Communities of Practice

Building on the wisdom of the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together,” the University of School Partnership for the Renewal of Educator Preparation (US PREP) works with regions to establish a communities of practice (CoP). These collaboratives bring together school district leaders, educator preparation leaders, and community stakeholders every three months. The primary focus of the CoP has been to raise awareness around promising practices in educator recruitment, development and retention. Further the CoP provides a space to address the key challenges and opportunities in educator development within the region. 

The initial sessions begin with thoroughly examining regional data about educator preparation and development. Participants analyze hiring trends, teacher attrition rates, and the placement rates of educators from preparation programs into local schools. Using this data-driven approach, the CoP identifies several critical areas of focus. These areas are strategically selected to address immediate school needs and long-term systemic challenges. From there, participants form working groups to address the areas of focus.