Preparing Teachers Differently

Educators Institute was founded to address a fundamental challenge in education: the people most likely to become excellent teachers are often the least able to access traditional preparation pathways.

The cost of college, unpaid clinical requirements, and programs disconnected from daily school realities create barriers for working adults who are already contributing to classrooms.

Educators Institute was created as a degree-granting institution designed specifically for these aspiring educators.

Powered by the National Center for Grow Your Own, Educators Institute builds on nearly a decade of experience developing Grow Your Own initiatives and registered teacher apprenticeship pathways across the country.

A young girl with red hair wearing a pink sweater is seated at a desk in a classroom, looking at a laptop. An adult man, wearing glasses and a green sweater, is leaning over the desk, pointing at the laptop screen and holding a clipboard. The classroom has colorful chairs, hooks with coats on the wall, and other children in the background.

Our Mission

Educators Institute prepares working adults to become licensed, highly effective teachers through affordable, mentorship-driven programs embedded in schools and communities.

Our graduates enter classrooms prepared by experienced educators and ready to know, develop, and champion every student they serve.

Our Vision

A world where every child has the teacher they need and deserve — and where becoming that teacher is accessible to anyone with a passion for educating children.

A group of young children sitting on the floor and listening attentively to an adult reading a book, inside a brightly lit classroom.

What We Believe

Access and Excellence Are Not Opposites

Removing barriers must never mean lowering standards.

Teaching Is Skilled Professional Work

Teachers need deep knowledge, practiced skills, and ongoing development.

Practice Creates Expertise

Teaching is learned through doing, supported by expert coaching and reflection.

Mentorship Matters

Excellent teachers are developed through sustained relationships with experienced educators.

Communities Already Have Talent

Community knowledge, trust, and relationships are professional strengths.

Students Are the Measure

Everything we build exists to improve outcomes for students.