Youth and Developmentally Appropriate Education

Guest Dr. Scott Conti speaks with the co-hosts on the topic of youth and education. Dr. Conti taught and was an administrator in an urban/suburban school district in Northern California for five years before moving to New York City to attend the doctoral program at Teachers College Columbia University. During his doctoral studies, Scott taught beginning teachers at Teachers College and facilitated a teacher training program for elementary school teachers in Washington Heights for Mercy College for three years. Scott is published in the area of restructuring schools for the National Center for Restructuring, Schools and Teaching (NCREST) and his dissertation explored holistic education teachers’ pedagogy as it connects their personal beliefs and values. In spring 2002, Scott was approached by the Manhattan High School Superintendent to develop a school for the Seward Park Campus. New Design High School was opened in the fall of 2003 in collaboration with Urban Arts Partnership. The small school is one of the few NYC public high schools with a holsitic philosophy, and is consistently cited as a place of innovation and a great place for adolescents. Jenny Brown will also be on hand to recommend a new book for teens to read.