District joins schools nationwide in the multi-year initiative, which also focuses on student engagement and whole-child development
SCHENECTADY, N.Y., Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Martin Luther King Sr. Community Resources Collaborative, Schenectady City School District, and Schenectady CityCouncilmember Justin Chaires today announced the district's participation in The Sankofa Chronicles, a multi-year, federally funded research initiative designed to strengthen student-teacher relationships, support whole-child development, and advance research on effective classroom practices.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program, The Sankofa Chronicles is a multimedia social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum rooted in the African principle of looking back to move forward. The Collaborative leads this initiative in partnership with Morehouse College and a coalition of university and program partners. Schenectady City School District is set to implement the curriculum during the 2026–27 school year, at Big Picture Learning Community, and will play a key role in shaping its impact.
Sankofa Chronicles uses storytelling, historical and cultural content, multimedia resources, professional development, and ongoing educator coaching to help students develop skills that support success in the classroom and beyond, including communication, self-awareness, problem-solving, relationship-building, and responsible decision-making.
"Government isn't always about passing laws. Sometimes it's about opening doors," said Councilmember Justin Chaires. "When I learned about the Sankofa Chronicles, I saw an opportunity that could benefit our students, our teachers, and ultimately our entire community. I connected the research team with Superintendent Cotto and district leadership, and from there, the district did what it does best: carefully evaluating the opportunity. I'm grateful they saw the value in this work, and I'm excited to see Schenectady become part of something that has the potential to influence classrooms well beyond our city."
Through the program, participating Schenectady educators will receive professional development, instructional resources, access to a secure online learning platform, and ongoing coaching to support implementation. The curriculum is designed to integrate into existing advisory periods with minimal disruption to school schedules, while providing educators with practical tools to strengthen student engagement, a sense of belonging, and classroom relationships.
"Every student deserves to feel seen, supported, and connected in the classroom," said Superintendent Cotto. "When opportunities arise that strengthen those connections while contributing to meaningful educational research, we have a responsibility to explore them. Sankofa Chronicles provides our educators with additional tools to support students while enabling Schenectady to help shape practices that could benefit classrooms nationwide. We're proud to be part of that work."
Schenectady's participation also places the district within a broader research effort examining how strong student-teacher relationships, culturally responsive learning, and social-emotional development can influence student engagement and educational outcomes. Feedback and implementation insights from participating educators will contribute to the continued refinement of The Sankofa Chronicles and inform practices applicable to school communities nationwide.
As implementation begins, Schenectady educators and district leaders will work alongside the Sankofa Chronicles team to prepare participating schools, provide professional development and instructional support, and collect data and feedback throughout the initiative. The district's participation will contribute to a national effort to better understand how schools can create learning environments where students feel connected, supported, and prepared for success in school, career, and life.
Media Contact
Pocket PR, Martin Luther King, Sr. Community Resources Collaborative, 1 (770) 569-3619, [email protected], www.mlksrcollaborative.org
Tamara N. Tucker, Office of Councilmember Justin Chaires, 1 (518) 860-4078, [email protected]
SOURCE Martin Luther King, Sr. Community Resources Collaborative
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