Innovative Teacher Pipeline ready for its second year
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students Brooke Wilson, William Antosz and Robyn Klatt.
The VCU School of Education’s Innovative Teacher Pipeline (ITP) aims to prepare teachers to best support educational excellence and equity, particularly for Black and LatinX school children in urban settings that have been historically marginalized. Started in 2019, the program offers participating students – known as ITP scholars – opportunities to participate in intentional professional development activities and volunteer experiences related to ITP program goals.
Program goals include:
- Direct experience working in urban and hard to staff schools;
- In-depth and reflective analysis of diversity, inclusion, equity and implicit bias;
- Engaging community-based learning experiences; and
- Professional growth opportunities focused on implicit bias and culturally responsive teaching through a critically reflective lens.
Over the past year, the inaugural cohort of ITP scholars has engaged in a plethora of activities related to program goals. Activities are designed to develop and expand knowledge and skills through substitute teaching, community engagement, equity training and reflective practice. Students are able to select from an array of events that fit their individual schedules.
Examples of ITP-approved activities from the past year include:
- Race, Ethnicity and Education Teach-In Week Kick-off Event (Sep. 19)
- Virginia Education Association Teachers of Color Conference (Feb. 21)
- A night with Dr. Bettina Love at Armstrong High School (Mar. 5)
Robyn Klatt, a Master of Teaching candidate with a concentration in elementary education, said that the Race, Ethnicity and Education Event has been the most rewarding for her.
“Listening to Leah Walker talk about today's issues and the way that we as educators need to show up for our students every day, really inspired me to learn more about the cultures of my students and ways to meet their unique needs," said Klatt.
Cole, Ph.D., executive director, SOE's Office of Strategic
Engagement.
In addition to the emphasis on preparing students to work in urban schools, a unique feature of the ITP program is the support provided to ITP scholars and graduates. Each scholar who successfully meets program goals before graduation receives a $1,000 scholarship to assist them as they begin their career as a teacher.
Additionally, each program participant will receive two years of post-graduation coaching support through the Alumni Induction Support Program, another signature program coordinated by SOE’s Office of Strategic Engagement. The added layer of mentoring and support ensures success and retention in the teaching profession.
Cassandra Stanley, Ed.D., assistant director in the Office of Strategic Engagement, said that the ITP program’s activities and learning experiences are designed to complement what students are learning in the classroom while also benefiting diverse populations.
“The Innovative Teacher Pipeline is a professional learning process for pre-service teachers to engage in co-curricular course work along with seminar training opportunities and career coaching that is focused on in-depth implicit bias training,” Stanley said.
Haven Johansen, also a Master of Teaching candidate, said that the program has benefits that extend beyond professional.
“I would highly recommend this program to not just aspiring teachers, but anyone interested in diversity, equity and inclusion. The things I have learned thus far from this program will not only be beneficial to me as a future teacher, but also as a member of society in general,” said Johansen.
Interested in becoming a part of the next ITP cohort? Sign up here.