The Charlotte Teachers Institute (CTI) is an initiative designed to strengthen teaching in Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools by cultivating content-knowledge, creativity, leadership skills, and collaboration within and among Charlotte's public school teachers. It exists as a partnership among CMS (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools), Davidson College, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte), and is made possible by a joint commitment of resources and energy from all three Institute partners and through the generosity of private funders.

CTI, the first initiative of its kind in the state of North Carolina, is based on the Teachers Institute approach begun over 30 years ago by the Yale National Initiative in New Haven, Connecticut and since executed in cities around the country. 

Through intensive, semester-long seminars, led by faculty from UNC Charlotte and Davidson College, CMS teachers learn new content, work collaboratively with other district teachers, and develop curriculum units for their own classrooms. Participating teachers receive continuing education credits and a stipend.

CTI, unlike many professional development programs, depends on CMS teachers to lead the Institute. Teacher Representatives develop leadership skills and influence professional growth opportunities for all CMS teachers as they select CTI seminar topics, recruit fellow teachers to participate, and help faculty members facilitate seminars. Recognizing that classroom-teachers possess first-hand knowledge regarding student content needs, CTI depends on its Teacher Representatives to select topics that will interest teachers and enhance student learning.

UNC Charlotte and Davidson College faculty members serve as Seminar Leaders and 10-13 CMS teachers (referred to as Fellows) participate in each seminar. Seminars reflect the Leaders' fields of expertise, address the content demands of participating Fellows, and create a collegial environment dedicated to group discussion and exchange. Each seminar meets approximately once a week for two hours over the course of a semester.

CTI offers Seminars during the fall of each academic year. Additionally, CTI plans to hold additional events that will highlight Davidson and UNC Charlotte faculty members, their areas of expertise, and potential future seminar topics. All interested teachers should check the Calendar of Events and Teacher Participation links of this website for more information regarding recruitment, applications, and upcoming events.