Celebrating 30 Years of Impact | Growing the Next Generation of Teachers
A Message from Our Leadership
As we celebrate 30 years of Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers, 2025 stands as a powerful milestone year, one marked by growth, resilience, and renewed commitment to educational equity. In a time of national teacher shortages and deepening challenges facing students of color, TSTT continued to stand in the gap, recruiting, mentoring, and preparing future educators from high school through college and into the classroom.
This year, we strengthened partnerships, expanded our alumni engagement, supported hundreds of students across multiple regions, and elevated the voices of those who began their journeys with TSTT and are now leading classrooms, districts, and educational spaces across the country.
Thank you to our students, families, alumni, staff, board, funders, and partners for walking with us on this journey. Looking forward to making an even bigger impact in 2026!
With sincere appreciation,
Dr. Bettye H. Perkins
President & CEO
Our Mission
2025 By the Numbers
30
1,700+
95%
96%
100%
350+
Student Pipeline: From High School to the Classroom
- College readiness workshops
- SAT/ACT and academic support
- Leadership development
- College and campus visits
- Academic mentoring and advising
- Tutoring fieldwork and internships
- Teacher Assistant Certification pathways
- Community college–to–four-year college transfer support
- Teacher preparation and certification guidance
- Alumni mentoring and professional networking
- Career readiness workshops and conferences
Major Highlights from 2025
Careers in Education Conference (CEC)
- Successfully hosted the 2025 Careers in Education Conference (CEC) at Manhattanville University
- Brought together high school and college students, educators, alumni, and partners to explore pathways into teaching and education-related careers
- Featured panels, workshops, and networking opportunities highlighting real-world experiences and educator career trajectories
Annual Recognition Brunch – 30th Anniversary: Celebrating the Legacy
- Held our Annual Recognition Brunch in May 2025 as part of TSTT’s 30th Anniversary Celebration
- Celebrated the accomplishments of over 70 high school seniors for their academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to pursuing education-related careers
- Honored long-term school district partners:
- Ossining Union Free School District
- Ellenville Central School District
- Presented Community Impact Awards to:
- Greater Hudson Valley (NY) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
- Westchester County (NY) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
- Recognized Perkins Scholars—honored for 10 years of service as teachers, educators and administrators
- Presented the 2025 Trailblazer Award to Dr. Catherine Flores, a TSTT Alum for her leadership, advocacy, and transformative impact in education
College & Campus Engagement
- Organized campus visits for students across regions including Ellenville, Fallsburg, Bridgeport, Rockland County, Valley Central, and Westchester County
- Strengthened partnerships with Mount Saint Mary College, & SUNY Sullivan Community College
Strategic Partnerships & Collaborations
- Advanced the Community College Teacher Preparation & Teacher Assistant Certification Initiative
- Strengthened partnership and support of Mid-Hudson School Study Council (MHSSC) and attended their annual Law Conference
- Continued collaboration with New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and facilitated workshop, TSTT: Growing The Next Generation of Teachers of Color at the NYSUT Members of Color Conference (MOCCA) in Albany, NY
- Expanded dialogue around P-TECH and Grow Your Own Teacher Pipelines with NYSUT
Alumni Engagement
- Held TSTT Alumni “Cause for Celebration” at Manhattanville University in February
- TSTT Alumni helped lead planning and execution of Annual Recognition Brunch in May
- Hosted a TSTT Alumni End-of-Year Virtual Gathering
- Reengaged alumni as mentors, speakers, and panelists
- Highlighted alumni success stories, including educators now working in classrooms, unions, and policy spaces
Conferences & Thought Leadership
- Facilitated the workshop “TSTT: Growing the Next Generation of Teachers of Color” at the NYSUT Members of Color Conference in Albany
- Featured alumni voices sharing firsthand experiences of the TSTT pipeline—from student to educator
Celebrating 30 Years
2025 marked the beginning of TSTT’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, honoring three decades of transformative impact. From our earliest cohort to today’s students, TSTT has remained steadfast in its belief that representation matters and that investing in future educators strengthens entire communities.
Plans are underway for continued anniversary events in 2026 to celebrate our legacy, alumni, and partners.
Community & Service
Fundraising & Sustainability
In 2025, TSTT strengthened its development efforts to ensure long-term sustainability:
- Annual Giving Campaign
- Giving Tuesday outreach
- Family foundation engagement
- Local and regional grant applications and pitch
- Expanded donor stewardship and communications lists
These efforts ensure that students continue to receive academic support, mentoring, and opportunities, especially during a time of widespread education funding cuts.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we move into the next chapter, TSTT remains focused on:
- Expanding TSTT and Grow Your Own teacher pathways with NYSUT
- Deepening and expanding school district and higher education partnerships
- Scaling alumni mentorship and leadership opportunities
- Strengthening data, evaluation, and impact reporting
- Celebrating and uplifting the next generation of educators
Thank You
To our students, families, alumni, staff, board members, funders, school districts, colleges, and, national, state and local officials and community partners—thank you for believing in the promise of future teachers and the power of education to change lives.
Together, we are growing the next generation of educators.