Victoria McName of York Participates in 2014 Urban Seminar

2014 Sep 3

Victoria McName of York, PA was one of six Mansfield University students who participated in the 2014 Urban Seminar Program in Philadelphia this summer.

The program is a collaborative venture with Philadelphia Public Schools, several Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities, private Pennsylvania universities and colleges and universities from the Philadelphia region and abroad.

McName took part in the intensive two-week program designed to introduce and provide pre-service teachers with practical hands on experiences in inner-city classrooms and communities. Participants resided in the dorms at LaSalle University.

This marked the 11th year that MU students have participated in the Urban Seminar Program. Jannis Floyd, associate professor in the Education and Special Education department, has served as coordinator for the program since its inception.

"This program allows our pre-service students to see and confront the stereotypes of inner cities teaching and to begin to see that children and adolescents are more similar than they are different and that effective teachers are in urban areas as well as rural areas," Floyd said.

Students participated in classroom teaching, professional development workshops, a community service project, small group learning forums which included required readings and written assignments were a part of the experience.

This year's professional development workshops included presentations from US Congressman Chaka Fattah on quality teachers and how they can help end the cycle of poverty. The second speaker was Renny Lajar, principal of Stetson Middle School who shared his experiences on bringing positive change to a school that was on the failing list.