Teachers Supporting Teachers

Teachers Supporting Teachers is committed to building a team of diverse professionals who are passionate about mobilizing and supporting high-potential teacher leaders

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:

Teachers Supporting Teachers (TST) is an organization committed to a "people first" approach to solving educational inequity. Teachers are the primary in-school influence on student achievement and a school's greatest resource. However, 50% of teachers nationwide leave within the first five years, negatively affecting student outcomes. Furthermore, teachers are 50% more likely to leave their position in urban environments. We seek to address this dichotomy. Across Illinois, our community is discussing the teacher shortage, and finding new ways to bring fresh and diverse people to the field. But, we also know that our schools already have many excellent teachers. Therefore TST works to engage the city's most talented teachers by providing them with leadership development and support to solve challenges within their school. Over the past 5 years, TST has built a membership of 1000+ educators, worked in 40+ schools across Chicago, and maintained a 90% retention rate of their teacher leaders.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

We work in Chicago schools to give teachers opportunities for leadership. Therefore, our program supports teachers to lead a group of their colleagues to address an issue within their school. We help the teacher to lead their team to success, but also provide them with the skills needed to continue engaging in teacher leadership throughout their career. This is facilitated through one-on-one weekly coaching with one of our TST Coaches (who are also working full-time as teachers in Chicago).