Created by best-selling authors, nationally recognized speakers and former classroom educators John Spencer and Trevor Muir, the New Teacher Academy was designed to give new primary and secondary teachers the confidence — and the hands-on skills — to succeed in the classroom, en route to lasting and fulfilling careers in schools. Built in response to a nationwide rise in teacher attrition and professional disengagement, the New Teacher Academy gives teachers a set of practical tools to overcome persistent classroom and workplace challenges and serve as a workplace benefit for school districts committed to fostering an environment that promotes professional agency and empowerment among front-line staff and teams.

Amid a nationwide wave of teacher resignations, historic staff shortages, and a concerted effort among schools and districts to recruit, retain and support high-quality teachers, The New Teacher Academy gives school district instructional teams and their teachers a practical blueprint to start the school year — and their educational careers — off on the right foot, develop sustainable practices and help student reach and exceed their academic potential. Designed by a pair of former classroom educators, turned writers, the New Teacher Academy combines real-word advice with practical on-the-job experience for professional learning that is both intellectually stimulating and practically applicable. If you’re a new teacher, or if you have a team of new teachers who are entering the workforce in a challenging and uncertain climate, the learning and resources featured in this course are for you.

The program includes (7) collaborative 90-min. learning sessions delivered virtually over four months. In addition to live sessions with John and Trevor, participating teachers also receive access to a series of 10-15 min. Instructional videos (one per topic/session) and a practical workbook, so they can apply strategies and practice skills on their own.

This course is targeted to new teachers. These could be newly hired teachers in their first year, teachers returning to the classroom after years in the private sector, or teachers transferring schools, or changing grade levels. Instructional coaches and directors of curriculum and instruction are also encouraged to participate.

The New Teacher Academy was designed to give your newest teachers the skills and confidence to effectively engage students, while becoming the best most-effective teachers they can be. The course intends to provide educators with practical skills that they can use in the moment in their classrooms, while also building a foundation on which to pursue deeper, lasting and more meaningful professional careers.

The seven live sessions are scheduled every two weeks, for 90 minutes, over Zoom. Instructional videos and practical learning workbooks are self-paced and completed according to agreed-upon milestones set and the outset of the academy.

If you’re interested in joining the New Teacher Academy, sign yourself or your team up using the drop-down menu and form here. Once you register, you’ll receive an email, detailing next steps and what to expect ahead of the launch date. Should you have questions before you sign up, or need more information please use the form at the bottom of this page or email RocketPD at info@rocketpd.com and one of our team members will respond promptly.