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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dr. Courtne Thomas, Executive Director for the Mid Atlantic Region at Generation Citizen
5:06:25
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147 sec
Dr. Courtne Thomas, Executive Director for the Mid Atlantic Region at Generation Citizen, testified about the importance of civics education and adequate funding for New York City schools. She emphasized the need for hands-on, community-based civics curriculum and shared her experiences as a former principal in The Bronx.
- Highlighted Generation Citizen's curriculum, which engages students in identifying and addressing community issues
- Stressed the critical need for increased education funding to preserve programming for pre-K to 12th grade students
- Advocated for prioritizing civic education and public service in the educational curriculum
Dr. Courtne Thomas
5:06:25
Thank you.
5:06:26
Good afternoon chair Joseph and members of the committee on education.
5:06:29
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
5:06:32
My name is doctor Courtney Thomas and I'm the executive director for the Mid Atlantic Region at generation citizen or GC.
5:06:39
Through our community based civics curriculum, middle and high school students are engaged in immersive civics education where they take a hands on approach to identify issues in their school or community.
5:06:50
The GC curriculum provides a rich learning opportunity for students to conduct research on an issue of importance in their communities, take action to address it and reflect on their learning experience.
5:07:01
This is problem based and project based learning.
5:07:05
Our curriculum educates students on how to interact with and navigate local government and become positive change makers.
5:07:12
Before joining GC, I served as an elementary principal in The Bronx with the New York City Department of Education and a teacher.
5:07:20
Issues that concern young people are issues that deeply matter to me.
5:07:24
Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of the New York City Department of Education.
5:07:28
Increasing the current level of education funding is critical to preserving programming for our pre kindergarten to twelfth grade students.
5:07:36
In my previous role as a principal in The Bronx, I saw firsthand the heartbreaking adverse impact budget cuts had on students.
5:07:44
My students academic performance was affected, attendance became a challenge and social emotional learning needs were not always met because the school was short staffed.
5:07:54
If budget cuts persist, things could become even worse.
5:08:00
At a time when federal funding support is uncertain, New York City has the unique opportunity to ensure our schools are adequately funded and supported.
5:08:09
While generation citizens stands in recognition of the administration allocating resources for financial literacy and professional development skills, civic education is an area that has long been underfunded and understated as a learning priority.
5:08:24
We at generation citizen believe that public service and civic engagement should be prioritized as a mainstay of the educational curriculum.
5:08:33
How can we expect our students to be active engaged members of their communities and responsible citizens if they don't know how to interact with their local government?
5:08:41
In closing, I will now turn it over to Corina Layfield, Sama, Julius, Sam, Talia.
5:08:48
Thank you for the opportunity to testify and for your continued support.