As many as two hundred teachers across Missouri will enhance their classroom instruction skills through a professional development opportunity offered by the Department. Teacher Academy focuses on student engagement, instructional strategies and reflection on practices that align with the Missouri State Teacher Standards. Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with other highly dedicated teachers in their region and throughout the state.

“Teacher Academy was hands down the best professional development that I have done thus far in my career,” said Rachel Daniels of Lathrop R-II school district, a 2014-15 Teacher Academy participant. “I believe that much of Teacher Academy’s power comes from giving teachers the opportunity to have conversations with one another and share successes and failures. I cannot say enough positive things about this experience."

Teacher Academy is a year-long program based on the highly successful Leadership Academy, which has been fundamental in providing professional growth for school leaders for 30 years.

“The Department is committed to preparing, developing and supporting effective educators as a key component of our goal to be one of the top 10 states in education by 2020,” said Paul Katnik, assistant commissioner in the Office of Educator Quality. “We are pleased to be able to offer this professional development opportunity to help Missouri teachers become even more effective for their students.”

Teachers are encouraged to make reservations soon. These qualifications must be met:

• Be a current classroom teacher with three years of classroom experience.
• Be a teacher with demonstrated classroom effectiveness.
• Be a teacher with a commitment to sustained professional growth.

Teacher Academy Fellows are selected through an application process that requires a narrative response to a set of questions and two letters of recommendation. Teachers may mail or fax their application forms to their Regional Professional Development Center and register for a statewide meeting to be held on September 21, 2015, in Columbia, Missouri. Cost for Teacher Academy is $500.