Organization description

Founded in 1870, Hunter College was the first teacher education school in New York City. Inspired by free higher education for men, Thomas Hunter believed that young women who were becoming teachers should develop professional knowledge including advanced disciplinary knowledge, pedagogy, and an apprenticeship, similar to a doctor. Thomas Hunter believed woman of all races should sit beside each other as they prepare to become teachers.  Hunter College was first known as the Female Normal and High School and then as the Normal College of the City of New York. After initially focusing on preparing young women for careers in teaching, Hunter later adopted a liberal arts curriculum. In 1961, Hunter was incorporated into the City University of New York (CUNY). Currently enrolling more than 20,000 students, who reflect the unparalleled diversity of New York City, Hunter has grown into a comprehensive teaching and research institution. Relentlessly pursuing Hunter’s foundational mission, Hunter School of Education continues as an innovator and leader in the field of education.

Each year, the Hunter School of Education (Hunter SOE) enrolls about 3,000 students with diverse backgrounds and age ranges, representing the diversity of New York City. Hunter prepares one in every eight New York City Public School teachers, playing a critical role in preparing professionals for over 1.1 million students served in the New York City School system. Overall, Hunter SOE offers programs to prepare teachers, counselors and administrators for a wide range of careers in schools and non-profit settings. All of the programs are registered with New York State a, leading to certification in a particular field, and many are nationally recognized by specialized professional associations. Hunter SOE is dedicated to the preparation of deeply thoughtful, knowledgeable and highly effective teachers, administrators and counselors and to the advancement of scholarship that will improve knowledge about and the conditions of our communities. We approach these purposes with a shared belief that the promise of education to improve lives cannot be accomplished without addressing equity in education. This mission is strongly aligned with the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) program’s mission, values, and goals.