The Innovative Teacher Pipeline prepares teachers to best support educational excellence and equity, particularly for black and LatinX schoolchildren. After a rigorous applicant selection process, students receive professional learning opportunities focused on implicit bias and culturally responsive pedagogy and practice. Students also receive direct experience in working in urban and hard to staff schools while engaging in community-based learning experiences. Participation in the Innovative Teacher Pipeline requires students to engage in in-depth training through a critically reflective lens. The intentional focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion equips students to be better prepared to support educational equity. As a result, the pipeline strengthens student learning outcomes for Black and LatinX school children and increases the effectiveness of new teachers in hard to staff schools. Student participants receive a $1,000 scholarship per year.

Unique features of the Innovative Teacher Pipeline:

• Direct experience in working in urban and hard to staff schools (Substitute Teaching the VCU Way opportunity)
• In-depth and reflective analysis of diversity, inclusion, equity, and implicit bias trainings (connections to VCU's Diversity training network)
• Engaging community based learning experiences (connections to local school/community networks)
• Professional growth opportunities focused on implicit bias and culturally responsive teaching through critically reflective lens 
• Post-graduation support
• $1,000 scholarship to each student participant

Flexible scheduling options will be available to meet ITP program requirements.