For nearly 20 years, Richmond Public Schools teachers have participated in the Yale National Initiative, joining Yale faculty and educators from across the country for intensive, content-based seminars designed to deepen what they know and strengthen what they bring back to their classrooms.

Since 2005, 93 Richmond teachers have participated, developing original curriculum for their students and bringing that learning back to thousands of young people across RPS.

Now, Richmond has an opportunity to build on that history by creating a local Richmond Teachers Institute in partnership with Richmond Public Schools and Virginia Commonwealth University.

A local Institute would bring the Yale model home, creating opportunities for many more RPS teachers to learn alongside university faculty right here in Richmond. Teachers would participate in collaborative seminars, deepen their knowledge of the subjects they teach, and develop rigorous curriculum designed specifically for their students.

This is more than a new professional development program. It is an opportunity to build lasting local infrastructure for teacher learning, leadership, and collaboration.

Richmond educators and VCU faculty are already working alongside the Yale National Initiative to lay the groundwork. Now, we are raising $150,000 in community support toward establishing the Richmond Institute.

Your gift will help turn nearly two decades of participation into something Richmond can sustain and expand, giving more teachers access to meaningful professional learning and allowing the benefits to reach many more classrooms and students.

Help us build the next chapter of this work in Richmond.

Bring the Yale Teachers Institute to Richmond

Expanding a proven model of teacher learning to reach more Richmond classrooms.