Teach Western Mass

06/23/2026

Dear Teach Western Mass Community,

We want to share an important follow-up update. Earlier this spring, we shared that Teach Western Mass was at a transition point. We also shared that, as we planned for the organization's long-term sustainability and impact, our Board and the Board of the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP) began exploring a potential partnership to strengthen educator development efforts in our region.

Today, we want to share what’s next for the Teach Western Mass Residency. Following a thorough vetting by our Board and months of exploratory conversations, the Teach Western Mass curriculum will be transferred to the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP), effective July 1, 2026, and Teach Western Mass will cease operations.

The Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP) is a nonprofit organization focused on improving student outcomes in Springfield, Massachusetts. It serves more than 5,000 students across 16 middle and high schools and has increasingly expanded its work in educator development and workforce initiatives. We are encouraged that the curriculum, learning and resources developed through Teach Western Mass will be preserved and available to inform future educator workforce efforts in the region.

While the specific path forward for these assets will be determined by SEZP, we are grateful that the work and ideas developed through Teach Western Mass will continue to have the potential to support educators and students across Western Massachusetts.

Educators and aspiring educators who are interested in learning more about potential future educator preparation opportunities are encouraged to contact SEZP at [email protected]. While plans are still being finalized, SEZP welcomes inquiries from individuals interested in future educator development and preparation opportunities.

Thank you again for your support over the years and for everything you do to uplift educators and students.

04/13/2026

We want to share an important update: Teach Western Mass is at a transition point.

As we plan for long-term sustainability and impact, we have made the decision to pause recruitment for our next Residency cohort. Our top priority remains supporting our current Residents as they continue their path to licensure and the classrooms they serve.

At this time, our board and the board of the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP) are exploring a potential partnership, and we are in ongoing conversations about a closer working relationship to strengthen educator preparation in our region.

For those who were considering applying to TWM’s Residency this year, we are actively guiding prospective educators toward alternative licensure pathways. If you would like to receive updates, please email [email protected].

We remain deeply committed to our mission and to the communities we serve. More updates to come.

02/06/2026

There’s still time to sign up for our next session in our Community Speaker Series!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭: Screening of Counted Out, followed by a discussion with two local leaders
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧: Thursday, February 12 | 5:00–8:00 p.m.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: Holyoke Community College, Kittredge Center
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: Free in Lot D

We still have a few seats available, and we’d love to welcome more community members to this timely, important film.

Counted Out explores how math quietly shapes our lives—from the news we consume to the jobs we get—and how it impacts democracy, from voting districts to AI-driven political messaging.

🎟️ 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐧𝐨𝐰: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teach-western-mass-counted-out-film-screening-tickets-1980474429331?fbclid=IwY2xjawPzOExleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF6OGxmNlFrVm1mbHBLYkZDc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrXo71fVPmRNPW8GSW7p2c8Bl_qNNfnnQTI0wLkHksy9mA9Ogtsr2tT2oKKq_aem_C7VgB4dKf587l92Ah_zSRg
🎬 Watch the trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=M5a2la9WTtY

01/27/2026

✖️➗➕➖ Math is everywhere—shaping our daily lives in ways we don’t always see. That’s why Teach Western Mass is hosting a screening of Counted Out—a thought-provoking documentary about the hidden power of numbers.

Come watch and discuss with us alongside local educators, leaders, and neighbors.

🎬 Watch the trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=M5a2la9WTtY
🎟️ Seats are limited and registration is required. Sign up today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teach-western-mass-counted-out-film-screening-tickets-1980474429331

07/29/2025

📣 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Join Teach Western Mass & Union Capital Springfield for our 5th Annual Community Showcase—a gathering of educators, community orgs, and leaders working together to support youth and families across Western Mass.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:
📅 Friday, August 1 | 🕛 12:00–2:00 PM
📍 Holyoke Community College, Kittredge Center for Business
👉 𝐑𝐒𝐕𝐏: https://forms.gle/qb9XyfKA5P1bbXWMA

07/24/2025

🎓 Residency Cohort 6, you did it!

Eighteen months of hard work, growth, and impact. Now, a new chapter begins for you.

TWM Residents have completed a rigorous, equity-centered pathway to licensure, built powerful connections with students, and are making a lasting mark in classrooms across Springfield and Holyoke.

To our Residents: thank you for showing up for your students, your communities, and one another. You are the future of public education, and we’re so proud to be part of your journey.

📸 Swipe through moments from a night filled with joy, pride, and well-earned celebration.

04/11/2025

How do you sum up nearly a decade of impact in just 20 photos? You don’t — but we gave it our best shot. And trust us, you’ll want to stick around for the last one.

After nearly nine years of transformative leadership, our Founding Executive Director, Pema Latshang, will be stepping down from her role at Teach Western Mass at the end of April.

Her decision was not made lightly, and while we will deeply miss her leadership, we are profoundly grateful for the incredible foundation she has built, and the lasting impact her role will continue to have in public schools classrooms.

Pema has been instrumental in founding, launching and developing:
👉 The TWM Residency, and its Black, Latine, and Educators of Color of Fellowship
👉 The TWM AmeriCorps Professional Corps
👉 The AIC Master’s Partnership.

She also helped bring to life past initiatives such as:
👉 The M.A.T. Graduate Fellowship
👉 The Urban Education Pathway (in partnership with the Smith College Education Initiative)
👉 The Certified Teachers Program.

🤝 Pema has also played a vital role in growing our partnerships and advocating for equitable pathways into teaching in public schools across Springfield and Holyoke.

As we look ahead, this is more than a moment of change – it’s a moment of opportunity. A new chapter brings the chance to deepen our ties with schools across Western Massachusetts, enhance our programs, and expand our impact.

The TWM team remains fully committed to what has made us strong:
➡️ A clear mission to strengthen the local education workforce by developing powerful teachers reflective of their students’ life experiences and identities
➡️ A thriving Residency program with upcoming graduations and new cohorts
➡️ A community that believes in students, equity, and educator support.

Our Board of Directors has engaged Amherst-based the Financial Development Agency to guide a thoughtful transition plan. In the interim, longtime TWM leaders Julie Anderson (Deputy Director of Strategy and Operations) and Lisa Doherty (Deputy Director of Programs) will continue leading the organization with strength and dedication.

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠. Our work to develop powerful teachers reflective of the communities they serve continues without pause.

💜 Thank you, Pema, for your unwavering dedication to building a community where all students and educators are equipped to lead the lives they dream.

04/02/2025

🚀 Exciting Opportunity for PK–12 Leaders!

Our friends at the Center for Black Educator Development and Latinos For Education are offering the AI in Education Leadership Catalyst—a 5-week program designed to explore how AI can transform teaching and learning.

You'll walk away with practical tools and foundational knowledge to start applying AI in your school or district.

⏳ Apply by Friday, April 4 at 5PM EST
👉 Apply here: https://hubs.la/Q03dV3vT0

🚨 LAST CALL! 🚨

Time is almost up to apply for the AI in Education Leadership Catalyst—a game-changing program for PK-12 education leaders looking to harness AI for impactful teaching and learning!

This isn’t just another course—it’s an opportunity to gain exclusive resources, expert guidance, and a community of forward-thinking educators.

🌟 What’s in it for you?
✅ ASCD+ISTE membership
✅ Digital credential & certificate
✅ Google AI Essentials scholarship
✅ Hands-on support to apply your learning

⏳ Final deadline: April 4! Don’t wait—apply now: https://hubs.la/Q03dV3vT0

03/18/2025

We're on a mission to transform the Western Mass education workforce!

At Teach Western Mass, we’re committed to developing powerful educators who reflect the students they serve. To do that, we need dedicated leaders to support early-career teachers in our state-approved Educator Preparation Program, The Residency.

💡 That’s where 𝐘𝐎𝐔 come in! As TWM Manager of Teacher Development, you’ll coach, train, and mentor new educators—helping them grow, thrive, and make a lasting impact in Springfield and Holyoke schools.

We’re looking for someone who:
✅ Believes in continuous learning & growth
✅ Builds strong, meaningful relationships
✅ Has local ties to Western Massachusetts and can be in person at our office at least once a week and in Springfield and Holyoke schools most days.
If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you! 🎯

📍 Learn more & apply today: https://teachwesternmass.com/about-us/manager-teacher-development

03/14/2025

📍 Strengthening Our Impact for Western Mass!

Last month, TWM Executive Director Pema Latshang and Deputy Director of Programs Lisa Doherty joined The Nellie Mae Education Foundation (NMEF), The Bridgespan Group, and over 100 leaders from 30+ grantee organizations to kick off of the Capacity Building Accelerator! 🚀

Over the next six months, our Teach Western Mass leadership team, including Deputy Director of Strategy and Operations Julie Anderson, will work alongside NMEF’s expert coaching team to deepen our skills in strategic clarity, decision-making, and organizational sustainability—all to strengthen our mission of expanding alternative pathways to education careers and creating transformative opportunities for educators across our region.

We’re honored to be part of this transformative learning experience and excited for the opportunities it will bring to our Western Mass schools, educators, and students. 🤝