Our commitment to research-based best practices grows out of our belief that a climate of high expectations is essential for student and staff success.

“The act of teaching is a holistic endeavor.  Effective teachers employ effective instructional strategies, classroom management techniques, and classroom curricular design in a fluent, seamless fashion.” Marzano. (2003)

“The results of this study will document that the most important factor affecting student achievement is the teacher…”  Wright, Horn, & Sanders (1997)

CSTP

The California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP) have been adopted as our criteria for teacher evaluation and coaching. They provide a common language for us to discuss professional roles and responsibilities for all teachers.  Our beginning teachers are provided a mentor to assist them in understanding how to develop in each area of the CSTP. Experienced teachers set goals and work with peers, instructional coaches, and site administrators to develop along the continuum of teaching practice.  

Teacher Induction Program (formerly BTSA)

Sunnyvale's Teacher Induction Program supports a full-release model where the District's master teachers, with excellent mentoring qualities and leadership abilities, do not teach in the classroom during their term as Induction Mentors. The Mentor's primary focus is to support our new teachers through the implementation of a quality Teacher Induction Program while nurturing the growth and development of the participating teachers.

New teachers in the Induction Program attend workshops/seminars over the course of the year that are aligned to the California Standards for the Teaching Profession and the California Induction Standards approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.