Community Teachers Institute (CTI) encourages, supports, and creates partnerships between higher education institutions, public schools districts, and community organizations, to improve the effectiveness of public education by increasing the numbers of high-caliber, culturally-connected teachers in K-12 classrooms. Culturally-connected teachers are certified instructors who possess an intimate knowledge of the social and cultural 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 a cultural learner, a cultural teacher, a cultural resource, and a cultural change agent.

Cultural Learner
A Community Teacher is a cultural learner employing self-appraisal to gather an understanding of the political, social, and historical dimensions of students' communities. These understandings include the community's values, communication styles, ethnic identity development, and local legacies.

Cultural Teacher
A Community Teacher is a cultural teacher using relevant methods and materials drawn from a personal connection to the community to provide meaningful activities that cultivate liberating and democratic learning environments.

Cultural Resource
A Community Teacher is a cultural resource with direct experience and a personal history in communities similar to the students. This allows a Community Teacher to mobilize community resources into action.

Cultural Change Agent
A Community Teacher is a cultural change agent bringing reform to the political, economic, and social practices and structures inside and outside the classroom through a personal and professional commitment to social justice and global responsibility.