Teranga Conference to Offer CTLE Credits for NYCDOE Educators
The Kofago Institute is proud to announce a meaningful professional development opportunity for New York City Department of Education educators participating in the 2026 Teranga Conference.
In partnership with Lehman College’s School of Education, the Teranga Conference will offer Continuing Teacher and Leader Education credits, also known as CTLE credits, for eligible educators working within the NYCDOE. This opportunity allows teachers and education leaders to deepen their understanding of culturally tailored dance education while engaging directly with artists, scholars, educators, and cultural practitioners from across the African Diaspora.
The Teranga Conference is designed as a space where dance, culture, research, and pedagogy meet. Through movement workshops, lecture-based sessions, and community-centered dialogue, participants will explore how African Diasporic dance traditions can be used as tools for teaching, cultural preservation, student engagement, and identity development. For educators, this creates a powerful opportunity to study dance not only as performance, but as a culturally responsive educational practice.
To receive CTLE credit, participants must complete the following conference requirements:
Two dance workshops
One lecture workshop
Completion of these three sessions will equate to six CTLE credits issued through Lehman College’s School of Education.
These workshops are especially valuable for educators interested in culturally responsive teaching, arts integration, movement-based learning, African Diasporic studies, community-centered pedagogy, and creative approaches to student engagement. Participants will leave with practical insight into how dance can support learning environments that honor culture, history, creativity, and lived experience.
At the conclusion of the required conference sessions, participants should see a member of the Kofago Institute staff to receive the appropriate CTLE paperwork. Participants must bring a copy of their receipt showing the classes taken in order to receive the proper documentation.
The Kofago Institute is honored to partner with Lehman College’s School of Education to provide this professional development opportunity for educators. Through this collaboration, we continue our commitment to building pathways between cultural arts, higher education, public education, and community-based learning.
We invite NYCDOE teachers and education leaders to join us at the Teranga Conference and take part in this powerful opportunity to learn, move, reflect, and grow through the study of culturally tailored dance education.