Our Mission

Community Teachers Initiative creates partnerships between higher education institutions and future educators who are culturally-connected. Culturally-connected teachers are highly-qualified certified instructors who possess an intimate knowledge of the social and cultural history and concerns of their students, and use this knowledge to enhance the students' educational experience.

Cultural-connectedness is the essence of a Community Teacher. Specifically, a culturally-connected teacher is both a cultural learner who has an understanding of the political, social, and historical dimensions of students' communities; and a cultural teacher, who uses relevant methods and materials drawn from a personal connection to the community to provide meaningful activities that cultivate effective learning environments.