An initiative to renew the passion, commitment and integrity of educators
At a time of school budget cuts, district consolidations, and new federal and state policies measuring student and teacher performance, public education is under intense pressure. Then there are complex, challenging student life issues, burdensome school policies and regulations, and competitive peer environments.
In such a climate, many new K–16 educators leave the profession in their first three to five years, and many mid-career teachers are stressed, disheartened and overwhelmed.
The Courage To Teach® (CTT) initiative is sponsored in Maine by University of Maine Cooperative Extension and led by UMaine Extension Educator Doug Babkirk, in partnership with Richard Ackerman of the College of Education and Human Development. The program seeks to strengthen and renew the inner resources and lives of educators, and give them the courage they need to align who they are with what they do.
CTT is a national effort of the Center for Courage & Renewal to support K–16 teachers in bringing their full identity and integrity to teaching; renewing their vocational commitment and aspirations; building circles of peer support; and generating collegial leadership to strengthen schools and higher education institutions as respectful, effective and vibrant learning communities.
In Maine, five CTT facilitators offer personal and professional renewal programs for public school and higher education administrators and teachers. In the past four years, the facilitators have worked with 250 Maine educators.
