News/Events

Congresswomen Louise Slaughter with staff and students in the Optics Lab

News and Events

Thumbnail image displaying the webinar's title page and title.

Partners in Research: Findings from Faculty Research at the UR East Educational Partnership Organization

May 6, 2024 — This webinar discusses the findings of research conducted at East High School as part of the University of Rochester’s Educational Partnership Organization with the school. It explores topics such as academic performance, school culture and belonging, pedagogical innovation, research-practice collaborations, and knowledge production across various subject areas.

The Right to Read | Film Screening and Discussion

August 22, 2023 — The greatest civil rights issue of our time. Only one-third of fourth-grade students nationwide read at proficient levels in 2022. We learned more about this during a private screening of The Right to Read documentary and then heard from a panel of experts, including education scholars, literacy advocates, and community members. Moderated by WXXI host Evan Dawson.

It Takes a Community: Sustaining Momentum for School Transformation

March 22, 2023 — Parental and community advocacy is integral to school success, but K-12 schools must make engagement more equitable by implementing strategies that reflect community needs and values. Join a panel of educators and community members who’ll share efforts in creating meaningful parent and community partnerships and discuss ways that you can build connections and effectively advocate for schools.

Collaborating to Transform and Improve School Systems for Underserved Communities

January 25, 2023 — A panel of statewide and national educational leaders will share their expertise about collaborative efforts, policy changes, and local- and state-level support necessary to transform K-12 schools into sustained systems where students thrive.

Watch: “Panel discussion about improving education held at East High School” on News10NBC (January 26, 2023)

Watch: “University of Rochester hosts event on improving underserved school communities” on WROC’s Rochesterfirst.com (January 25, 2023)

New Book: Doing and Being Hip-Hop in School: Best.Class.Ever.

October 28, 2022 — A new book by Larson J., Atkins, G., & Duret, E. titled Doing and Being Hip-Hop in School: Best.Class.Ever. is now published.

This book explores how how urban youth and their teachers (Larson as co-teacher) design and implement a student led class on Hip Hop.

Purchase your copy today

2022AntiracistEducationConference

Greater Rochester Antiracist Education Conference

March 12, 2022 — The inaugural 2022 Greater Rochester Antiracist Conference was held virtually for more than 600 people attendees. The conference included presentations and speakers covering a broad variety of topics related to antiracist education. In total, there were two keynote speakers, a panel,
a documentary, and 18 break out session workshops.

The conference was a community effort coordinated and led by the educators of the
Antiracist Curriculum Project generously hosted by the PathStone Corporation, and the
Center for Urban Education Success. Local schools that supported the conference included:

  • SUNY Brockport School of Education, Health and Human Services
  • Nazareth College, School of Education
  • SUNY Geneseo, Ella Cline Shear School of Education
  • Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education, St. John Fisher College
  • University of Rochester, Warner School of Education

Read: 2022 Greater Rochester Antiracist Education Conference Report by Nahoko Kawakyu O’Connor

three young women doing an experiment

Recent rise in racially motivated violence shifts community conversations

What education can do to move forward toward justice and equity

2020 — In the wake of a summer of violence against unarmed Black men both nationally and locally, East High Superintendent Dr. Shaun Nelms, discusses how to make systemic changes in countywide educational policies and the creation of an antiracist curriculum to help students learn about and discuss Rochester’s issues with racism and injustice. In two separate interviews, Dr. Nelms explains how East and how Rochester can do both.

Watch: “Anti-racism Curriculum to be Implemented in School Districts across Monroe County” on WHAM News (January 15, 2021)

Watch: “Anti-racist Curriculum to be Incorporated in History Classes in all Monroe County Schools” on WROC’s Rochesterfirst.com (January 15, 2021)

Read: “Across Monroe County, Students Will Soon have Anti-racist Lessons” on WXXI News and in City Newspaper (January 13, 2021)

Watch:  “A Conversation with Shaun Nelms on Systematic Poverty in Rochester” on Spectrum News’s Capital Tonight (September 24, 2020)

Screen Shot 2020-06-03 at 6.35.28 PM

Dr. Nelms speaks openly about recent protests and racial disparities in education on Brian Mendler podcast.

June 2, 2020 — Dr. Shaun Nelms discusses how to have tough, uncomfortable conversations with your kids about racial inequality, the historical significance of these events, and how each person can do their part to improve social injustice. Listen to podcast here.

17A4C1A711CC9B48933738BD0CB99683

Marsh and Nelms write about decreasing cyberbullying for School Administrator magazine

May 1, 2020 — Steady increases in both teen suicides and school shootings have heightened public concern about cyberbullying. This article documents how the University of Rochester-East collaboration is reshaping school climate and strengthening relationships at school to curb cyberbullying. We describe how three aspects of school life — beliefs, structures, and policies — have changed the climate at East High, in ways that better attend to cyberbullying. Read full article here.

larson headshot

Larson comments on COVID-19's inequitable impact on students and families

March 23, 2020 — Joanne Larson is quoted in a Democrat & Chronicle story highlighting the inequities during a time when there is an increased reliance on parents as educators. The story looks more closely at four different families around Rochester and what their home school set-up looks like. Read the story “What Does ‘School’ Look Like These Days? That DependsHERE or at https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/education/2020/03/23/one-week-school-four-rochester-families-covid-19-coronavirus/2884828001/

East Latino Club 2019 132(1)

Marsh and Nelms write about fostering student voice for Educational Leadership magazine

March 2020 — This article documents how a collaborative group of teachers, administrators, parents, students, community members and university staff designed a model that built student voice into the foundation of school culture and practices.  The stakes were high. We faced both the pressure to prevent the school from closing and the opportunity to reshape it into a place that truly served young people and expanded their opportunities for advocacy. Read full article here.

eastspecialed4

CUES partners with Center for Disability and Education to Support Students with Disabilities at East

December 2019 — Schools only become “inclusive” once school culture changes. At East Upper & Lower Schools, students with disabilities are starting to feel the change. This article, by Warner’s Theresa Danylak, describes how the resources available within a university-school partnership worked to improve education for students with disabilities. Read article here.

Valerie Marsh 2016-103

Marsh writes about chronic absenteeism in American Educator Magazine

December 2019 — Absenteeism links to low achievement in urban districts. And since urban schools comprise a higher percentage of students of color and students living with poverty, absenteeism can be understood as contributing to the achievement gap between students of color and their white counterparts. Thus, reducing absenteeism is a move to reduce inequity. Read more here

DSCF5162

East Leadership Team Discusses EPO progress on WXXI's Connections with Evan Dawson

July 19, 2019 — Representatives from the University of Rochester-East EPO partnership discuss the EPO’s three-year progress report. They share the challenges East has faced, the successes they’ve seen, and what they hope for the next phase of the collaboration.

Screen Shot 2019-05-23 at 1.24.01 PM

Nelms Delivers SUNY Fredonia's Commencement Address

May 2019 — Shaun Nelms was the keynote speaker this year at SUNY Fredonia’s 142nd Commencement. An article published in Observer captures some of the key highlights from his address. Read the article, “Fredonia Grads Challenged to Transform Society,” HERE or at: https://www.observertoday.com/news/page-one/2019/05/fredonia-grads-challenged-to-transform-society/

The link to both Commencement ceremonies is on Fredonia’s website at: https://www.fredonia.edu/student-life/commencement

Cover of East EOP Three-Year Report featuring mural of multicultural faces

EAST EPO Issues Three-Year Progress Report

February 2019 — The EAST EPO has issued a report to communicate the progress of East High School in the first three years of the partnership with the University of Rochester. The Center for Urban Education Success supports and researches this partnership. Students, staff, and families have accomplished a great deal, and the trajectory for the future looks positive. Report in English. Report in Spanish.

165259ecefd9d68b7e98522e_1140x456

Marsh and Nelms Publish in District Administration on Attendance

January 2019 — Valerie Marsh and Shaun Nelms recently co-wrote an article focused on stemming chronic absenteeism in urban schools for District Administration magazine. Based on research conducted at the Center for Urban Education Success (CUES) and applied at East Upper and Lower Schools in Rochester, NY, this article outlines four steps schools can take to increase attendance, especially pertinent to urban settings. Learn More

LF0002

CUES Publishes Practitioner Brief on Bullying

October 2018 — CUES publishes a practitioner brief on bullying in schools, exploring prevalence, contributing factors, and interventions. This brief’s analysis of empirical research aims to provide a balanced and accurate depiction of bullying in all of its forms. A resource guide for teachers and practitioners is included. Learn More

konar

CUES Receives $2.5 Million Gift from William and Sheila Konar Foundation

June 2018 — The Konar Foundation’s gift creates a new endowed directorship position to lead CUES, and Dr. Shaun Nelms, Superintendent of East Upper and Lower Schools in Rochester and formerly an affiliated faculty member of CUES, was installed as the inaugural director to fill this endowed position. Learn More

Media Coverage

Panel discussion about improving education held at East High School on News10NBC (January 26, 2023)

University of Rochester hosts event on improving underserved school communities on WROC’s Rochesterfirst.com (January 25, 2023)

The blueprint: East High superintendent Shaun Nelms and the University of Rochester is Mapping the Course in Southwest Tribune (March 27, 2020)

East High School delivers hundreds of laptops to students to help stay connected on 13WHAM-TV (March 26, 2020)

East High bringing the classroom to students at home during pandemic on WXXI News (March 24, 2020)

RCSD, UR renew East High School partnership for five years in Democrat & Chronicle (February 28, 2020)

Black History was brought to Life for Teenagers at East High on WROC-TV (February 26, 2020)

East High superintendent’s office transformed into dental clinic on 13WHAM-TV (February 6, 2020)

Portrait series honors historical leaders of color on WXXI News (January 9, 2020)

Why Rochester students walked out of classes: ‘We will be the voice for our schools’ in Democrat & Chronicle (December 9, 2019)

Four city schools in receivership show improvement in City Newspaper (November 8, 2019)

The state says ‘struggling schools’ are making progress on WXXI News (November 8, 2019)

How partnering with a local university saved this school from closure in EdSurge (October 21, 2019)

East High student donates clothes to classmate on Spectrum News (October 16, 2019)

Interview with Shaun Nelms on Trauma Informed Education (TV Segment) on WCNY (October 1, 2019)

RCSD graduation rate rises to 58%; East hits 65% in Democrat & Chronicle (August 14, 2019)

RCSD officials tout increased graduation rates, but add there is no ‘mission accomplished’ on 13Wham-TV (August 14, 2019)

Rochester City School District Graduation Rates Climb on WXXI News (August 14, 2019)

RCSD Grad Rates Climb in City Newspaper (August 14, 2019)

Graduation rates reach 10-year-high across RCSD on Spectrum News (August 14, 2019)

Discussing the University of Rochester EPO’s progress report for East High School on WXXI Connections (July 19, 2019)

Need to Know: What is East High’s next chapter? on WXXI-TV (June 28, 2019)

East High School student credits partnership with UR for helping him graduate on WHAM News (June 26, 2019)

Not your normal retirement plan: Senior couple refurbishes instruments for students in need on WROC-TV (June 20, 2019)

Fredonia grads challenged to transform society in the Observer (May 19, 2019)

East High student recognized for outstanding progress in reading on Spectrum News (May 13, 2019)

East student receives national honor for success in the classroom on 13WHAM-TV (May 13, 2019)

East High, U of R extend partnership for next 5 years on Spectrum News (May 13, 2019)

East High-University of Rochester partnership renewed on WXXI News (May 10, 2019)

East’s partnership with UR extended in City Newspaper (May 10, 2019)

School leaders say pricey East High, UR partnership is paying off on 13WHAM-TV (May 10, 2019)

RCSD, UR extend agreement at East High School in Democrat & Chronicle (May 10, 2019)

The positive trajectory of the UR-East High partnership in Rochester Beacon (May 6, 2019)

What’s next for East High’s partnership with UR? on 13WHAM-TV  (April 16, 2019)

East High teachers use the power of food to connect with students on WXXI News (March 1, 2019)

Family at the heart of East High boys basketball in Democrat & Chronicle (February 26, 2019)

East Eagles hope family ties equates sectional success on Spectrum News (February 17, 2019)

Shaun Nelms on Black History Month on Spectrum News (February, 2019) 

Urban education turnaround: Fredonia graduate steers troubled school onto road to success in Statement magazine (Spring, 2019)

4 Ways to improve urban school attendance: Engaging environments, personal contact with families, systems, and logistics make the difference in District Administration magazine (January 3, 2019)

How a University Helped Save a Failing High School in The Chronicle of Higher Education (March 16, 2017)