SUNY Sullivan and Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers (TSTT) are proud to announce a new partnership designed to support aspiring educators and strengthen the local teacher pipeline. A formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will take place on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, from 1 pm to 2 pm in the E-Lobby at SUNY Sullivan. All are welcome to attend.
TSTT is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that recruits and mentors culturally diverse and economically challenged students who are interested in pursuing teaching careers, and this new agreement lays the foundation for a collaborative effort to recruit, support, and prepare high school students already engaged with TSTT in Sullivan County school districts. Through this partnership, qualified students will be guided into SUNY Sullivan’s Childhood Education Associate of Arts (A.A.) transfer degree program with structured academic advising and career planning, nurturing the next generation of educators and addressing the critical teacher shortage in the region. By aligning SUNY Sullivan’s academic resources with TSTT’s proven mentorship model, the initiative empowers local students to pursue careers in education with a strong foundation of support.
“Today, I am deeply proud to see the vision of advancing opportunities for high school students in Sullivan County move one step further in pursuing their goal to becoming certified teachers through our new partnership with SUNY Sullivan,” said TSTT President & CEO, Dr. Bettye H. Perkins. “This partnership accelerates the development of high-quality educators, helping students enter the workforce more quickly and begin earning income for themselves and their families. Our community college partnerships provide much more than a pathway—they provide wraparound support, including academic coaching, career guidance, networking opportunities, job readiness training, and personal and professional development workshops that will enhance student success. Even as we celebrate this milestone, we remain focused on the urgent challenges before us—the critical shortage of educators, long hours, low pay, and declining enrollment in schools of education. This should shake us—but more importantly, it should move us to act. And we are acting. This new partnership with SUNY Sullivan is a vital step in scaling our DOTI Initiative—Don’t Overthink It—connecting high schools and colleges with purpose and intention. Together, we’re not just preparing future educators—we’re celebrating a legacy of impact and planting seeds for the near future and beyond.”
“Helping bring this partnership to life has been an honor,” said Shannon Daniel, TSTT Regional Program Manager for Sullivan County. “SUNY Sullivan launched my career and rooted me in this community. After 20 years as an Educator in the Catskills, I proudly say, ‘I AM Homegrown.’ Now, through TSTT, I’m committed to mentoring the next generation of local teachers. I’m excited to collaborate with the college to expand opportunities for our students and bring Dr. Perkins’ Full Circle vision to life.”
“This collaboration will provide students with proactive academic advising and mentoring to help them stay on track to completion,” said Rose Hanofee, SUNY Sullivan Interim Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. “The college will work closely with TSTT staff in the best interest of our students and county K12 districts as we prepare students for meaningful careers in education.”
For more information about the event or the partnership, please contact Holly Rau at 845-434-5750 Ext. 4270 or email HRau@sunysullivan.edu.
About SUNY Sullivan: SUNY Sullivan is the leader of innovative higher education and a catalyst for workforce development throughout the Sullivan Catskills and beyond. Our diverse community cultivates personal growth and professional advancement, preparing students for success in a sustainable and interconnected world. A forward-looking, top-tier community college in New York, SUNY Sullivan offers dozens of degree programs, certificates, and microcredentials for learners at all levels of their educational goals. We value critical inquiry and creativity while supporting our students in a culture of inclusion and respect