’re going. “It’s important to provide varying levels of support that allow students to apply skills,” she said.
Among the attendees were several SOE students who expressed deep interest in learning new approaches to classroom teaching. Michael Petrellese ’25, a graduate student studying to become a teacher of history in secondary education, revealed his lifelong dream of teaching and his excitement about the panelists’ views. “I’m hearing lots of great resources here, and I’m hoping to take away at least one skill to implement right away,” he said.
The event was co-sponsored by two grants: the BranchED Grant, led by Dr. Sudha Ramaswamy and Dr. Roseanne Vallice Levy, and the GRAD-PRO Grant, headed by Principal Investigator Dr. Elena Nitecki, professor in Childhood Education. “It was inspiring to witness how hard these educators work to meet the needs of every student at every grade level, and to guide them to success, even with the challenges they face,” she said. Dr. Ramaswamy concurred, “Our event created a vital space for shared learning-where students, teachers, administrators and professors came together to listen, reflect, and grow in our commitment to culturally responsive teaching that truly serves all students."
Throughout the evening, Dr. Proctor encouraged educators to commit to ongoing growth and reflection. “I’m excited about young people being able to name what they want for their future,” she said. “Together, we’re building a more inclusive future for education.”
From left to right: Dr. Aki Ohseki, Dr. Elena Nitecki, Dr. Sudha Ramaswamy, Dr. Roseanne Vallice Levy, Jennifer San Diego, Ahmed Almadami and Shoshana Peterson.
From left to right: panel speakers Dara Joseph, Madeline Diamond Josefa Martinez and Layla Munson.