Presidential Symposium Tackles Challenges in Rochester City Schools

The Feb. 4 Presidential Symposium, “Revitalizing K-12 Education in Rochester,” featured plenary speaker Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, Rochester City School Superintendent Bolgen Vargas, and area educators, administrators, and researchers discussing the complexities of urban education, the possibilities for success, and the importance of mobilizing community constituencies to improve Rochester City Schools. University President Joel Seligman concluded the event by pledging to continue the discussion: “This has persisted too long. We are a proud community. We are a successful community. We can turn this around.”

Remarks and Presentations (updated as made available)

• President Seligman’s remarks
   
• Dean Raffaella Borasi's remarks
   
• Mayor Lovely Warren's plenary address
   
• Superintendent Bolgen Vargas' presentation
   
• Panelist Presentations
  • Kara Finnigan, Associate Professor at the Warner School of Education
     
  • Jeffrey Halsdorfer, Principal of Eugenio Maria De Hostos Charter School
     
  • Anna Hall, Chief Operating Officer of Uncommon Schools in Rochester and Troy
     
  • Caterina Leone-Mannino, Director of Extended Learning and Intervention, RCSD
     
  • Conger Gabel, Chief Operating Officer of the Greater Rochester Summer Learning Association (SummerLEAP)
     
  • Augustin Melendez, President of Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection
     

News Coverage

• Democrat and Chronicle, "Pre-K Push Begins"

• Time Warner Cable News, "Local Leaders Hopeful for Change in City Education"

• WHEC-TV, "UR Holds Education Symposium; Colleges Could Lead City Schools"

• 13WHAM-TV, "Mayor Warren Forms Early Education Commission"

• WROC-TV, "Symposium Focuses on Improving City Schools"

• City Newspaper, "Warren Forms Early Education Commission"

• Rochester Business Journal, "Warren to Form Universal Pre-K Commission"

• WXXI, "U of R Hosts Seminar"

• La Voz Rochester, "Early Education Commission Created to Support Universal Pre-K"

Tags: Ed Brockenbrough, Kara Finnigan, Raffaella Borasi