Training the Next Generation of Inclusive Education Teachers Through the Bridge to the City Program on the ‘’Cuse Conversations’ Podcast

For nearly 25 years, the School of Education has offered aspiring inclusive education teachers a unique opportunity to hone their skills as student teachers in New York City through the Bridge to the City program.

It’s an immersive, semester-long guided student teaching experience where students entering their senior year are placed in partner schools in urban neighborhoods to learn under the watchful eye of cooperating teachers.

Created in 1998, Bridge to the City was established to tap into some of the best practices that were occurring in schools in New York City, providing an opportunity for School of Education students to participate in a hands-on student teaching opportunity while learning from talented teachers in school environments throughout the city.

Occurring each fall semester, interested students need to apply for and be accepted into the program, with cohort sizes ranging from eight to 14 student teachers per semester.

Not only do these student teachers receive valuable teaching experiences through the Bridge to the City program, but they also get to live in New York City with their fellow teachers, creating a supportive environment where they can learn from each other and offer up support to their fellow student teachers. And, more often than not, program graduates will earn a full-time teaching job once they graduate from Bridge to the City.

Tom Bull, assistant teaching professor and director of field relations in the School of Education, directs Bridge to the City, while Abby Horton ’19, a Bridge to the City alumna, landed her job teaching kindergarten and first grade at Midtown West School thanks in large part to her experiences with Bridge to the City.

“I remembered feeling really, really empowered and excited to be there on my first day. I got to do more than I expected to be able to do, and the educators were really open to trying new things and open to handing their classrooms over,” says Horton, who earned a bachelor’s degree in inclusive elementary and special education.

“That’s been a hallmark of the program throughout, the opportunity for our students to connect with schools that are doing some really innovative instructional approaches to teaching, creating inclusive spaces for teaching and also for student learning,” Bull says.

Bull and Horton stopped by to discuss the program, how it helps train and prepare the next generation of inclusive education teachers, the valuable role the School of Education and Syracuse University have played in their lives, and more.

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

Check out episode 126 of the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast featuring Tom Bull and Abby Horton ’19. A transcript [PDF] is also available.