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Back to school: teachers discover an array of options.

Article Excerpt
Considering returning to school to earn a teaching degree? Whether you've been at your profession for decades or you're just starting out, whether you're seeking a B.S., M.A., or M.F.A., and if you want to study full-time or must fit classes around your full-time job, there's a college program available to suit your needs and your focus. Janet Weeks, editor of Dance Magazine College Guide, recently talked with five teachers from varying backgrounds about why they returned to school, what they hope to achieve by attaining a degree, and why they selected the particular program they did.

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Judy Kurjan

New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

"After I got my undergraduate degree in dance from the University of Maryland, I decided to spend a year teaching and managing a dance studio in my hometown. I was okay at it--but I knew I could be better. My mom is an educator and she gave me some tips that really helped my teaching. I applied to grad school at Steinhardt on a whim. I always figured I'd go back to school someday but not this soon.

"During my time at Steinhardt, I've decided that I want to leave studio teaching and work in a public school. One experience I've had here that's been really meaningful was a chance to teach in Uganda. We taught kids from refugee camps. Dance is an integral part of their culture, so they taught us just as much as we taught them. It made me realize that learning is a process we do together. I've taught in lots of different types of schools since I've been at Steinhardt and the kids are all so different. But the Uganda trip showed me how to let students' experiences into class in ways that help make the lesson relevant to them. If I ask a class to do something and they say 'Can we try it this way?', I'll say 'sure.' Learning is a community effort."

ABOUT NYU STEINHARDT

"Steinhardt's not for dancers who just want to earn a little extra money teaching," says Susan Koff, dance education program director at New York University's Steinhardt School. You must be intensely dedicated to inquiry into teaching and learning."

This fall, Steinhardt will welcome the first class of a new master's program in ballet pedagogy. Offered in partnership with American Ballet Theatre, the degree is for those who want to teach in private studios or conservatories. Courses include education theory, dance history, and business skills to help...

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