OTM-Reach Institute's Teacher Program Credentialed
Credentialing Committee "enthusiastic"
The Reach Institute, part of Whitman grantee organization, On The Move, was granted accreditation for its teacher credentialing program. One of the hallmarks of this program is that 15 new teachers from throughout the Bay Area created the design and implementation process themselves.
Read what Reach's director, Page Tomkins, wrote in a letter of thanks to their many supporters and sponsors after the jump...
As many of you know a dedicated group of 15 young teachers worked tirelessly last year with a number of staff from On the Move to build Reach, the first teacher designed credential program in California. We opened in August with our founding class of 30 students from schools in San Jose and the East Bay. Over the past three months we have worked closely with the staff of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to get final accreditation for our program. And today we are thrilled to announce that we have been fully approved and accredited with a unanimous vote!!!!I was asked a lot of questions as you can imagine since our approach is highly innovative and unique. But with all of that the responses from the Commission members were incredibly enthusiastic! One committee member said, "As a working teacher, I know how much we need programs like this. I hope you will share what you learn with the field." My response, predictably, was to invite her to come visit the program and our schools.
After the meeting I felt a bit overwhelmed by what we have collectively accomplished. I thought to myself, "Who does this? What kind of a crazy group of believers thinks, "let's really change things, let's start a better teacher education program?'" And I was also filled with gratitude. I want to thank each of you for believing in this project, and believing in us.
Congratulations to everyone involved in this wonderful effort.