Brighton Teacher Center

The Brighton Teacher Center aims to provide professional growth opportunities for teachers and school staff in the District to expand their knowledge and skills in teaching and learning. It firmly believes that outstanding student achievement is tied to a teaching staff that is well-educated, professionally current, and innovative; that for classrooms to be culturally responsive, nurturing, and supportive for students, schools must be nurturing and supportive for teachers.

Our goals are to support educators' growth in becoming culturally competent to nurture and honor Brighton's diverse learners. The Professional Learning Plan emphasizes the following focus areas:

• Improving Instructional Repertoire
  • Model thinking dispositions, the Habits of Mind
  • Develop student agency
  • Learning as a consequence of thinking (Perkins 2002)
  • Learning tasks are contextualized and purposeful
• Understanding Student Characteristics
  • Value students as thinkers and learners
  • Strengthen teacher-student positive relationships
  • Community engagement; learning is a social endeavor
• Expanding Academic Content
• Teaching Mentoring Expertise

ROLE OF THE TEACHER CENTER DIRECTOR

A Teacher Center Director provides leadership for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of high-quality professional learning opportunities that support educator growth and student success. The Director works collaboratively with teachers, school and district leaders, the Teacher Center Policy Board, and community partners to identify needs, develop programs, manage resources, and ensure compliance with state and local requirements. Responsibilities include strategic planning, budget oversight, partnership development, coordination of professional learning activities, program evaluation, communication with state and regional networks, and reporting on outcomes and impact. The Director serves as a connector, facilitator, and advocate for continuous professional learning within the educational community. 

This description reflects the core responsibilities identified for Teacher Center Directors, including annual goal setting, program planning, needs assessment, professional learning coordination, partnership development, strategic planning, program evaluation, and communication with state and regional networks. 

Specifically at Brighton, the Teacher Center Director coordinates and oversees the induction program, ensuring that every new teacher, teaching assistant, and school specialist receives the support, guidance, and professional learning needed to successfully transition into their role. The Director works closely with mentors, building leaders, and district departments to provide a comprehensive onboarding experience that fosters growth, confidence, and long-term success.