Faculty Accomplishments: Michael Pizzingrillo Named New Superintendent of Schools For Diocese of Albany

The new superintendent of schools for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany says he wants to increase enrollment and boost the use of technology in classrooms.

"We need to look at what makes us successful and enhance it as much as possible," said Michael Pizzingrillo, who assumes the post after serving as deputy superintendent of schools for the Brooklyn Diocese. In 1995, he started in the downstate district as a junior high school math and science teacher and went on to work in central Catholic schools administration for nine years.

Pizzingrillo has been an elementary school principal at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Brooklyn, and an associate superintendent for strategic planning, government programs and public policy, the diocese said. He is an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Education, where he is completing his doctorate in education leadership.

Spotlight On: Center for Catholic School Leadership and Faith-Based Education

The National Catholic Education Association Convention held in Boston on April 11th-13th, 2012 highlighted the leadership work of the Center for Catholic School Leadership and Faith-Based Education at GSE. A session entitled "An Entrepreneurial "Eastering" Enterprise: A University-Diocesan Partnership for Catholic School Leaderships" was presented by Drs. Gerald Cattaro (Professor and Executive Director of the Center), Thomas Chadzutko (Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Brooklyn), and Lorraine Pasadino (GSE Scholar in Residence), and "A Leadership of Resurrection: An "Eastered" Paradigm" was also presented by Dr. Lorraine Pasadino.

Additionally, the April/May 2012 issue of Momentum: The Journal of Catholic Education included an article by Drs. Gerald Cattaro and Lorraine Pasadino entitled, "University-Diocesan Partnership Grooms 21st Century Catholic School Leaders: Fordham University and the Diocese of Brooklyn Create a Distinctive Three Year Learning-in-Practice Experience". The article discusses the Center's leading role in the Cabrini Urban Principals' Institute for Exemplary Leadership, an entrepreneurial partnership leadership certificate program between Fordham University and the Diocese of Brooklyn that has been "contemplatively & clinically grounded" in Catholic heritage, educational theory and research, and uniquely tailored to the distinctive leadership challenges of principals in the urban Diocese of Brooklyn.

On May 30th, 2012, a ceremony will be held at Fordham University to celebrate the closure and certification of the first cohort of Cabrini Leaders to finish the 3-year certificate.

GSE Hosts Visitors From University of Pretoria

Left to right: Dean Hennessy, Dr. Ina Joubert,
Dr. Ronel Ferreira, Dr. Gerrit Stols

This week, several members of the Faculty of Education from the University of Pretoria visited the Graduate School of Education, as part of Fordham University’s ongoing partnership with the South African institution. Drs. Ronel Ferreira (Head of Department of Educational Psychology), Ina Joubert(Senior Lecturer, Department of Early Childhood Education) and Gerrit Stols (Senior Lecturer, Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education) spent the week with GSE administrators, faculty, staff and students, as part of an effort to develop the Fordham partnership and collaboration with Pretoria further at the faculty and program levels.

Ferreira, Joubert and Stols participated in discussions with Dean James Hennessy, Associate Dean Rita Brause and GSE Division Chairs. They also observed several classes in session, including a team-taught course in the Fordham Teacher Residency Scholars program in Adolescence Education, and a course entitled “Leading in a Diverse Society” in the Division of Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy’s Master’s in Administration and Supervision program. They toured both the Fordham Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses, and visited several Bronx elementary schools which are members of GSE’s Partnership Support Organization/Children First Network (PSO/CFN). GSE hosted them as guests at receptions celebrating three cohorts of graduates of GSE’s NYSED grant-funded Educational Leadership Program Enhancement Project (ELPEP) and welcoming incoming students to the first cohorts of the Accelerated Master’s in Educational Leadership (A.M.P.E.L.) program, and they interacted with faculty from the new doctoral program in Contemporary Learning and Interdisciplinary Research (CLAIR)-- as well as with faculty from almost every other GSE program.

Many collaborations resulted from interaction between GSE faculty and the visitors from Pretoria. These include an agreement for GSE faculty to serve as external reviewers of Pretoria Faculty of Education doctoral candidate dissertations, plans to develop joint courses, and new research alliances amongst faculty. Future possibilities include GSE providing a means of advanced professional development and leadership preparation opportunities for Pretoria faculty, and the possibility of fieldwork for students in several programs within GSE’s Division of Psychological and Educational Services abroad in South Africa.

We look forward to these and many other mutually beneficial partnership opportunities as GSE’s relationship with the Faculty of Education at the University of Pretoria continues to grow!

REMINDER: Summer 2012 Session II In-Person Registration

If you are interested in enrolling in classes as a non-matriculated student at GSE for Summer 2012 Session II, In-Person Registration will take place at the Lincoln Center and Westchester campuses on June 27th & 28th (from 1-5pm) and on July 2nd (from 9am-5pm).

For more information about registration guidelines, click here. Please be sure to bring proof of your undergrad or master's degree (a copy of your transcript or diploma) with you in order to register if this is your first non-matriculated class with us!

If you would like to register to attend classes as a non-matriculated student at the Lincoln Center campus, read the new procedure instructions for registration at Lincoln Center here. Please note that the Graduate School of Education Office of Admissions has moved to 33 West 60th Street, Suite 207.

If you would like to register at the Westchester campus, you may complete an application and meet with a faculty member about course selection at 400 Westchester Avenue, West Harrison, NY. Read the new procedure instructions for registration at Westchester here.

If you are interested in applying to any of GSE's degree programs as a matriculated degree-earning student, click here to go to our online application.

Please contact Linda Horisk, Assistant Dean for Admissions, at (212) 636-6401 with any questions.