Relay’s mission is to teach teachers and school leaders to develop in all students the academic skills and strength of character needed to succeed in college and life. Our vision is to become the place where a new generation of continuously-improving, mission-driven individuals can fulfill their destiny in the world’s greatest profession.
To achieve our mission, we focus on preparing and developing outstanding teachers and school leaders. We set ambitious goals for our work, and we continually assess our effectiveness supporting our graduate students and their PK-12 students. By closely monitoring our progress in key areas, we move closer toward fulfilling our promises. While there is much to be done, we are deeply committed to getting there.
In the 2019–20 school year, we expect to serve more than 4,000 current and aspiring teachers across 19 campuses and 1,200 school leaders nationwide.
In total, our students will be impacting an estimated 400,000 PK-12 students.
Now, more than ever, I feel confident walking into my classroom ready to fight the good fight for my students. I thank Relay for helping me to continually increase my effectiveness and impact.
Relay Teaching Certification is a one-year alternative certification program that prepares novice teachers, career changers, and others in need of teaching certification to enter the classroom with confidence. You’ll develop the skills needed to help children grow and earn your state teaching credential. This practical program is grounded in the theories and mindsets of successful teachers. Starting in the summer, you’ll the learn the fundamentals of creating a positive classroom culture and receive coaching from faculty who are experienced PK-12 teachers. Throughout the program, you’ll build your skills and receive support preparing for certification exams. You’ll complete the program prepared to pass licensure exams and continue your professional development as a teacher. Our curriculum focuses entirely on the educational theories and practices that improve student learning in the classroom. The Teaching Certification curriculum centers around four elements of instruction: building subject knowledge, cultivating a fun and productive learning environment, developing personal connections with students and families, and creating high-quality lessons. In this hybrid online and in-person program, you’ll learn the basics of how to build relationships with students, families and colleagues; you’ll apply proven strategies for establishing a positive and productive classroom culture; you’ll learn teaching strategies specific to the grade levels and subject areas, and you’ll develop skills in lesson planning and assessment. You will also develop foundational knowledge and skills in data-driven instruction to measure and track student performance and character growth.
Students at Relay Graduate School of Education Denver have reduced the cost of their program using these methods. Check with Relay Graduate School of Education Denver to see if you can, too!
Amount
Description
Grants, Stipends, Scholarships
Relay provides an Urban Teacher Scholarship to all graduate students, as well as possible enrollment in the AmeriCorps program.
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (K-12) English Language Arts (7-12) Mathematics Middle School (6-8) Mathematics Secondary Education (7-12) Science (7-12) Social Studies (7-12)
Program Semesters/Steps Overview
Our curriculum focuses entirely on the educational theories and practices that improve student learning in the classroom: building subject knowledge, cultivating a fun and productive learning environment, developing personal connections with students and families, and creating high-quality lessons.
Summer 1 Courses:
Introduction to Classroom Management
Setting the Tone
Teacher Mindsets and Professionalism
Introduction to Lesson Planning
Identity and Bias
Fall 1 Courses:
Classroom Management
Getting to Know Students, Families, and Schools
The Together Teacher
Introducing New Material
Engaging Everybody
Content-Based Instruction
Spring 1 Courses:
Checking for Understanding
Student Practice
Using Data to Drive Instruction
Designing Assessments
Teaching Exceptional Learners
Teaching English Language Learners
Educational Autobiography
Content-Based Instruction
Summer 2 Courses:
Unit Planning
Building Culturally Responsive Curriculum
Introduction to Character Strengths
Teaching English Language Learners
Community Asset Mapping
The First Days of School
Content-Based Instruction
Program Hallmarks
The Relay Alternative Certification Program provides a balance of learning while working as a lead teacher. Relay's coursework features video exemplars, faculty who are experts in their content area, and rigorous content that participants can use in their classroom the next day. Faculty provide candidates with frequent observation and feedback, which candidates can use immediately.
Two-thirds of aspiring teachers enrolled in the Relay Graduate School of Education identify as persons of color, making it one of the largest and most diverse educator residency preparation programs in the country. Relay’s commitment and success in recruiting, preparing and supporting diverse teachers has been sustained annually even as the institution has increased enrollment each year.
Over the course of the two-year one-year program, you will learn how to understand and intentionally respond to differences among the learners in your classroom. You will also develop skills to identify and implement accommodations that align with individual students’ needs. In particular, you will learn how to use Universal Design for Learning to accommodate learner variability during whole-group instruction.
Relay places students in schools with a resident advisor who is there to provide a window into teaching and into the curriculum of our partner school. In this role, the resident advisor fulfills several responsibilities to assist your development, including modeling and co-teaching, curriculum and lesson-planning, and communication with Relay.
Get Started
Own the application process. Start a checklist to put yourself on track to becoming the best teacher you can be.
