A Comprehensive Teacher Development Program

THE FULL OFFERING

The Northridge Institute provides the full suite of courses and mentoring aids that, over several years, develops a novice teacher into a competent teacher, one well along the path to becoming a transformational teacher. The program is subject (content) agnostic. 

Progression in the Northridge Institute

The full program has two components: Courses that all teachers go through, and then courses to help experienced teachers become mentors of new teachers.

For All Teachers

Summer 1

Teaching Foundations

In Person

OBJECTIVE

Learn pedagogy and the basics of teaching

Year 1 & 2

Moving Towards Mastery

Online with feedback on submissions

OBJECTIVE

Practice & Internalize the Basics

Individual Mentoring

Video-recorded classroom observations with remote 1:1 feedback

OBJECTIVE

Objective: Develop Competency

For Teacher Mentors

For Veteran Teachers

Becoming a Mentor

Online with remote 1:1 coaching

OBJECTIVE

Practice & Internalize the Basics

For Master Teachers

Becoming a Presenter

In Person

OBJECTIVE

Present at Teaching Foundations

Moving Toward Mastery Course

Moving Toward Mastery is an online course for teachers offered during the school year. It builds upon Teaching Foundations, because that 1-week summer seminar, while an excellent introduction, is not sufficient for a novice teacher to actually retain and implement all the topics it covers.

Moving Towards Mastery has two components:

1st. A series of video lectures, which revisit the core themes of Teaching Foundations in order of priority.  These video lectures (taken asynchronously) recall essential ideas and concrete actions when teachers need them most: in the trenches of their classroom.

2nd (and most importantly). A reflection process. Each session requires teachers to submit a reflection which challenges them to put theory into practice, using guided planning tools and structured prompts. Then, mentors offer targeted feedback on their work - providing accountability, encouragement, and steps for growth.

One year of access to Moving Towards Mastery is included in the cost of Teaching Foundations.

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Pre-requisites: completing Teaching Foundations.

Fee: $100 annual subscription, 1st year included in Teaching Foundations

If you’ve already completed Teaching Foundations, or, want to renew your 1-year subscription: click here

If you haven’t completed Teaching Foundations: a 1-year subscription of this course is included in your Teaching Foundations.

Individual Mentoring

In addition to Moving Towards Mastery, teachers can receive individual mentoring on their teaching via video sessions.  Our Mentoring offering runs in parallel with Moving Towards Mastery. Teachers submit video recordings of their lessons, including demonstrating the topics of Moving Towards Mastery.  Teachers then meet with their mentor over a 30 minute Zoom meeting, receiving encouragement for problems, and analysis of where to prioritize improvement, and concrete actions for growth. The Mentoring course assumes 6 meetings over the year

Pre-requisites: completing Teaching Foundations.

Fee: $600

If you’ve already completed Teaching Foundations: click here.

If you haven’t completed Teaching Foundations: you can select Individual Mentoring when you register.

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Resource Access

All resources, including the Moving Towards Mastery course are available on our platform. Teachers have access to it for as long as they are subscribed.

These resources and tools include our:

  • Course Planning Guide

  • Teacher Toolbox (20+ pedagogical techniques, each with a “job aid”)

  • Discipline Cycle (how to respond to various levels of misbehavior)

  • “Northridge GPT” - an AI tool trained on all our materials

  • and more

All resources are accessible through subscriptions to Teaching Foundations and Moving Toward Mastery. Your completion of Moving Toward Mastery gains you lifetime access to our library of resources.

Fee: Free, with Moving Toward Mastery Certificate

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Additional Courses

  • Becoming a Mentor is for those aspiring to become  mentor teachers, supporting and guiding other teachers within their own school. Through practical frameworks and real-world scenarios, the course provides methods for how to model effective teaching, build reflective habits, and facilitate meaningful professional growth. Participants will learn how to mentor with empathy, draw on personal classroom experience, and apply instructional expertise to elevate teacher practice. Mentor teachers will also develop the skills to observe with insight and deliver clear, actionable feedback that drives improvement.

  • Becoming a Presenter is for teachers who want to give the Teaching Foundations course - either at their own school or by helping conduct a Teaching Foundations class offered by the Northridge Institute. 

    Becoming a Presenter is a one-week, in-person workshop designed to strengthen the participant’s fluency with Northridge Institute content, methods, and facilitation practices. This training ensures that every presenter is fully equipped to deliver Teaching Foundations with clarity, consistency, and impact.

    Experienced and exceptional instructional leaders who demonstrate a deep commitment to developing others may be invited to become Northridge Institute Fellows, empowering them to present Teaching Foundations within their communities.

    Attendees must apply to be admitted, which includes a Zoom-interview.

    Signup:

    Pre-requisites: completing the Teaching Foundations, Moving Towards Mastery and Becoming a Presenter courses.

    To express your interest, please submit an inquiry form, and include a brief description of your prior experience with Northridge Institute.

Adopting the Program in Your School

To adopt the Northridge Institute program, schools follow a multi-year path. First, schools should have a quorum of teachers move through Teaching Foundations and the subsequent courses and become mentors. Then, they should have at least two veteran teachers take the Becoming a Presenter Course. At this point, they’re ready to bring the program in-house, creating a self-sustaining, cost-effective model integrated into the school's unique culture. We strongly recommend that key school leaders participate alongside their faculty, as leadership engagement is essential to create a shared understanding, drive the overall implementation and ensure long-term impact.

To express your interest, please submit an inquiry form.