Growing Great Teachers Before the First Bell: Hazelwood's Summer Institute Equips Alternatively Certified Educators

For Hazelwood School District's alternatively certified teachers, the anticipation of the first day of school excitement is paired with a unique challenge. While leading their own classrooms, they are also completing the coursework and training required to become certified educators.

To help bridge that gap, Hazelwood created the Summer Institute for alternatively certified teachers. This program provides practical training, mentorship, and a built-in support network before students ever walk through the classroom doors.

"Not only are they learning how to become a teacher, but they're also teaching at the same time,” said Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Dr. Evelyn Woods.

Unlike a traditional new teacher orientation, the Summer Institute is intentionally designed for educators who are just beginning their careers. Participants spend time with experienced mentor teachers while learning alongside fellow first-year educators who understand the same challenges and questions.

The collaborative environment allows new teachers to build confidence before the school year begins and creates relationships that continue long after the summer ends.

The institute focuses on the areas that matter most during a teacher's first year: lesson planning, classroom management, and parent communication. Just as important, participants develop connections with mentors and instructional coaches who are invested in their success. It is an opportunity to build a relationship and feel the support before school starts.

The Summer Institute has become an important part of Hazelwood's commitment to developing exceptional educators. Now in its fourth year and serving its fifth cohort, the program was created after district leaders recognized that alternatively certified teachers would benefit from additional preparation tailored specifically to their needs.

Since then, the initiative has expanded dramatically. What began with just nine teacher residents has grown into a comprehensive network supporting dozens of educators through partnerships with the University of Missouri–St. Louis, Saint Louis University and several alternative certification pathways. Last year alone, instructional coaches supported 77 educators, including teacher residents, temporary authorization candidates, teacher fellows and international teachers.

That growth reflects more than increasing participation—it represents a strategic investment in Hazelwood's future workforce.

"It helps to fill vacancies and creates an opportunity for us to really diversify our teaching population and be representative of what the world looks like,” Dr. Woods explained. “Not only do we benefit, but our students benefit because they get to learn from a variety of people from a variety of places."

By welcoming educators from diverse backgrounds and experiences, the district is creating classrooms where students encounter a broader range of perspectives while ensuring every school has access to highly qualified teachers.

For district leaders, however, the greatest success isn't measured in enrollment numbers. It's found in the energy filling the training rooms each summer. Educators arrive eager to learn, ready to collaborate, and committed to making a difference for students.

"They are energized, excited, and ready for what's ahead,” Dr. Wood says with a smile. “It helps define my why. And it's to bring high-quality teachers to our students."

That enthusiasm is contagious—and it speaks to the purpose behind the Summer Institute. By investing in new teachers before the first bell rings, Hazelwood School District is strengthening classrooms, supporting educators, and ensuring students are welcomed by confident, prepared professionals on the very first day of school.