A component of The Rapides Foundation’s Education Initiative focuses on enhancing professional development for teachers and increasing the leadership capacity for administrators in the nine public school districts within the Foundation’s service area.

Building the professional capacity of teachers who work most closely with students is the factor that stands out above all others in improving student achievement, according to research. In addition, strong instructional leaders are key to supporting the teaching and learning process. To ensure student success, educators must have a constant focus on instruction, collaboration and coaching.

For this reason, The Orchard Foundation administers institutes for teachers and administrators in several key areas. As a result of this intensive training, principals and teachers become instructional leaders, teachers learn new and better instructional strategies, and ultimately, student achievement improves.

Each summer, The Orchard Foundation provides institutes on Kagan Cooperative Learning, which provides teachers with resources, tools and strategies they can use to increase student engagement and learning. Regional institutes from the University of Washington’s Center for Educational Leadership provide Cenla educators with the opportunity to receive leadership training.