Ed Prep Lab, a member of the Collaborative Research Council, recently published a compelling brief, Grow Your Own: Preparing Teacher Candidates to Teach and Stay in Local Schools. Authored by Anika Spratley Burtin and Kenyatta Dorey Graves of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), and Cathy Yun of the Learning Policy Institute, the brief describes how UDC prepares teacher candidates to teach effectively in the local school system while leveraging their strong ties and commitment to the D.C. community.
Their strategies include recruiting local candidates who are already deeply connected to the city and have a desire to stay; preparing teachers to implement research-based instructional practices; centering race, class, and culture in preparation courses; and empowering candidates to address the needs of students and communities in DC through advocacy.
