Leveraging the expertise of exceptional teachers in Common Core implementation to improve teacher effectiveness and student achievement
Through TLPL, California teachers collaboratively learn from each other about the effective implementation of their state standards. We train teacher leaders to lead a group of their peers in improving their knowledge of the standards, and instructional strategies and practices.
In California, we recruit, select, and train teachers through four TLPL programs: Teacher-Led Professional Networks, STEM Teacher-Led Professional Learning, Networks for School Improvement, and Change Agent.
- TLPN is based on the premise that formal networks within schools for collaboration significantly improve student outcomes and that these networks are strongest when led by teacher leaders.
- In 2019-2020, Teach Plus practice programming included teacher leaders from 12 schools across Los Angeles. We train the most effective teacher leaders in a school to lead their colleagues in professional learning to improve instructional practices through a collaborative, inquiry-based problem solving process.
- Teach Plus teacher leaders lead professional learning courses that include both in-person and virtual components.

Camino Nuevo High School #2 Roosevelt High School Endeavor College Preparatory Charter School San Pedro High School Animo Pat Brown Charter High School Alliance Tennenbaum High School |
Dymally High School Camino Nuevo Sandra Cisneros Middle School Camino Nuevo Jane Eisner Middle School Para Los Ninos John Burroughs Middle School Extera Public Schools 2nd Street Campus |
What is STEM Teacher-Led Professional Learning?
- Through STEM TLPL, we’re building a sustainable professional development model to meet the demands of STEM professional learning.
- We’ve partnered with USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s STEM Educational Outreach Programs to increase the STEM instructional capacity of K-12 teachers in Los Angeles. We’ve launched our pilot program in collaboration with USC’s MESA program (Mathematics-Engineering-Science-Achievement) to design and facilitate effective STEM professional learning.