Center for the Professional Education of Teachers
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Partners
    • Our Philosophy
    • Our Team
    • Career Opportunities
  • PD Opportunities
  • Initiatives
  • Services
  • Resources

Who we are

Our mission


The Center for the Professional Education of Teachers (CPET) is devoted to advancing global capacities in teacher education, research and whole school reform. Since 2002, we have been advocates for excellence and equity in education through direct service to youth and educators, leaders in innovative school projects that promote students’ Write to Achieve, invested in international research that examines and advocates for the highest quality instructional and assessment practices today, and building sustainable school partnerships that leverage current policy and mandates to raise literacy levels and embed collaborative communities of learning. Uniting theory and practice, we promote rigorous and relevant scholarship and are committed to making excellent education accessible worldwide.
Our Directors

Picture
Ruth Vinz, Ph.D.
Founding Director
Endowed Chair, Morse
​Professor of Teacher Education
Picture
Roberta Lenger Kang, Ed.D.
Center Director
kang@tc.edu
meet THE team
Our philosophy

We work hard to meet the needs of teachers and school leaders within their own context. As they're striving to meet ever-changing standards, we’re striving to bridge gaps between theory, research, policy and practice. As we design professional development projects -- which include job-embedded coaching, workshop series, institutes, and retreats -- we’re constantly examining how our promising practices can be solidified even as we support schools to manage evolving mandates.Through this examination, we’ve come to identify five principles of practice, also known as the 5Cs: cycles of inquiry, communities of practice, contextualized practice, cultivation of strengths, and critical reflection.  
  • Communities of practice
  • Contextualized practice
  • Critical reflection
  • Cultivating strengths
  • Cycles of inquiry
<
>
Picture
A collaborative approach to discourse and decision-making that works toward a shared goal. Foster communities of practice by cultivating relationships that build trust, honor diversity, acknowledge skill sets, and establish reciprocal accountability within school communities.
Picture
While there are many patterns and trends in education, each partner, project and person is unique. We believe in designing each project to the culture, context, and concrete goals.
Picture
Meta-cognition, self-awareness, and considering multiple viewpoints are all features of critical reflection that trigger inspired, strategic action. We learn from our successes and our missteps so that we can be constantly improving our practice.
Picture
Grounded in the Growth Mindset, we believe in cultivating the strengths of each person in the community, valuing what each person does well, and leveraging those strengths to have an impact on areas of need.
Picture
As educators, we must maintain a commitment to the inquiry process in which we identify challenges, pose questions, implement interventions, and monitor for improvements. It is this quest for understanding that fosters a learning community and helps us to evolve to meet the changing needs of our partners.
Our projects

Picture
Picture
Picture

The Center for the Professional Education of Teachers (CPET) at Teachers College, Columbia University is devoted to advancing global capacities in teacher education, research, and whole school reform. CPET advocates for excellence and equity in education through direct service to youth and educators, innovative school projects, international research that examines and advocates the highest quality instructional and assessment practices today, and sustainable school partnerships that leverage current policy and mandates to raise literacy levels and embed collaborative communities of learning. Uniting theory and practice, CPET promotes rigorous and relevant scholarship and is committed to making excellent education accessible worldwide.
​
Center for Professional Education of Teachers 
416 Zankel Hall
Box 182, 525 West 120th Street New York, NY 10027
Phone: (212) 678-3161 | Fax: (212) 678-6631
Email: cpet@tc.edu
Picture
Picture
REQUEST COACHING

CPET
© 2021, Center for Professional Education of Teachers
This website uses cookies as well as similar tools and technologies to understand visitors’ experiences. By continuing to use this website, you consent to Teachers
​College, Columbia University’s usage of cookies and similar technologies, in accordance with the Teachers College, Columbia University Website Cookie Notice.
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Partners
    • Our Philosophy
    • Our Team
    • Career Opportunities
  • PD Opportunities
  • Initiatives
  • Services
  • Resources