Teacher Residency Program Receives $500,000 Challenge Grant from Schusterman Foundation
Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) December 17, 2014 -- The Urban Teacher Center (UTC) announced today that the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation awarded a $500,000 challenge grant to UTC to expand its teacher preparation program, a program designed to improve teacher quality in urban school systems.
“UTC’s model of intensive, results-oriented teacher preparation is exactly what our schools need to help ensure every student has access to a high-quality education,” said Michelle Boyers, Director of Education for the Schusterman Family Foundation. “It is our hope that this grant will be a pathway for leaders in education philanthropy to help young people nationwide get the education they need to learn and grow, regardless of the zipcode they’re born into.”
The gift will match contributions from other supporters up to $500,000, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, between December 2014 and December 2015. Funds will help UTC recruit, train and support an increasing number of teachers dedicated to helping every student succeed.
“We are grateful for this opportunity and excited to work with the Schusterman Family Foundation to maximize the impact of this grant,” noted UTC CEO and Co-Founder Jennifer Green. “The demand for effective teachers in our nation’s urban schools has never been greater, and we’re committed to working with partners across K-12 and higher education to prepare professionals who can give students what they need to thrive.”
UTC is rebuilding the urban teacher workforce by producing high-quality teachers who are committed to staying in the profession. After a rigorous selection process, UTC teachers complete a 15-month residency program combining on-the-job training in a K-12 urban classroom with master’s coursework. This is accompanied by three years of one-on-one coaching to ensure continual improvement. Before receiving certification, UTC evaluates teachers for quality instruction and student achievement gains. By holding teachers accountable for student success, UTC ensures urban students will get the quality education they deserve.
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About Urban Teacher Center
Urban Teacher Center (UTC) prepares highly effective teachers who significantly accelerate student achievement in the nation’s highest-need schools. UTC accomplishes this goal by recruiting outstanding candidates, equipping them with state-of-the-art training, and linking their certification to their students’ performance outcomes. UTC is currently serving urban youth in Baltimore City and the District of Columbia and has plans to expand to additional cities in the near future.
About Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation is a global organization that seeks to ignite the passion and unleash the power in young people to create positive change for themselves and in their communities. Schusterman pursues its mission by working collaboratively with others to support and operate high-quality education, Jewish identity development, leadership training and service programs designed to help young people cultivate their growth as individuals and as leaders. http://www.schusterman.org
Celia Parker, Urban Teacher Center, http://www.urbanteachercenter.org/, +1 410-662-6600, [email protected]
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