Two UNC Charlotte undergraduate students participated in UNC Charlotte’s Charlotte Community Scholars program aimed at fostering research skills in the area of civic engagement.  Geraldine Abinader, a mathematics major and Spanish and Urban Youth and Communities minor, and Hao Djur, an anthropology and biology and Urban Youth and Communities minor, completed intensive research projects over the course of the 9-week summer program.  At the 2017 Summer Research Symposium, Geraldine received first place in the “Humanities, Social Sciences, Education, Business, and Art” category for “Student Learning + Retention = Teacher Growth:  A Product Evaluation Case Study among CTI Fellows.”  Read more on College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website.

Teacher Testimonials about Retention and CTI:  Responses from the Fellows’ Questionnaire

CTI helped me remember the love and passion that I have for teaching. I became jaded over the years working in education, but this seminar was an amazing opportunity for me to refresh myself and become more passionate about teaching students. If I had not had this opportunity, I probably would not be teaching now.

CTI was a great experience and is definitely a reason to consider CMS. Being closer to the end of my career than the beginning, CTI factors in my decision to stay in CMS until retirement because of the opportunities to be published and to earn the extra stipend money.

CTI is one of the very few opportunities that I have to feel that I have independence in my teaching. Even more importantly, it is the aspect of my job that makes me feel like a professional.

CTI has provided a welcome experience in which I am treated like a professional and have grown as a teacher and a leader. It is one of the most positive things I have done and has kept me refreshed and inspired as a teacher.

CTI has impacted my decision to continue teaching in CMS because of the opportunity given to collaborate with other teachers and partner with local colleges. The idea and vision of CTI is very creative and allows teachers to present educational materials that encourages students to think creatively.

CTI has added interest and value to my job. The opportunity to participate in CTI has given me more motivation and confidence in doing well.

Currently experiencing an existential crisis in my professional life, so I have no idea what I’m doing with my life! But CTI has helped me realize that teaching is more about growth as an individual more than anything.

I considered looking for jobs in Cabarrus County, but didn’t want to miss the opportunity to work in CMS with CTI.

If I did not have CTI to impact my teaching I would not have stayed with CMS as a teacher.

CTI is one of the most positive things about CMS. I considered leaving CMS this year but didn’t in large part because of my commitment to CTI. I hope to continue with it for many years.

CTI has helped me decide to continue teaching in CMS because they offer professional development that actually helps. I am able to talk with teachers of multiple grade levels instead of just my own so that I can see where the progression of knowledge goes. This why I can tailor my instruction to help fill needs that show up in later grades by giving my students a base of knowledge to work with.

I live in Union County but choose to stay in CMS this year for CTI.

The CTI seminars gave me encouragements through meeting other teachers who shared interests in improving teaching.

I enjoy the collaboration with the other fellows and the leader. I have grown alot from that experience.

It gives leadership role and a great achievement to be proud of.

I feel participating in CTI assists me in my personal growth goals.

The connection to the universities, opportunities to learn from professors, to have meaningful/intellectual conversations with peers, to learn and grow as a teacher on topics that interest me, and opportunities to earn more income make this program a huge incentive.

CTI is a great professional development for me as a teacher. It often recharges me and gives me new ideas and new strategies for the classroom.

I love working with teachers in CTI. The fellowship and sharing of ideas makes me a better teacher.

It makes me still want to be a teacher. It pushed me to go out of my comfort zone and continue my understanding of math. It shows me it’s possible to still teach and forward my education.

CTI is a wonderful program. It provides a creative outlet for developing curriculum units and opportunities to collaborate with UNCC and Davidson faculty as well as teachers I normally would not get to meet. This is very refreshing and definitely motivates me to continue teaching.

I like that CMS has opportunities like this, which keeps me engaged with CMS.

CTI is a great teacher retention tool. As I have thought about switching positions or leaving the profession in the past years, I have not wanted to quit a commitment I made to CTI which has kept me here.

I considered leaving for Lincoln County this school year but CTI was my biggest reservation in applying for the position!

I was assigned the inclusion classroom, without my input. I was extremely overwhelmed and depressed at the beginning of this year. Every day was a struggle and I really wanted to leave CMS. If it were not for CTI, I would have left. CTI gave me something positive to look forward to every week and gave me hope for my future. CTI was my angel.

CTI is a wonderful program. For me, it provides an intellectual stimulation and helps me grow as a learner. CTI has become for me the best teacher development offered by CMS. I love it and recommend it to everyone.

CTI is the best professional development offered within CMS.

The most collaborative PD I have experienced. I value the opportunity to meet and work with teachers from different grade levels and disciplines.

GIVE to CTI’s Crowdfunding Project today!  

Charlotte Teachers Institute is an educational partnership with UNC Charlotte, Davidson College and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to strengthen teaching and learning.  Research finds that teachers are the most important factor in raising student achievement.  Your gift will directly affect public school PreK-12 teachers and students, university and college professors, and staff in Charlotte Teachers Institute in the following ways:

• Transformed Teachers – PreK-12 classroom teachers collaborate in content-rich seminars with university and college professors who facilitate learning experiences based on cutting-edge research.  Your gift will enrich CTI seminars by providing teachers with opportunities to co-create alongside scholars and community partners.
• Engaged Students – P-12 classroom teachers create original, innovative curricula that motivates their students to reach new academic heights.  Your gift will provide resources to help teachers create new content for their classrooms from the science lab to the writers’ workshop.  
• Experienced Faculty – Expert professors of the liberal arts and sciences are the lifeblood of CTI seminars.  CTI professors lead seminars all around Charlotte, including at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Discovery Place, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture, and Levine Museum of the New South. Your gift will provide opportunities to support professors who lead CTI seminars focused on making connections to the greater Charlotte Community.
• Committed Partners and Donors – A big part of CTI’s success is ongoing program evaluation.  Working with stakeholders — teachers, undergraduate and graduate students, professors and community leaders — CTI is committed to continued improvement and growth.  Your gift will support long-term planning and execution of mixed-methods evaluation plans.  

Your tax-deductible gift will transform teaching in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and help elevate the teaching profession.  Please email scott.gartlan@uncc.edu to inquire about giving back to teachers and CTI today.  Thanks!