Community Teachers Institute (CTI) believes all students can achieve any standards when teachers have high expectations and the expertise to foster a student's personal academic development. CTI's services seek to enhance teacher and student education so they can provide content that is culturally relevant and pedagogically based on best practices for urban schools.
 
Founded in 1989, Community Teachers Institute (CTI) has been focused on the broad educational needs of inner city disadvantaged youth and urban public education. The failure of America’s public schools to effectively serve students of color, particularly those in urban, low-income communities has been well documented. Compared to other populations, African-American and Latino students score significantly lower on standardized tests drop out of school at higher rates and attend or complete college in fewer numbers. Yet, throughout the nation, it has been proven that qualified teachers and empowering curriculum create youth that become active learners and community change agents.

CTI believes that one way to meet this challenge is to “grow” a more qualified, diverse, and culturally connected teacher workforce, not only in the inner city, but also in the ever-changing surrounding suburbs. Public schools need “Community Teachers” who:

• are more able to connect with and engage their students in the educational process;
• inspire students to achieve high standards, and
• produce high school graduates who successfully pursue higher education and careers.