Collaboration creates Master’s degree program to equip Windward teachers with new research-based approaches for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (April 5, 2022) – Teachers at The Windward School in White Plains, a leading independent day school for children with language-based learning disabilities, will benefit from the latest teaching strategies thanks to a unique collaboration with Manhattanville College.

Starting in summer 2022, Windward teachers will have the opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree program in Education Studies, with a focus on Literacy. The program, designed exclusively for Windward by the Manhattanville College School of Education, will guide teachers in innovative, research-based approaches that they can use in their classrooms to address a range of literacy challenges.

Jamie Williamson, Head of The Windward School, said of the partnership, “Ensuring that our students succeed and realize their full potential is our highest priority at Windward. This collaboration brings the proven, research-based approaches to literacy being developed and taught at Manhattanville College directly to our classrooms to be put into action, broadening the expertise of our faculty and enriching the overall experience of our students.”

The Windward School and Manhattanville have partnered to cover 70% of tuition costs for participating teachers entering their second year or beyond of teaching at Windward.

“This collaboration allows our School of Education to broaden its reach while preparing Windward’s teachers and giving them the latest techniques and tools to develop stronger readers and writers,” said Manhattanville College President Michael E. Geisler, Ph.D. “As a small liberal arts college with a strong presence in the professions, this partnership is in keeping with our mission to educate ethical and socially-responsible leaders – exactly the kind of professionals who teach at Windward.”

The program marks a significant collaboration between two of the leading Westchester County educational institutions. The Windward School, which has two campuses in White Plains, NY, and one on the Upper East Side of New York City, prepares its students for a return to a mainstream school environment. 

“The Windward School is highly regarded as among the best at educating students with dyslexia or other language-based learning disabilities and we are very excited to partner with them,” said Shelley Wepner, Ed.D., dean of the School of Education at Manhattanville College. “We are already looking to the future to expand our partnership with a specialized certificate.”
 

About The Windward School
Windward is a coeducational, independent day school with three campuses in White Plains, NY, and New York City, dedicated to providing a proven instructional program for children with language-based learning disabilities. Windward is committed to helping students achieve their full potential in preparation for a successful return to a mainstream educational environment. To meet these goals, the School provides ongoing training to its faculty based on the most current research and shares its expertise with the parent body, other educators, and the broader community. For more information, go to thewindwardschool.org and interact with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College is a small, private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education, and social justice. Manhattanville is ranked the top private, non-profit institution for upward social mobility by U.S. News and World Report. Located 30 miles from New York City on a 100-acre suburban campus in the heart of bustling Westchester County, Manhattanville enables easy access to robust entertainment offerings, educational resources, and business opportunities for its primarily residential and diverse student body. The College serves more than 1,500 undergraduate students and nearly 1,000 graduate students from more than 44 countries and 33 states. Founded in 1841, the College offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education, business, and creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs. Graduate students can choose from over 70 graduate and certificate programs. Extracurricular offerings include more than 45 clubs and 20 NCAA Division III teams. To learn more, visit www.mville.edu.