TeachersCount is dedicated to addressing the current education crisis - particularly the poor retention of young teachers and the growing teacher shortage - by recognizing the originality and creativity of our nation's 3.2 million teachers, thanking them for their efforts, and rewarding them with valuable services and resources. (http://www.teacherscount.org)

New Teacher Academy ™ is a year-long professional development program for new teachers, designed to improve teacher retention rates and foster high quality teaching. Through a combination of emotional and practical support, New Teacher Academy helps new teachers gain the leadership and confidence they need to succeed. 91% of New Teachers Academy participants return to teach the following year. New Teacher Academy is a program of TC Innovations, a unit of Teachers College, Columbia University. (http://www.tcinnovations.net)

Fund for Teachers' goal is to enrich teachers' lives by offering them the opportunity to self-design summer sabbatical experiences, returning to the classroom re-energized in ways which impact students on a daily basis. (http://www.fundforteachers.org)

Adopt-A-Classroom provides teachers with much needed moral and financial support. By adopting a classroom, participants serve as community partners and donate funds so teachers can purchase classroom resources that are critical to student success. (http://www.adoptaclassroom.com)

Michael Zuk (l) and Sebastian Cuomo (r) met with the teacher whose classroom their Jones location adopted, Becky Triola's (l) first grade classroom in Woodbridge, NJ. Principal Cathy Bedosky (r) also met with the group.

Jones Apparel Group CEO Peter Boneparth was principal for a day at Global Enterprise Academy in the Bronx on April 15th.
Here are some pictures from the day!

Adopt A Classroom helps teachers by providing them with community partners who give moral support and financial assistance so teachers feel appreciated and have the means to purchase critical resources for their classrooms. You can help by adopting a classroom. Click on the icon to the left to adopt a classroom.

• Jones Apparel Group Pledges Long-Term Financial and Corporate Commitment to Non-Profit Organization and Announces Campaign to Support Teachers: Jones New York In The Classroom

Teachers are the heart and soul of our children's education and they need our support!

Introducing Jones New York In The Classroom, a program designed to help improve the quality of education for America's children and inspire others to do the same.

The foundation of the educational system is teachers and it is estimated that every teacher affects 3,000 students in their professional lifetime.

Teachers are the single most important factor in raising student achievement, but they face many challenges.
 - The nation will need 2.2-2.4 million more teachers by 2010.
 - Teachers currently rank in the top of respected professions, but in the bottom as a planned career choice.
 - 30-50% of teachers leave the profession within 3-5 years.
 - Teachers spend an average of $1,200 of their own money each year to outfit their classrooms for basic learning.