The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction selected Duke TeachHouse for inclusion in its Promising Practices Clearinghouse, a resource for teachers, administrators, district staff, and other education advocates across the board. State.

Launched in 2015 and part of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences Education Program, Duke TeachHouse is a one-of-a-kind peer-to-peer living and learning community for early-career teachers, all graduates of Duke teacher preparation. TeachHouse cultivates and supports teacher peer networks; leadership skills; equity-based, culturally affirming and high-impact practices; school innovation; and teacher health and well-being.

In 2021, TeachHouse expanded to two houses on 9th Street located opposite a Durham Public Schools Primary School. At the same time, TeachHouse has expanded its virtual professional learning community through the annual TeachHouse UnConference, a new virtual model that amplifies teacher power, autonomy and voice by allowing teachers to determine the topics of discussion, facilitate conversations and document actions to resolve issues.

Jan Riggsbee, Professor of Educational Practice, is the co-founder and director of TeachHouse. “Universities have a responsibility not only to train highly qualified teachers,” she said, “but also to continue to support them at the start of their careers and, just as importantly, to support the communities that they serve. TeachHouse is an innovative model that is positioned to take the lead in efforts to transform the landscape and practices for recruiting, cultivating and retaining early-career teacher-leaders in NC and beyond.

“As a first-grade teacher, you can feel a little lonely. There aren’t many places where teachers can go and be themselves and have a place to grow… It was a great experience. –Michele Saunders

“We have had community dinners where we interact with different leaders [and] we were able to interact with all levels of the school system. It was really amazing. –Brianna Tuscani

“TeachHouse has done an amazing job of providing resources in different ways so that I can develop them and use them in any way I feel is appropriate for my class.” –Savannah Windham

“I grew in my own advocacy, I grew in my own awareness of myself as a professional, I grew in how to be intentional in my work. It helped me learn to relax and have fun teaching. – Corey Bray

This school year, two freshman teachers and TeachHouse Freshman Scholars have been named Beginning Teacher of the Year 2022 for their home schools: Alejandra Gomez at Brogden Middle School and Brianna Rochelle at Club Boulevard Humanities Magnet Elementary School, both in the Durham public school system.

The TeachHouse model is rooted in purpose and place. New teachers live, learn, and engage in the communities they serve, and in doing so, root themselves in the history, stories, assets, and culture that shape the lives of their students. Read the Promising Practices Clearinghouse brief and visit the Duke TeachHouse website.