Since the Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP) began in 1996, educator support has been at the heart of our mission. We believe that how well you teach a child equates to how well they learn.
I’ve always loved that belief. It’s not about blame, it’s about possibility. It reminds me that teaching is powerful work. That with the right support, proper training, and research-backed tools, every teacher can help every student learn and prepare every child for success in life.
At BCP, we’re a team, and support runs all the way from teachers to coaches to school leaders. Intentional professional development is something that happens every day through our academic coaching program and throughout the year.
How BCP supports teachers
At BCP, we know teaching is complex, demanding, and critically important. No one should have to do it alone. That’s why each of our schools has dedicated academic coaches whose main focus is helping teachers grow in their craft.
A coach’s job is all about collaboration. They plan with teachers, model lessons, look at data, and help figure out what’s working best for students. It’s never about evaluation; it’s about growing together. Some days they celebrate progress; other days, they problem-solve through challenges. But every day, they are learning side by side.
One teacher recently told me, “Having a coach means I always have someone to think things through with. It’s made me feel more supported and helped my students stay more engaged.” That’s exactly the kind of partnership we want in every classroom.
That support starts even before a teacher’s first day. Each summer, our new educators or teachers who are new to BCP attend our New Educator Summer Institute (NESI), a multi-day training led by our academic coaches. During NESI, teachers dive into Direct Instruction, math, and restorative practices, all of which are core components of effective teaching across our schools.
As Jodi Jones, academic coach for Frederick Elementary School, puts it, “The New Educator Institute sets the tone. You see right away that BCP invests in you as a teacher and wants you to succeed.”
And professional learning doesn’t stop there. Every summer, we send teachers, staff and coaches to the National Institute for Direct Instruction (NIFDI) in Eugene, Oregon. Last summer, BCP was one of three charter school networks or schools nationwide to receive NIFDI’s inaugural Silver Star School award.
NIFDI’s week-long training is intensive and hands-on. Educators work directly with national experts in Direct Instruction, practicing lessons and refining teaching strategies. Beyond the training, it’s a chance to collaborate with educators from across the country and the world. Teachers return energized, inspired, and ready to implement Direct Instruction with fidelity to help every student succeed.
In the winter, all six of our schools come together for professional development during our annual Leading Minds Symposium. It’s one of my favorite days of the year. We hear from local and national education leaders on a current topic impacting education, and then break into smaller sessions, many led by our own coaches, to connect those big ideas to the classroom. The energy in those rooms is incredible. It’s a reminder of how much passion and talent we have across our network.
Collaborative Learning for Educators
Even coaches need support. Every month, BCP’s academic coaches meet as a network to collaborate, share resources, and problem-solve. Facilitated by our Lead Academic Coach, Maura Farall, these sessions are a mix of professional learning and collaborative coaching. Coaches present challenges from their schools, get feedback from colleagues, and try out new lesson strategies or classroom approaches together. We share successes, troubleshoot difficult situations, and leave the meetings with concrete ideas to bring back to our teachers. It’s a powerful reminder that even those who support others need support themselves.
Watch a video about our academic coaching program
In the same way that coaches need coaches, BCP recognizes that school leaders also need support. That’s why we bring together all six of our school principals seven times a year for dedicated principal meetings. We rotate the meeting locations so each principal has the chance to step out of their own building and see other schools in action.
These meetings are more than just updates, they’re opportunities for Principals to learn from one another’s successes, troubleshoot challenges, and leave with concrete strategies to apply in their own schools. It’s a powerful reminder that even as a school leader, you’re not in this alone.
At BCP, professional growth isn’t just something we talk about, it’s who we are. We support each other, we keep learning, and we never stop striving to do better for our students. That’s what makes our work meaningful, and it’s what keeps me inspired every single day.
