Office of the Provost of Teacher Preparation
The Office of the Provost of Teacher Preparation is charged with developing policies and programs that enable all in our community to learn and contribute to the world. Our priorities are shaped by Relay’s mission:
Our mission is to teach teachers and school leaders to develop in all students the academic skills and strength of character needed to succeed in college and life.
Relay’s teacher programming is committed to excellent teaching and the personal and intellectual growth of its students in a diverse academic community. The Office of the Provost of Teacher Preparation strives to support faculty and students by removing barriers to faculty and student success and ensuring that the academic affairs, student affairs, and enrollment management operations of the university are working together to provide high-quality learning environments for our students. In addition, the Office of the Provost of Teacher Preparation oversees all academic components of the program, including curriculum, instruction, assessment, advising, certification support, and referral services for students with disabilities.
The Office of the Provost of Teacher Preparation provides accurate, up-to-date information to faculty and students regarding Relay degree requirements, course registration, state certification, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations; works in partnership with Relay faculty, administration, and staff, as well as leaders from students’ placement PK–12 schools and organizations; and works with students to support their development in the classroom.
The provost of teacher preparation is responsible for providing visionary leadership for teaching and learning programs and is responsible for program evaluation and general academic policy development and implementation.
Vice Provost of Teacher Preparation
The vice provost of teacher programs provides vision and guidance for Relay’s teacher programs and is responsible for ensuring that students have an equitable, inclusive, meaningful, and supportive learning experience. The vice provost of teacher programs leads the development of comprehensive programmatic structure and facilitation of programs via a dynamic teacher preparation faculty.
Program Directors
Program directors manage and lead the Relay Teaching Residency program at their campuses. They teach, observe, coach, and grade assessments for Relay residents and train, oversee, and develop supports for resident advisors in mentoring residents. Program directors also build strong relationships with external partners (e.g., school partners) in collaboration with the location director, and speak to the instructional progress of candidates at the campus as necessary. They will oversee and direct program implementation in compliance with state regulations.
Faculty
Students will have the opportunity to work with a variety of faculty members at Relay. In addition to attending classes taught by professors of practice, all students will have a faculty advisor to help guide them through the Relay program. Faculty advisors are assigned to students at the time of their enrollment.
Pedagogical and Content Faculty
Relay’s professors are experienced former PK–12 teachers and school leaders who lead instruction and grade assessments. Professors also serve as faculty advisors to students.
Instructional Fellows and Teaching Assistants
Instructional fellows and teaching assistants are experienced former PK–12 teachers and school leaders who support professors. They score students’ work and observe students in their classrooms. Instructional fellows also serve as advisors, providing individualized support for students.
Research Faculty
Relay’s research faculty members focus on advancing the institution’s contributions to the field of education scholarship. Research faculty members prioritize four areas of research, which serve as the basis of the institution’s published research agenda: (1) elements of effective teaching, (2) preparing effective teachers of high-need students, (3) tracking and measuring student achievement and character development, and (4) teachers’ career trajectories.
Curriculum-Design Faculty
Curriculum-design faculty members create and revise Relay’s core and content curriculum. They are experienced PK–12 teachers and school leaders with expertise in their fields of curriculum. Curriculum-design faculty members often teach courses in addition to their curriculum design responsibilities.
Adjunct Instructors
Relay’s adjunct instructors are experienced current PK–12 teachers and school leaders who teach core and content courses. These courses focus on the knowledge and skills needed to teach the grade and/or subject area that students are currently teaching.
Vice Provost of Academic Compliance
The vice provost of academic compliance leads the Regulatory and Accreditation team, a primary driver of quality assurance at Relay. The Regulatory and Accreditation team prioritizes graduate students — enrolled, prospective, and alumni — by safeguarding the quality, legitimacy, and reputation of their credential(s).
The vice provost of academic compliance is responsible for higher education authorizations, educator preparation program approvals, certification program compliance, institutional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and programmatic accreditation through the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
Vice Provost of Research
The vice provost of research provides insights into Relay’s impact on teacher and school leader preparation and facilitates a culture of continuous improvement to ensure that Relay GSE provides high-quality preparation to teachers and school leaders. Through purposeful organization, robust analysis, and clear communication of data, the vice provost of research at Relay supports our institutional commitment to continuous improvement of our programs. This is accomplished by collecting critical data from students, faculty, staff, school leaders, alumni, and partners while also advancing research on teacher preparation through collaborative partnerships with research experts.
Vice Provost of Student Affairs
The vice provost of student affairs leads the Office of Student Affairs and works closely with faculty, staff, and students to create a safe, inclusive, and meaningful experience for all Relay students and alumni. Through a variety of services, programs, and activities, the vice provost of student affairs at Relay supports and encourages the sociocultural, intellectual, and personal development of our students and alumni. You can reach the Office of Student Affairs at support@relay.edu.