California Teacher Development Collaborative

For over 20 years, the California Teacher Development Collaborative (formerly the Bay Area Teacher Development Collaborative) has been committed to supporting and enriching the professional lives of local educators. With a small but mighty team, a diverse and dedicated Board representing schools from across California, and nearly 150 member schools throughout the state, CATDC is uniquely positioned to be an ongoing source of connection, collaboration, and learning for California independent school educators, meeting them where they are and taking them to the next steps of their professional journeys. 

CATDC believes that every young person and adult in our schools should be supported to thrive. Advancing equity is a core value and a strategic priority.  This means that CATDC serves as a resource for educators and schools in the ongoing work of disrupting systems, practices, and policies that prevent full participation of underrepresented and underserved groups. CATDC works in collaboration with the CATDC community to create more just and equitable schools. 

CATDC staff are committed to growing individually as equity practitioners through reflection, learning, and practice. CATDC acknowledges that independent schools are often rooted in a history of racism and white supremacy; equity challenges are addressed as complex and ongoing places of inquiry. The CATDC team is committed to the growth and success of each colleague as well as a work environment of care, honest communication, and effective collaboration.

 CATDC’s four key priorities as outlined in the Strategic Plan:

• Equity at the Center: Understanding the need for independent schools to address the challenge of perpetuating systems of privilege and power, CATDC has a role to play in putting equity at the center for education. Having an equity lens on internal systems is a priority for the next phase of CATDC's history. By making sure the organization is walking its talk, CATDC can lead schools and education to do the same.
• Educator Growth:  bell hooks said it best: “Teachers must be committed to a process of self-actualization that promotes their own well-being if they are to teach in a manner that empowers students.” CATDC seeks to understand what today’s educators need most in order to thrive both personally and professionally, enabling them to reach their fullest potential and give back to the field. 
• Connection & Belonging: Creating strong local and regional connections for independent school educators differentiates CATDC from other organizations. Close and connected relationships foster deep learning and a sense of belonging and are at the heart of what makes CATDC unique.
• Organizational Sustainability: As an organization that cares deeply about educator development and supporting the best teaching and learning in all member schools, CATDC seeks to secure strong future sustainability, both programmatic and financial, fostering increased member school engagement and greater educator participation.