Rochester City School District celebrates completion of Career in Teaching internship program as educators finish year-long mentorship journey across multiple schools

Rochester, New York – The Rochester City School District is recognizing a new group of educators who have completed a key step in their early teaching careers, marking the conclusion of a year-long mentorship journey designed to strengthen classroom practice and improve long-term teacher retention.

On Monday, May 18, 2026, district leaders gathered at Temple B’rith Kodesh in Brighton for an awards dinner honoring this year’s Career in Teaching (CIT) Program Interns of the Year. The event brought together Superintendent Dr. Eric Jay Rosser, Rochester Teachers Association President Adam Urbanski, CIT mentor-teachers, members of the CIT Joint Governing Panel, honorees, and their guests.

The evening was both formal and personal, blending recognition with reflection on what it means to enter the teaching profession through structured, hands-on support. For many of the educators in the program, the moment represented the end of a demanding but supportive first year in the classroom.

Throughout the 2025–2026 school year, the CIT Program has worked across multiple schools in the district to support new teachers and service providers. Unlike typical training models that focus mainly on classroom instruction, CIT pairs interns with experienced mentors who guide them through the full range of responsibilities that come with being an educator.

Mentors and administrative supervisors played a direct role in selecting this year’s honorees, nominating interns based on their professional growth, commitment to students and demonstrated success in the classroom. Each recognized educator was also featured in individual video profiles produced by Chandler Scott, Senior Communications Assistant, highlighting their work across the district.

Twelve interns were named as outstanding participants in the program. This year’s honorees include Michael Janover of School of the Arts, Destiny Fernandes of East High School, Emily Gibbons of Pinnacle School No. 35, Emma Macero of Enrico Fermi School No. 17, Nelisa Torres-Gayle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School No. 9, Jaqlyn Leiser of Abelard Reynolds School No. 42, Morgan West of Mary McLeod Bethune School No. 45, Brittany Rumph of Dr. David and Ruth Anderson Academy School No. 16, Lisa Roy of Enrico Fermi School No. 17, Darlene Brumfield of Dr. Charles T. Lunsford School No. 19, Sarah O’Rawe of Henry Hudson School No. 28, and Kelsea Kagarise in Special Education.

For district leadership, the CIT Program represents more than recognition events or professional development sessions. It is a structured system built to address one of the most persistent challenges in education: teacher retention.

Superintendent Dr. Eric Jay Rosser emphasized the deeper meaning behind the program during the ceremony.

“The teaching profession is not just a job; it is a calling,” said Dr. Rosser. “Your dedication is already instrumental in helping our students activate their dreams and unlock their potential. We are only seeing the beginning of the rewards your mission-driven work will offer this District.”

Those words reflect the broader philosophy behind CIT, which has become one of the district’s most important internal support systems since its creation in 1987. The program was originally designed as one of the first of its kind in the country, focused on reducing early-career teacher turnover by providing structured, long-term mentorship.

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What sets CIT apart from traditional professional development is its focus on what district leaders describe as the “whole educator.” Mentors do not only help interns refine lesson plans or manage classrooms. They also assist with personal and logistical challenges that can affect job performance, including housing stability, childcare coordination, mental health support, and access to professional networks.

This broad approach is intended to reduce the stress that often causes new educators to leave the profession early. Instead of working in isolation, interns are embedded in a support system that follows them throughout the school year.

Over time, the program has shown measurable results. According to district data, CIT maintains a five-year teacher retention rate of 75 percent for educators who began in the 2020–2021 cohort and remain active through the 2025–2026 school year. That figure is approximately 20 percent higher than the national average. Retention rates among bilingual educators are even stronger, reaching 80 percent.

District officials say that stability matters not just for teachers, but for students as well. When educators remain in their roles longer, they build stronger relationships with students, develop deeper familiarity with curriculum needs, and contribute to more consistent learning environments.

The awards dinner also served as a moment of recognition for the mentors who guided interns through the year. These experienced educators often balance their own classroom responsibilities while providing daily support, feedback and encouragement to new teachers adjusting to the demands of the profession.

Many attendees noted that the success of the program depends on this collaborative structure, where mentorship is not an extra task but an integrated part of the district’s teaching culture.

For the honorees, the evening marked a milestone in their professional journeys. While each educator’s path into teaching is unique, they share a common experience of entering the classroom with structured guidance and ongoing support.

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As the district continues to invest in programs like CIT, officials say the goal remains clear: to strengthen the teaching workforce from within, ensure educators feel supported from day one, and ultimately improve outcomes for students across the Rochester City School District.

The ceremony ended with celebration, but also with a sense of continuity, as new educators prepare to carry their experiences forward into the next stage of their careers.