Center for the Professional Education of Teachers
  • Home
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Team
    • Partnerships
    • Signature Initiatives
    • Coaching Philosophy
    • Career Opportunities
  • Upcoming PD
  • K-12 Resources
  • Work with a coach

Our philosophy

Principles of practice

At CPET, we work hard to meet the needs of teachers and school leaders within their own context. As they are striving to meet ever-changing standards, we’re striving to bridge gaps between theory, research, policy and practice. As we design professional development projects -- including 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. 
Picture
Vertical Divider

Communities of practice

A collaborative approach to discourse and decision-making that cultivates relationships, honors individual perspectives, and works together for a common goal.
Picture
Vertical Divider

Contextualized practice

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
Vertical Divider

Critical reflection

Meta-cognition, self-awareness, and considering multiple viewpoints are all features of critical reflection resulting in reflective action. We learn from our successes and our missteps so that we can be constantly improving our practice.
Picture
Vertical Divider

Cultivating strengths

Grounded in the Growth Mindset, we believe that improvement in growth areas increases when we leverage areas of strength first.
Picture
Vertical Divider

Cycles of inquiry

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.

The Center for 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 
525 West 120th Street, Box 182 New York, NY 10027
416 Zankel Hall
Phone: (212) 678-3161 | Fax: (212) 678-6631
Email: cpet@tc.edu
Picture
Picture
WORK WITH A COACH

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 US
    • Our Team
    • Partnerships
    • Signature Initiatives
    • Coaching Philosophy
    • Career Opportunities
  • Upcoming PD
  • K-12 Resources
  • Work with a coach