About Us

Prepared To Teach exists to shift the preparation ecosystem so that every aspiring teacher can graduate from a high-quality residency. When paid residency pathways with entry points for undergraduates, graduates, grow-your-own candidates, and career changers are the norm, the education system will be more effective and equitable.

Our Story

From Vision to Action

Residencies have existed for decades, but short-term funding meant they were limited and short-lived. In 2015, Prepared To Teach was founded with a goal of finding sustainable public funding for these high-quality pathways.  

To many, our ideas initially seemed radical, impossible, or both— “Fund student teachers? How ludicrous!” But today, most agree: aspiring teachers cannot work for free, and residencies should become the norm for preparation.

Our theory of change uses a multi-pronged approach at all levels of the system to achieve our goal: 

  • Building district and program collaboration 
  • Supporting partnership redesign
  • Engaging a robust learning agenda
  • Diffusing innovation through learning networks and open-source materials
  • Shifting narratives about teacher preparation through storytelling and strong communications
  • Strengthening state and federal policies

We welcome your support, partnership, and participation in this work.

Our Approach

In our work to build momentum and capacity to scale sustainably funded residencies, we recognize and honor the expertise of those working in the residency space. We are:

Inclusive

We believe change happens when everyone is at the table and ideas are shared freely and widely. 

Empowering

When working with partners, we lean into existing strengths as the foundation for impactful change.

Curious 

We thrive on learning with and from programs, partnerships, and people in the field.

Our Team

Meet the people who bring the movement to life

Aisha Haynes

Aisha Haynes

Director, Storytelling
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Brigid Brennan

Brigid Brennan

Director, State and Federal Policy & Finance
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Charlotte Wells

Charlotte Wells

Assistant Director, Media & Communications
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Divya Mansukhani

Divya Mansukhani

Director, Partnership Learning
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Elizabeth Price

Elizabeth Price

Storytelling Strategist Manager
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Francheska Santos

Francheska Santos

Assistant Director, Partnership Learning
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Gretchen Mills

Gretchen Mills

Director, Communications & Engagement
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Karen DeMoss

Karen DeMoss

Executive Director
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Zachary Paull

Zachary Paull

Project & Systems Manager
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Resources Hub

Looking for great resources you can use and repurpose in your efforts to pivot towards paid residencies? You landed in the right place.