We can hardly believe an entire year has come and gone. 2011 proved itself to be a great year for the Teacher Corps, and we are proud to have shared so many milestones with you:

• We celebrated our two year anniversary.
• Congress recognized that teachers pursuing their credential through an alternative route to certification program are highly-qualified.
• We successfully held our first annual conference, providing Teacher Corps members with important professional resources and training.
• 1,300 math and science teachers were placed within the last two years.
• Teacher Corps placed more than 2,000 talented paraeducators on the path to teaching.
• Nearly 90 percent of principals across California ranked teachers placed from alternative route to certification programs as good or better than other beginning teachers.

And that's just a snapshot of what we accomplished in 2011! Winding up the year, the Teacher Corps' efforts to recruit more under-represented minorities into the teaching profession garnered significant media attention. In the 2010-2011 school year, nearly 50 percent of teachers placed in the classroom from Teacher Corps programs were under-represented minorities, marking an upward trend over the last five years of minorities finding their way to teaching through the alternative pathway. See our press release here: Nearly Half of Teachers from Alternative Certification Programs are Under-Represented Minorities.  

Read the coverage here:

 

Bringing Diversity into Teaching, Minority Teachers Choose Alternative Certification Programs, TOP-Ed, Wednesday, December 21, 2011

 

Program Increases Ranks of Minority Teachers in California, Latin American Herald Tribune, Friday, December 23, 2011

 

Teacher 'Diversity Gap' Plagues State, Report Says, Monterey County Herald, Friday, December 23, 2011

 

 Alternative Route to Teaching Attracts More Minorities, KPBS San Diego, Monday, December 26, 2011

 

Group Helps to Place New Minority Teachers, The Mercury News, Wednesday, December 28, 2011 

 

We encourage all of you to share the press release and news coverage with anyone that you feel would benefit from it. This is a great opportunity to spread the word and highlight the effectiveness of our programs to recruit and place talented teachers in high-need public schools statewide.  

 

Have you registered for the Second Annual California Teacher Corps Conference?

 

Register here now! 

 

On Feb 9 and 10, you will be provided the opportunity to gather with leaders from California's alternative route to certification programs and build your skills to lead courageously. Participants will experience a lineup of renowned thought leaders and gain invaluable knowledge in our small group discussions as together we will help shape the future of teacher preparation. We sincerely hope you will be able to make this year's conference!  

 

Thank you all for your hard work over the last year, and here's to a great 2012!

 

Sincerely,

 

The California Teacher Corps Board of Directors