TEACH Academy

Started in 2005 as the Chancellor's Academy, the TEACH Academy is a concentrated, week-long, school-team-oriented professional development program planned and implemented by the Teacher Collaborators at the Center for Education in Small Urban Communities in partnership with teacher and district leaders in Champaign and Urbana public schools.  The Academy engages approximately 100 local teachers each year.

The Academy has maintained a focus on the important topic of differentiated instruction.  Through presentations by local, regional, and national experts, discussion opportunities, and team-based project work, local educators are able to refine their abilities to support teaching and learning in their respective buildings over the next school year.

Via the Teacher Collaborator Project, the Center works to provide sustained support for TEACH Academy participants as they implement and re-explore teaching strategies during the academic year.  The Center staffs expert Teacher Collaborators who work in partnership with educators by modeling instruction, demonstrating lessons, teaching side-by-side, and co-planning instruction.  This classroom-based work is intended to sustain and deepen learning at the TEACH Academy. All Academy participants are encouraged to participate in the Teacher Collaborator Project.