Grow a Teacher

Education is the seed from which everything else grows. And, top-notch teachers are the single most important factor in the garden of learning.  We need more highly engaged and educated students, especially students of color, to sign up for teaching as a career and work to lead and elevate the profession. 

Meet Grow a Teacher

Grow a Teacher's mission is to inspire the next generation to teach and to broaden and diversify the pipeline into the teaching profession.   

Our plan is to create a Grow a Teacher digital toolkit that includes a PreK - 12 curriculum along with age- appropriate films, technology, and lessons that can be used in schools, after-school programs, summer camps, and elsewhere to give young people the opportunity to think critically and creatively, design engaging lessons, present and guide their students, and reflect, just like a real-life teacher.  We plan to pilot in Los Angeles, but Grow a Teacher is a 50-state passion project! 

Need inspiration to donate? Watch Superhero . 

We have a dedicated and determined Special Advisor and Board of Directors:  

·     Linda Darling-Hammond, president and CEO Learning Policy Institute; Professor of Education Emeritus at Stanford University 


·     David Johns, former executive director for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans

·     Haydee Rodriguez, NBCT, high school social studies teacher and member of CA Commission on Teacher Preparation

·     Dan Brown, NBCT, co-director of Educators Rising

·     Barbara Pape, co-founder Grow a Teacher

·     Lisa Zimble, co-founder Grow a Teacher 

Our list of Partner Organizations includes: 

·     Educators Rising

·     Journeys in Film

·     National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

·     UCLA’s Center for the Study of School Transformation 

...and more to come!

Need inspiration to donate? Watch Flying Lessons. 

Grow a Teacher has selected a Founding Advisory Board, comprised of master and currently practicing teachers, who are creating the first pre-K through grade 12 curriculum that allows students to experience first-hand the joy and hard work of teaching. 

We are looking for start-up funds to get the Grow a Teacher curriculum and toolkit built.  We have begun piloting the program and are already in classrooms filming Grow a Teacher lessons.

Need inspiration to donate? Watch #TEACHNow.

Now is a critical time to prioritize education and applaud the hard work of teachers.  Thank you so much for helping us Grow a Teacher.  And when we say Grow a Teacher, we mean Grow a diverse generation of Teachers across the country!


Grow a Teacher is recognized as tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

100% of your donation is tax deductible. Our Federal Tax ID number or EIN is 81-4834563.