The 2021-2022 school year continued to reflect staffing challenges in schools across the country. In fact, one in four American teachers reported considering leaving their jobs by the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Those choosing to stay in the profession were, and still are, often called upon to “do double duty” to address student well-being and overcome the impact of lost instructional time. In response, school systems were finding new and innovative ways to encourage, invest in, and lift up teachers across America by pursuing strategies to increase teacher collaboration, attend to dimensions of teacher wellness, and enact inclusive practices to attract and retain high-quality teachers.

In the fall of 2022, 20 teams of educators attended The U.S. Department of Education Effective Educator Development (EED) Division’s special Powered By Teach to Lead event in Orlando, Florida to address the challenges facing those in education and to strengthen educator effectiveness. During the event, teams worked on projects aligned with:

• increasing teacher collaboration to improve instructional practices,
• supporting educator wellness using targeted practices,
• developing effective onboarding and mentoring practices for new staff, or
• investing in a talented and diverse teacher pipeline through Grow Your Own and micro-credentialing pathways.

This three-day, in-person convening brought teams from 13 different states together to receive specialized support from 20 dedicated “critical friends” who represented six Regional Comprehensive
Centers, four educational organizations, and the U.S. Department of Education. Teams were given collaboration time to develop and refine a theory of action, engage in peer consultancy work, confer with subject matter experts, and receive strategic communications and implementation planning support during learning sessions. The final day was capped off with a Gallery Walk showcasing the hard work and dedication of the teams and their critical friends. Teams presented their success stories and made connections with other teams sharing similar experiences or challenges. The event was a huge success and empowered participants to return home ready to dive into the work!