Career Conversation: Teaching at an Independent School

GSAS Futures invites you to join Fordham Bronwen Durocher, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of English, and Judith Sheridan, Ph.D., Associate Director for Evaluation and Accreditation at the New York State Association of Independent Schools, for a conversation on teaching at an independent school. Incorporating a large body of private and parochial schools, independent schools are often autonomous institutions that value creative and rigorous approaches to classroom instruction. Independent schools court individuals with advanced degrees, including master’s and Ph.D.’s, with an interest in applying their expertise to classroom teaching. State certification is not always a requirement for independent school teaching, and schools that do require certification typically offer guidance and support for teachers to become certified.

Ms. Durocher, who teaches at Riverdale Country School, will describe her experience transitioning from graduate school into an independent school classroom, along with her day-to-day experience teaching. Dr. Sheridan will also discuss her journey from university to secondary school teaching at an independent school. Having worked as the director of an independent school in Manhattan, Dr. Sheridan hired a number of graduate students and will describe the traits that accompany ideal independent school candidates.

Coffee and light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to the event by e-mailing gsasfutures@fordham.edu.