CTAC - Community Training and Assistance Center

09/02/2026

Teacher residencies can do more than fill vacancies. See how one California district is using paid, mentored pathways to rethink staffing, support new educators, and build a stronger teacher pipeline.

The most sustainable solution to your teacher shortage crisis is already within your school system. This district can be the model for your next residency program.

08/26/2026

Teacher apprenticeships are emerging as a promising path to ease staffing shortages. By combining paid classroom experience, mentorship, and degree pathways, they help local aspiring educators enter and stay in teaching.

About four years into the effort to address teacher shortages, two recent studies reveal apprenticeships may be successful in recruiting local educators.

08/24/2026

Attendance improves when schools replace judgment with welcome. By saying “We’re glad you’re here,” using data wisely, and addressing family barriers, one district cut chronic absenteeism from 24% to 8%.

Attendance is a question of belonging: Students come because their friends are there, a teacher knows their name and someone is glad to see them.

08/14/2026

Improv can help students find their voice. By making mistakes feel safe, getting students moving, and encouraging “Yes, and…” thinking, educators can spark creativity, participation, confidence, and connection.

https://www.k12dive.com/news/improv-can-help-educators-draw-students-out-of-their-seats-and-shells/827698/

08/12/2026

PD “sticks” when it’s practical, ongoing, and tied to teachers’ real classroom needs. Learn how teacher voice, hands-on learning, and follow-up support can turn PD into lasting classroom impact.

Principals are ditching traditional workshops for "job-embedded" professional learning that prioritizes teacher collaboration.

08/07/2026

Mentoring new teachers takes more than good intentions. As pathways into the classroom become more varied, mentors need training, time, and strategies to tailor support, build trust, and boost retention.

When mentors prepare for the "patchwork" of training new teachers get, they can increase success and retention.

08/05/2026

AI in schools needs more than tools—it needs trust. CTAC helps districts build clear AI policies, train staff through job-embedded professional learning, and engage communities so every stakeholder understands how AI is being used.

Harness the Power of Responsible AI for Meaningful Impact Our AI Services AI for Education Revolutionize learning with AI-powered tools that enhance teaching, personalize student experiences, and improve outcomes. From readiness assessments to adaptive learning platforms, we help educators and insti...

08/03/2026

Reading success isn’t driven by one skill alone. New research shows visual processing and general intelligence are less important, while auditory processing, vocabulary, and general knowledge are key.

https://www.k12dive.com/news/what-factors-are-actually-most-important-in-learning-to-read/826485/

07/31/2026

Is your district ready for AI? Download CTAC’s free guide for practical steps to develop clear policies, train staff, and support responsible AI use in schools: https://ctacusa.com/publications/ai-compass-thoughtful-path-forward-k12-education/.

AI is already transforming K-12 education, and with it comes an important question: how can schools use AI responsibly, thoughtfully, and effectively? This guide explores the “AI Compass,” a practical framework designed to help educators and district leaders navigate AI with confidence and clari...

07/29/2026

What’s behind award-winning math gains? In Tuscaloosa, it’s a system-wide playbook: empowered teachers, coaching, aligned instruction, real-time data, and more time for students to learn, practice, and succeed.

Tuscaloosa City Schools is proving that the secret to national math success is investing in people.