Investing in Teachers to Transform Schools

This season marks 30 years of Center for Inspired Teaching.

From the very first Institute of 1996to the 2025-2026 Teaching with Improvisation Fellowship that kicked off in June, and the many hundreds of professional learning programs in between, it is a joy to have reached so many committed, curious educators in the last 30 years.

And in reconnecting with some of those educators—check out recent issues of Hooray For Monday featuring Inspired Teachers from a 2011 Institute—we’ve been reminded of the many thousands of students who have benefited from the Inspired Teaching Approach. That’s why we have done this work for three decades—and plan to continue for another 30 years!

Here’s what we’ve been up to at Inspired Teaching:

• The Teaching With Improvisation Fellowship is a yearlong learning experience for teachers grounded in the art of improvisation and the 5 Core Elements that lead to an engagement-rich classroom. The Fellowship kicks off with a summer Institute in Washington, DC each June. Fellows study the Inspired Teaching Approach, learning to integrate an improvisational mindset into instruction, and collecting an array of tools and resources. During the school year, Fellows lead professional development for their colleagues and receive extensive in-classroom support from Inspired Teaching experts. We’re excited to work with this year’s cohort!
• In SY 25-26 we’ll continue our partnership with Rappahannock County Schools in rural Virginia. We’ve selected a group of high-performing teachers to serve as the district’s Inspired Teaching Support Team. They are leading district-wide professional development, teaching their colleagues about the 5 Rules of Inspired Teaching Improv, the ABCDEs of Learner Needs, and much more, toward the goal of fueling curiosity and increasing student engagement district-wide. Stay tuned for updates on their progress throughout the year.
• As we prepare for the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, we’re excited to continue creating space for young people to connect and communicate with one another through ongoing partnerships with 3 DC high schools—EL Haynes, Eastern, and Capital City—as well as new partnerships in New Orleans, Louisiana and Rappahannock County, Virginia. Students tackle current, complex, and controversial topics, such as lowering the voting age, school safety, criminal justice reform, and student well-being, with curiosity and respect for one another, in each Speak Truth seminar.

Links:

• http://www.inspiredteaching.org

At Center for Inspired Teaching, we ended 2024 with a reflection on polarization—Merriam-Webster’s word of the year—and a recommitment to combating that division and distrust with curiosity.

Curiosity has long been a cornerstone of Center for Inspired Teaching’s work, and I am pleased to share the many ways it has been a focus of ours throughout the beginning of this year:

• Our campaign to make curiosity the word of the year in 2025 kicked off in January with a weeklong Curiosity Challenge. Hundreds of participants from an array of places such as New Orleans, Ukraine, California, South Africa, and more tackled daily prompts, strengthening their curiosity muscles and stepping out of their comfort zones. In February and March, participants continued to receive weekly resources, including digital guidebooks and exclusive interviews, for diving deeper into big questions.
• Our professional development programming, both in person and online, provided strategies and tools for “cultivating curiosity.” Teachers from around the world joined us virtually for monthly Inspired Teaching Institutes, arts educators in Washington, DC began a series of professional learning workshops in partnership with the DC Collaborative, and our ongoing relationship with Rappahannock County Public Schools expanded to include parents in the community.
• Teaching with Improvisation Fellows across the District showcased the curiosity in their classrooms. From helping to lead school-wide professional development sessions to inviting us for observations of daily activities, Fellows continue to bring the Inspired Teaching Approach to their colleagues and students.
• Hooray For Monday supported teachers and school leaders in cultivating engaging and relevant classrooms every week. Even, and especially, when feeling enthusiastic about Monday mornings is difficult, Hooray For Monday offers insights and strategies for reframing tough moments as rich opportunities for learning.
• Hundreds of high school students in Washington, DC tapped into their curiosity at Speak Truth sessions around the District. From weekly meetings at MLK Library to in-class conversations at partner schools, students were given space to explore new ideas, connect with peers, and strengthen their critical thinking.

Only three months into 2025, this year is shaping up to be one that tests our resilience. Whatever obstacles lie ahead, at Inspired Teaching, we will continue to challenge ourselves—and you—to be curious.

Links:

• Join Inspired Teaching's Curiosity Challenge Today!