Alder Graduate School of Education: Cultivating the Next Generation of Educators

Alder Graduate School of Education (Alder GSE) is committed to fostering a healthy democracy through quality public education. It achieves this by focusing on community-based partnerships, immersive residency programs, and a rigorous curriculum. Alder GSE aims to expand and diversify the teaching population, equipping educators with the skills and knowledge to thrive in today's dynamic educational landscape.

The Alder Model: A Holistic Approach to Teacher Preparation

Alder GSE's model distinguishes itself through its deep integration with TK-12 schools and their communities. Unlike traditional teacher-prep programs that operate in isolation, Alder GSE is embedded within the educational ecosystem. This allows for a symbiotic relationship where everyone benefits: children, experienced educators, and schools.

Community-Based Recruitment and Partnerships

Alder GSE actively recruits from local communities to create a teaching force that reflects the demographics of its students. By boosting the overall population of teachers and fostering diverse teaching teams, Alder GSE ensures that students see themselves represented in their educators. This approach is rooted in a commitment to diversity (a wide range of perspectives and lived experiences), equity (fairness for everyone), and inclusion (involving and empowering everyone). Alder GSE partners with public TK-12 school districts, county offices of education, regional special-education service areas, and public charter schools to create these community-based partnerships.

Immersive Residency Program: Learning from the Experts

At the heart of Alder GSE's program is a year-long residency program under the guidance of an expert mentor educator. This apprenticeship model provides aspiring teachers with invaluable hands-on experience and personalized support. Spending a year immersed in a school environment transforms a new educator’s ability to shine from day one.

The residency program follows a gradual release model, where the resident and mentor work together to determine when instructional components will be released to the resident. Residents progressively take on more responsibilities, culminating in a full takeover of the teaching responsibilities for a four-day period in November. The resident will be in their mentor teacher’s classroom four full days per week. The resident and the mentor will determine when they will meet to plan lessons and prepare materials either before or after school. One day per week the resident will join the rest of the regional cohort to attend a weekly, all-day seminar that will focus on bridging theory and practice.

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Rigorous Curriculum: Theory and Practice Intertwined

Alder GSE integrates a rigorous curriculum of theory and research-based coursework with practical experience. This approach ensures that new teachers are not only equipped with classroom management techniques but also prepared to critically evaluate educational trends. New teachers are prepared to be judicious consumers of educational trends as they change over time. Additional discussion and reflection on theory and research take place via in-person course intensives and online coursework. All credentials include the English Learner Authorization (ELA1) except for the Bilingual Authorization.

A Pipeline for Talent: Benefits for Schools and Educators

Alder GSE's model creates a pipeline of talented and committed teachers for schools. Schools get a year-long interview and a pipeline of teachers trained by their best. New educators get a job for which they are especially trained. This ensures that schools have access to well-prepared educators who are ready to make a positive impact on student learning.

The Alder Experience: Values, Assessment, and Support

Alder GSE is more than just a teacher preparation program; it's a community built on shared values and a commitment to excellence.

Core Values: Guiding Principles

Alder GSE operates on the values of hope, compassion, courage, knowledge, collaboration, and excellence. These values guide the program's curriculum, instruction, and interactions with students and partners. The Alder myth tells of trees that stand on the frontlines with courage, strength, and leadership, protecting and caring for all that is noble, always and only in service to what is right and just.

Assessment: Measuring Growth and Development

Alder GSE employs a comprehensive assessment system to monitor resident progress and ensure they are meeting program standards. Formative assessments include observations and written feedback from mentor teachers, Residency Directors, and site Principals. Summative assessments require residents to demonstrate their knowledge and skills through performance-based tasks aligned with core Learning Standards.

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Resident Support: Ensuring Success

Alder GSE provides a supportive environment for residents throughout the program. Directors work closely with each resident and with the partner TK-12 school system to help residents with job placement and counseling. The program is designed to be full-time, and residents are discouraged from working during the year due to its demanding nature. Students will experience a consistent academic experience through consistent coursework and seminars. Residents will be placed at partner TK-12 campuses based on geographic preference, subject area preference, and the mentor matching process.

The Alder Advantage: Outcomes and Career Trajectory

Graduates of Alder GSE are well-prepared for successful teaching careers. The residency creates a pathway into the career, and graduates are hired into full time teaching roles at a rate over 90%. Alder GSE provides an affordable and supportive path to a rewarding and successful teaching career. As an Alder student, you will earn a Master’s Degree and Teaching Credential through a year-long apprenticeship with an excellent, trained mentor teacher. Joining the residency program is an investment towards a career-track in teaching.

Career Advancement: A Long-Term Investment

A teaching career offers significant financial benefits over time. The graph below compares a full time teaching career at a sample district with a sample role at the same district. In this case we compare it to a paraprofessional role. This is a sample based on a residency with a $15,000 stipend and a sample district pay scale and is meant as a reference.

Accreditation and Partnerships: A Foundation of Quality

Alder Graduate School of Education traces its roots to 2010, when our small founding team launched a pilot program to train new teachers within Aspire Public Schools. After a successful pilot, Alder became a stand-alone 501(c)(3) organization. And in 2020, Alder became an independent, fully WASC- and CTC-accredited graduate school of education.

Admissions: A Collaborative Process

Alder GSE's admission process is collaborative, involving both Alder GSE and participating K-12 partners. All admission decisions are made through a collaborative decision-making process between Alder GSE and the participating K-12 partners. As a result, Alder does not provide applicants with specific or detailed reasons for why they were not offered admission. All decisions are final and candidates cannot reapply during the same admissions year.

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