Reach Programs Receive Accreditation from the California Commission on Teacher Credentials
On October 24th, in the last of a series of meetings at the CCTC, the Reach programs received accreditation from the Committee on Accreditation. Below is an open letter from the Reach Institute Director.
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
As many of you know a dedicated group of 15 young teachers worked tirelessly last year with a number of staff from On the Move to build Reach, the first teacher designed credential program in California. We opened in August with our founding class of 30 students from schools in San Jose and the East Bay. Over the past three months we have worked closely with the staff of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to get final accreditation for our program. And today we are thrilled to announce that we have been fully approved and accredited with a unanimous vote!!!!
I was asked a lot of questions as you can imagine since our approach is highly innovative and unique. But with all of that the responses from the Commission members were incredibly enthusiastic! One committee member said, "As a working teacher, I know how much we need programs like this. I hope you will share what you learn with the field." My response, predictably, was to invite her to come visit the program and our schools.
After the meeting I felt a bit overwhelmed by what we have collectively accomplished. I thought to myself, "Who does this? What kind of a crazy group of believers thinks, “let's really change things, let's start a better teacher education program?'" And I was also filled with gratitude. I want to thank each of you for believing in this project, and believing in us.
Participating teachers: you put your trust and your careers in our hands.
Design team: you dedicated your hours and your heart.
Faculty advisors: you lent us your thinking and your names.
Foundation sponsors: you invested in us.
Principals: you trusted us to support your schools and teachers.
Thank you all! This is our shared triumph. And I know that, together, we really will make a difference in how teachers are supported and challenged.
Sincerely,
Page Tompkins
Reach Program Launches!
Beginning with a three day retreat in August 2007, the Reach Institute's teacher credential programs officially launched.
During the 2007-2008 school year, Reach will be working with 30 teachers from 8 schools including:
Bay Area School of Enterprise (Alameda Unified School District)
Oasis High School (Oakland Unified School District)
Dolores Huerta Learning Academy (Oakland Unified School District)
Escuela Popular Accelerated Learning Academy (East Side Union High School District)
Escuela Popular Center for Training and Careers (East Side Union High School District)
Rocketship One Public School (Santa Clara County Office of Education)
Kipp Heartwood Academy (Alum Rock School District)
Arise High School (Oakland Unified School District)
