TeachStart Foundations Training now runs with Growth Hub

We’re proud to announce Foundations Training is now available on our new learning & professional development platform, Growth Hub!

Our TeachStart Fellows are the first among our educators to access training on this platform. We’re excited to make teacher training an even smoother, accessible experience for our educators, starting with the Spring 2025 cohort of TeachStart Fellows.

In this blog, we’ll introduce:

• What is Foundations Training?
• The benefits of Foundations Training
• What is Growth Hub?

What is Foundations Training?

Before we can explain what Foundations Training is, we have to explain our lead teacher credentialing program, TeachStart.

What is TeachStart?

TeachStart is your paid pathway to becoming a lead credentialed teacher. As a TeachStart Fellow, you’ll earn a full-time salary and benefits, all while working towards your teaching career.

What is Foundations Training?

TeachStart Fellows kick off the program by attending a 5-day intensive called Foundations Training.

Foundations Training is designed to help new substitute teachers develop the mindsets and skills needed to create safe, welcoming classrooms.

It’s facilitator-led and synchronous with multiple small group activities that require educators to collaborate through tough, real-world classroom situations.

Fellows learn crucial skills in four key areas: classroom culture & management, supporting diverse learners, lesson internalization and implementation, mindsets and self-advocacy.

The benefits of Foundations Training

Becoming a new teacher doesn’t have to be a lonely, scary experience. We created Foundations Training to provide our educators a safe space to learn and practice vital lead teacher skills in community with other educators in the same boat!

The benefits of the program include:

1. Hands-on practice

Most other substitute training programs are very resource-heavy, lecture-based, and asynchronous, leaving subs to train themselves. This falls short of adequately preparing subs for handling classroom routines and inevitable challenges.

All Foundations Training sessions are both lecture- and practice-based. This ensures that educators get to quickly apply what is taught and receive immediate feedback from other educators in the session. We do this in a couple of formats:

1. Practice-based. Script & practice delivery with a partner or in small groups. Provide feedback to each other.
2. Immediate feedback. Get quick, structured feedback from other educators who are learning alongside you and the expert facilitator.
3. Discussion-based. Discuss observations about case studies. Brainstorm how to respond to scenarios in small groups.
4. Reflection questions. Answer content-related & self-reflection type questions.

When it comes time to sub for a classroom. Success comes from practicing out-loud and in-front of others. Preparing to teach a lesson in 10 minutes, introducing yourself to the kids, or responding to student behavior all require that scenario- and practice-based learning in community with other active educators.

2. Learning in community

One of the best parts of Foundations Training is learning alongside other new substitute teachers. Over the five days, you’ll join the same cohort of TeachStart Fellows on Zoom, building connections and sharing experiences as you grow together. Substitute teaching can feel isolating at times, but this training helps create a sense of community right from the start.

Through small group breakout rooms, you’ll practice skills like setting clear expectations using the B.O.S.S. criteria and giving feedback with “one grow and one glow.” You’ll get to role-play classroom scenarios, sharpen your scripts, and learn from your peers’ perspectives.

This collaborative model not only makes the training more interactive and engaging but also helps you build lasting relationships with fellow aspiring teachers. You’ll leave with fresh ideas, practical strategies, and a supportive network of peers to lean on as you begin your teaching journey.

3. Expert instructors

Our instructors are former education leaders who are passionate about training up teacher-leaders. They’ve spent years coaching new teachers on effective strategies for supporting diverse learners.

They facilitate a fun, safe Zoom environment where Fellows feel comfortable asking questions and receiving feedback.

Our instructors also teach with a wealth of classroom and curriculum experience. This allows them to share real-life examples, model teaching methods, and give practical feedback to our educators.

Their relatability and wisdom helps educators feel understood and ready to navigate their teaching assignments.

4. Equity-focused, culturally responsive teaching

All of our courses are designed to equip educators with culturally responsive teaching mindsets and skills to create inclusive classrooms that support student learning and social-emotional development.

How do we do this? We share:

• Research-based key takeaways. Teachers read quotes and principles from these neuroscientists, psychologists, and teacher educator authors.
  • Dr. Cheryl Staats research paper “Understanding Implicit Bias: What Educators Should Know” (2016)
  • Zaretta Hammond’s book Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain (2015)
  • Dr. Haim Ginott’s book Between Parent and Child (1965)
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework and strategies.
  • Teachers learn to welcome and engage students’ various interests and identities, especially when it comes to race/ethnicity, culture, gender, language, and disability.
  • Teachers make sure information is equally perceptible to all students. This includes using diverse sensory modalities and perspectives.

• Self-reflection exercises. Teachers reflect and practice mindfulness by discussing in breakout rooms the following sorts of questions:
  • What aspects of culture might impact how I show up in the classroom and how I interact with students?
  • Share the specific strategies that you identified for welcoming interests and identities of varied learners.

Our training is designed to help educators discover and develop the skills to be more self-aware and self-regulate. Whether it comes down to giving instructions or de-escalating a crisis, a teacher can help a student feel more humanized and equally supported in their learning.

What is Growth Hub?

Growth Hub is our new learning platform for all Scoot and TeachStart educators. Educators can now log in to a single profile to review previously enrolled training and resources. They can also earn badges and digital certificates to share their achievements!

We’re excited to shout out Foundations Training, this unique opportunity for TeachStart Fellows to train alongside a community of teachers and expert instructors. And for Growth Hub to only enhance their learning experience further. Cheers to the future of TeachStart’s teacher leaders!