Receive the most recent news, stories, and more from the Charles Butt Foundation.
Carolina De Anda working side by side with her dual-language students, fostering an environment where every background is treated as an instructional asset. Photos courtesy of H-E-B Excellence in Education. Coastal redwoods grow to be the tallest trees in the world by weaving a wide, interconnected root system. The teaching profession operates in a similar way. It is a shared journey built on community, and educators thrive when they are supported by a network of mentors, colleagues, and institutions. Carolina.
How Sarah Moulden is helping lead the next chapter for Texas teachers At the Charles Butt Foundation, our mission is rooted in the belief that every student in Texas deserves a high-quality education. Teachers are the heart of that mission. Through the Texas Teachers Collaborative (TTC) initiative, we support teachers to engage in relevant, rigourous, reflective professional development—because when teachers grow, students thrive. To do so, we support educators through the National Board Certification (NBC)process. For some, the journey doesn’t.
“Relationships open the door to learning. Great instruction walks students through the door.” These words define a high standard for education in Texas. But for a new teacher, standing in front of a classroom for the first time, having the heart to lead and having the confidence to lead are two different things. At the Charles Butt Foundation, we believe that a teacher’s confidence to lead is built through intentional preparation. Through the Charles Butt Scholarship and our Raising Texas.
LaDerrington Bradford is the heart of Cleveland High School in Cleveland, Texas. He knows every student, every family connection, every story. He’s the kind of skilled educator who makes students believe the impossible is within reach.
By working hand-in-hand with 16 institutions, including every campus in the Texas A&M University System, this initiative didn’t just elevate university teacher preparation programs; it directly shaped the experiences of the thousands of students who would one day sit in classrooms led by these better-prepared, better-supported teachers.
As Associate Director for Teacher Development at the Knowles Teacher Initiative, Joyce Lin leads her team to think deeply about how to support Teacher Fellows to inquire into their professional communities, to develop the teacher leadership skills necessary to improve education beyond their classrooms, and to share their stories of the knowledge they acquired with a wider community.
Dr. Junlei Li, the co-chair of the Human Development and Education Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, shares a poignant and reflective story that underscores the profound, often unnoticed impact teachers have on their students.
Eric Hale shares about a teacher who went out of his way to be supportive. “He went above and beyond. And so that’s my goal. I’m not trying to be the best teacher, but I am trying to be the most impactful.”
Byron Sanders shares about a 10th grade history teacher that changed the course of his life. “He was a mirror that I needed at the time. He defogged it, wiped away all of the smears, the self doubt, the inadequacy. And I was like, maybe I am smart.”
Warren Hudson is the Instructional Technology Coordinator for Venus ISD. He says he wouldn’t be where he is today without the influence of two important teachers in his life.
We partner with 20 university-based educator preparation programs across Texas to deliver the Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers. Faculty teams from each institution are also part of our University Partnerships work through the Raising Texas Teachers program. As university partners, each institution is committed to four pillars of a strong teacher preparation program…
As an advocate for the profession, Washington utilizes her platform to share her experiences as a Black educator as well as to speak about her passion for teaching – a career outsiders tend to label as a career without upward mobility and opportunities for growth.
At the Charles Butt Foundation, our vision is that every student, in every classroom across Texas, has an effective teacher every year. To help us achieve this vision, we are excited to announce five new partner universities of the Raising Texas Teachers program, which now serves 21 university-based teacher preparation programs across the state.
Dr. Victor Rios shares about the teacher who believed in him so much, she tricked him into believing in himself.
The purpose of CBF Connect is to create a strong, connected community of educators across Texas who are united in their efforts to serve all students, to learn and improve together, and to collectively advance the perception of public schools.
Dr. Adam Sáenz shares about what his favorite teachers wrote him in letters that served as a light during a dark time in his young adult life, which serves as a reminder for all of us – you never know how much your kind words will impact someone, so share them often.
Vicki Phillips’ heartfelt story about her high school geometry teacher serves as a reminder of the lasting power of teachers who go above and beyond to connect with their students.
We believe every student, in every Texas classroom, must have an effective teacher every year. In 2017, we launched the Raising Texas Teachers initiative in an effort to make that goal a reality.
One simple act of encouragement from his teacher inspired Dr. Joe Sanfelippo to pursue a career in education and to eventually become the Superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Fall Creek, Wisconsin and author of Hacking Leadership.
UTSA and Texas State have been engaged in programmatic improvement through Raising Texas Teachers since its inception.
Twyla’s story highlights just how much a teacher can inspire a student, even after they leave their classroom.
Her teacher exposed her to accounting and business and took an interest in Erika’s future. It changed her life.
Great teachers understand their job is to equip students to become critical thinkers, even if they don’t pursue a career in chemistry or calculus. In our latest Voices on Teaching video, Evin Eitelojore, a chemistry teacher at Klein High in Klein ISD, explains this goal.
When six-year-old Mark Jones sat in his first-grade class at Buda Elementary School 51 years ago, he never imagined that his teacher, Sybil Ellison, would remain a mentor and friend decades later.
“You should be a teacher.” Erika Carter vividly remembers whispering this to herself at 16 years old after helping a little girl learn how to read. After that, both lives were impacted forever.
Clarence Washington used to be in law enforcement. But then a friend asked him: “You’re catching people right now, but what if you went and tried to prevent it in the first place?” Now, he’s a teacher.
“Teachers are the single most impactful part of the education system.” — John Friedman, Brown University professor and researcher recognizes that teachers are the biggest determinant of student success.
John B. King Jr. served in President Obama’s cabinet as the 10th U.S. Secretary of Education and is now the President and CEO of The Education Trust. And where does he credit his success? His public school teachers.
Sometimes teachers can see our potential before anyone else. For Dr. Carly Gilson, an assistant professor of special education at Texas A&M University, it was her fourth-grade teacher calling her “a writer” and giving her a journal that lit the spark.
Confidence in the classroom is contagious. Pamela Powell, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin in the Uteach Program, explains why having a strong leader in the classroom is important.
Mr. Bonner was featured on Ellen, has written and published a book on teaching, and is a sought-after speaker. Check out this Voices on Teaching interview to learn why he believes so much in the power and potential of teaching to create a ripple effect that lasts for generations.
Linda Ascencio, a fourth-grade teacher at Sanchez Elementary School, had a student who challenged her throughout the year. It seemed as if he was always getting in trouble and being sent to the office. However, she made an effort to know this student and his background. Through her efforts, she was able to gain his trust. Now, he is one of the students she misses the most.
Shea Culpepper, a clinical director and professor of teacher education at the University of Houston, believes teachers have the awesome task of preparing students for a future that does not exist yet.
“Good teachers live forever.” Mark Henry, the superintendent of Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, is not in the classroom anymore; however, he still appreciates and recognizes a teacher’s lasting impact.
Khiandra Woods had a teacher that made an effort to create a family-like culture in her classroom: she built personal relationships with her students; she knew her students’ families personally, and she even knew what her students like to do on the weekend. In this environment, Khiandra pushed herself to meet her teacher’s high expectations.
Raquel is a migrant farm worker who spent nearly every summer of her life working in the fields of Michigan alongside her family.
Christie Smith could have chosen any career. But even when she entertained other possibilities, she always returned to her true passion: teaching.
Rick Rodriguez, an assistant superintendent for human resources at Lubbock ISD, explains why, for teachers, fulfillment isn’t about money, a certificate, or an award.
How a migrant farmworker defied the odds through personal determination and family sacrifice
How we designed the Raising Blended Learners (RBL) year 1 ecosystem of support and which Technical Assistance (TA) Providers were involved.
One of the most integral elements to implementing personalized blended learning is the ability to use data to inform daily classroom instruction. Data allows teachers to unlock the full potential of student-centered learning; without accurate and actionable data, teachers are unable to deeply personalize instruction because they may lack immediate and comprehensive knowledge about each student.