The initiative, based out of the private, nonprofit National University System, now includes more than 20 universities that are expanding access to Sanford Inspire’s research-based professional development resources for teachers. UT Austin is the first university to participate as part of the University of Texas System.
San Diego, CA – November 26, 2019 – University of Texas at Austin’s College of Education is joining a nationwide network of universities that are expanding the Sanford Inspire program in support of the professional development of teachers through access to resources designed to create inspiring classroom experiences. The initiative is led by the private, nonprofit National University System/Sanford Programs to help elevate the teaching profession and improve student outcomes through collaborations such as this one with UT Austin. The first phase of the program through UT Austin will impact more than 1,500 students in Austin’s K-12 classrooms and even more across the state.
The Sanford Inspire program helps prepare teacher candidates and retain in-service educators by offering a research-based toolkit of online modules designed to promote successful classroom management and to build inclusive and engaging learning environments that foster student success. Through this new partnership, UT Austin will expand access to educators in their region, which ensures more students can benefit from the approaches.
The University of Texas College of Education is reimagining education. Within the last three years, the College of Education has graduated over 1,400 students who are currently serving as teachers throughout the state of Texas. In addition to introducing the Sanford Inspire resources to UT Austin College of Education graduates who are currently teaching, the University has committed to sharing the resource with over an additional 600 educators across the state. Many of these educators are supporting the highest-needs schools across Texas. With the support of Sanford Inspire, the University has deepened its collaboration with Austin Independent School District even further by providing 25 new-to-profession teachers with a UT induction coach using Sanford Inspire as a resource to continue building teaching practices and the development of social emotional capacity. UT, which has six Top Ten ranked programs in education and health education by U.S. News & World Report, plans to utilize Sanford Inspire tools to support the development of preservice teachers and as a professional development tool among current educators.
“Sanford Inspire is designed to provide teachers with access to high-quality, research-based resources to help teachers integrate inspiring lessons and activities into their classrooms,” said Scott Page, Sr. Vice President of the Sanford Programs based out of the National University System. “We are truly excited to support the University of Texas at Austin’s efforts to offer ongoing professional development for educators as it represents an opportunity to advance the goals of the program’s visionary, philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, and aligns with our collective mission to support teachers nationwide.”
Sanford Inspire is based on philanthropist T. Denny Sanford’s desire to support inspirational teaching that motivates students to be engaged and active learners and reach their greatest potential. The program is administered and being expanded nationally by the San Diego-based National University System (NUS), a network of affiliated private, nonprofit universities that also include teacher education programs through the doctoral level. Among the System affiliates, National University has among the Top Ten largest schools of education in the nation through its Sanford College of Education.
Sanford Inspire content is available through the new Sanford Programs Online Learning Portal, which delivers integrated and relevant teacher effectiveness frameworks and social emotional learning resources through two pathways: Building Teaching Practices to promote successful classroom management, and Developing Social Emotional Learning Capacity to build inclusive and engaging learning environments that foster student success.
The Online Learning Portal also provides a streamlined approach for educators to access additional social emotional learning resources from the Pre-K-6 Sanford Harmony program, which has been recognized by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). Sanford Harmony is designed to help boys and girls at the earliest ages develop skills that emphasize collaboration and communication to cultivate strong peer and gender relationships and reduce conflict. Used together, Sanford Harmony and Sanford Inspire offer a holistic approach to effectively support professional development of teachers and help educators create well-structured, nurturing learning environments to positively impact student learning.
Led by the National University System, in collaboration with a network of universities and organizations, the Sanford Programs – which are available at no cost to educators, schools, districts, and colleges of education – are currently reaching more than 9 million students worldwide.
UT Austin joins more than 20 institutions that are advancing the Sanford Inspire program in states around the country.
About The College of Education at University of Texas at Austin
The College of Education, ranked among the top five public colleges of education in the country, promotes the shared values of equity, excellence, innovation, empowerment, community focus, and bridging research to practice. The college views inclusiveness and excellence as interconnected in the work of our faculty, and particularly values those who have experience working with diverse and underserved populations and show a demonstrated commitment to improving access and conditions in educational and health settings for children, adults, families, schools, and communities. education.utexas.edu
About the National University System and Sanford Programs
The National University System is a network of accredited, nonprofit education institutions serving higher education and Pre-K-12 students that includes National University, Northcentral University, City University of Seattle and John F. Kennedy University. Established in 2001 to meet the emerging challenges and demands of education in the 21st Century, the network’s complementary universities offer pathways for students to attain professional and terminal degrees through quality and innovative programs delivered in a format that is flexible to the needs of adult learners. National University, which was founded in in 1971, is among the largest private, nonprofit institutions of higher education in California. Its Sanford College of Education is among the Top Ten largest schools of education in the country, preparing more teachers than any other university in the state of California. The National University System is leading the national expansion of three initiatives, which are based on the vision of philanthropist T. Denny Sanford to support children, educators, and nonprofits: Sanford Harmony, Sanford Inspire, and the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy. For more information, visit nusystem.org