The Chamberlin Education Foundation is proud to announce Elevate Teaching as a new grantee in our Talent Pipeline Portfolio, an initiative designed to cultivate and sustain an equity-driven, locally rooted educator workforce in West Contra Costa public schools.
Elevate Teaching is aligned with CEF’s vision to expand credentialing access and ensure educators reflect the communities they serve. Elevate Teaching’s mission centers on building a diverse, sustainable educator workforce for California, with a focus on the East Bay, including Richmond and West Contra Costa public schools.
“We recognize there’s a significant need for well-trained, diverse teachers in this area,” said Julie Obbard, the founder and CEO of Elevate Teaching. The organization is partnering with local schools, such as Caliber Public Schools and Invictus Academy, to create pathways for aspiring educators that reflect the demographics of their students.
There are significant hurdles for prospective teachers in the Bay Area, particularly the high cost of living and the isolation many new teachers experience due to the demanding nature of starting a challenging new profession. Obbard said that Elevate Teaching is structured to take these challenges head-on.
“All of our teacher residents are paid a full-time salary, a living wage, with benefits,” she said. Residents receive discounted tuition through Loyola Marymount University as well as support accessing grants like the Golden State Teacher Grant, which covers up to $20,000 in credentialing costs.
Elevate Teaching’s residency model is structured to emphasize community. Residents join a cohort that meets weekly and are paired with mentor teachers. “They form deep connections and co-teach alongside experienced educators,” Obbard said. The residency’s immersive, year-long model ensures new teachers “hit the ground running,” already embedded in the school community.
The program is structured not only to prepare new teachers but also to retain veteran teachers and provide them with opportunities to advance into leadership roles. Elevate Teaching’s results in its first year at Caliber Beta Academy have been promising. Two residents completed the program and are now lead teachers at the school, while their mentors were promoted to assistant principals.
“Our residents said there was no other school they’d want to work at, and they felt deeply supported,” Obbard said.
Elevate Teaching aims to double its cohort size and expand partnerships in West Contra Costa public schools. Obbard expressed gratitude for CEF’s support. “We’re deeply grateful for this partnership and excited to deepen our work in West Contra Costa,” she said.
