In 2018, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools launched the CMS Teaching Residency to test the concept of a school district serving as an authorized teacher licensing entity. Now a formal talent strategy, over 400 teacher candidates have completed the program.

Starting in 2020 as a “passion project” at UNC Charlotte Cato College of Education, UNC Charlotte Reads tutoring program combines high-quality clinical experiences with evidence-based early literacy tutoring: a win-win for both teacher candidates and students.

Micro-credentials (MCs) could change the “check-the-box” culture of teacher professional learning. The North Carolina Partnership for Micro-credentials, with support from digiLEARN and New America, is producing policy recommendations for how MCs can improve how NC teachers are developed and rewarded.

In 2019, BEST NC in partnership with the NC Department of Public Instruction and TEACH.org launched TeachNC, a digital recruitment platform, that cultivates and converts teaching candidates and streamlines the hiring process.

UNC Charlotte Cato College of Education is breaking down the silos of professionals working to prepare teachers: the faculty who teach courses, the supervisors of student teachers, and the clinical educators who take student teachers into their classrooms just before they become full time teachers.