THE CHALLENGE
A Profession Without a Development Pipeline
International schools hire promising educators and leave them to figure it out alone. There is no residency model, no structured apprenticeship, and no integrated system that turns a new hire into a mission-aligned professional within the same community.
"We built a profession with a poor on-ramp, no residency, and no structured pathway for people development."
New teachers placed in classrooms from day one with no apprenticeship model
High turnover driven by weak on-boarding erodes school culture and student outcomes
Mentor teachers receive no framework or coaching to develop those in their care
Schools invest in recruitment but not in retention or competency development
No credential makes readiness visible or portable across your network
HOW IT WORKS
Four Pillars That Drive the Model
The Apprenticeship Model
Embedded full-time from day one. A Discover–Build–Advance cycle moves apprentices from observation through co-teaching to independent practice.
Mentorship at the Core
Every apprentice is paired 1:1 with a trained mentor teacher who receives dedicated coaching frameworks and support throughout the full year.
Professional Learning Curriculum
A three-part sequence — Learning Science, Learning Design, Learning Leadership — builds the pedagogical depth that lasts a career.
TruFit Talent Assessment
Dispositional feedback on coachability, adaptability, professionalism, and cultural responsiveness — predictive data, not opinion.
THE RESIDENCY JOURNEY
Three Phases.
Ten Months.
One Arc.
PHASE ONE
Discover
Months 1-3
Observation, orientation, co-planning. Building school literacy and cultural fluency alongside a dedicated mentor from the very first week.
PHASE TWO
Build
Months 4-7
Co-teaching with structured mentor feedback cycles. Growing pedagogical skills through evidence-based practice and increasingly independent work.
PHASE THREE
Advance
Months 8-10
Independent practice, evidence portfolio, competency demonstration. Readiness made fully visible credentialed through the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Educators and mentors earn a Certificate of Competency in International Teaching and Mentoring through the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College, Columbia University.
KLINGENSTEIN CENTER
TEACHERS COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
WHO SHOULD APPLY
Two Roles.
One Cohort.
Apprentice Teachers
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Early-career or newly hired classroom teachers
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Teachers new to international or intercultural school contexts
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Educators seeking a structured pathway to demonstrate readiness
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Those who want a credential that travels across TRI schools
Mentor Teachers
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Experienced teachers ready to take on a formalized coaching role
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Department heads building school-wide mentorship culture
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Leaders who want calibrated feedback tools and coaching frameworks
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Those seeking their own Klingenstein Center credential in professional mentoring
This program is proudly sponsored by TRI Association: Central, Latin & South America.
Credentialed through Klingenstein Center, Teachers College, Columbia University.
Reserve Your Place in the Cohort
Submitting this form is your first step. Our team will reach out within three business days to guide you through registration and payment — no commitment required until you confirm.