Dr. Osnat Zaken, associate professor, teaches education courses and is the Director of the new Teacher Preparation Plan, a plan that was conceived of by the Dean of the School of Education and Psychology, Dr. Anthony Polemeni and developed by Dr. Zaken. Since Touro College recognizes the need to expand the pool of minority group educators serving in the New York metropolitan area, therefore, a goal of The Teacher Preparation Plan is to reach out to those minority groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in the field of education and to reflect the diversity of the teacher population in the schools. The Teacher Preparation Plan is offered in Manhattan and leads to the degrees of Bachelor of Science with Concentration in Education and Special Education and Master of Science in Education and Special Education with four New York State certifications. Students who begin the Plan can be awarded their Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees with four New York State certifications in five years.

Dr. Zaken stated that tremendous outreach to various community organizations has been conducted, especially the Hispanic-American, Asian-American, and African-American communities. She has spoken before 150 ministers, representing a large number of churches and congregations, and has contacted the key community leaders and sponsors of The Teacher Preparation Plan. Dr. Zaken stated that the Plan will officially begin in September 2007. Dr. Zaken expects the Plan to continue generating a great deal of interest as “it is community-based, is a return to the community, and has identified another way for Touro College to support the community.”

Before coming to Touro College, Dr. Zaken spent 15 years in the field of education including four and a half years as a high school assistant principal. Prior to her education-related experience, she worked for the Ministry of Finance in Israel as the Director of Western European Economic Community Coordinator where she worked on the European Economic Community Directives and the impact of these directives on Israeli businesses and banks who considered initiating financial services in the European Community. In addition to her role as Director of Western European Economic Community Coordinator, she traded foreign exchange for Israeli banks and high-net-worth clientele. When asked why she changed careers, Dr. Zaken stated that she has always loved teaching and even focused her doctoral dissertation on the finance of education and interviewed prominent personnel regarding their opinions on how to fund education.

Dr. Zaken is enthusiastic about her role as Director of The Teacher Preparation Plan and is eager to apply her knowledge and experience to making the Plan a success and generating a high caliber of quality students who will become contributing members and assets to their communities.