Building Better Supervision

Teacher education supervisors from across California will come together virtually on July 30 and 31 for the seventh annual Supervisors of Teacher Education Network Team (STENT) Conference. Led by Dr. Lisa Sullivan and colleagues, the two-day event is a professional development opportunity focused on strengthening supervision in teacher preparation.

Designed in response to supervisors’ need for more opportunities to collaborate and learn from one another, the conference features interactive workshops where participants share tools, strategies, and practices for supporting credential candidates in the classroom. Sessions also explore how supervisors can meet credentialing expectations while centering equity- and justice-oriented teaching.

“Supervisors spend so much of their time supporting others,” said Sullivan. “We wanted to create a space where they could come together, learn from one another, and build the kind of professional community that helps everyone do this work better.”

Gaps in Professional Development

Teacher education supervisors guide credential candidates through complex classroom expectations while balancing program requirements and state standards. Yet their opportunities for structured professional learning are often limited.

It was this gap that led Sullivan and her colleagues—Dr. Rebecca Ambrose, Dr. Heather Ballinger, Dr. Evelyn Young, Jane Kim, Dr. Victoria Harvey, Dr. Soleste Hilberg, and Johnnie Wilson—to begin a series of focus groups with supervisors in 2018. These conversations revealed that many supervisors worked in isolation and had limited access to structured professional development or opportunities to share practices with others.

To address this need, Sullivan and her colleagues launched the STENT Conference in 2020 following these initial conversations. The response exceeded all expectations. “People just came out of the woodwork,” said Sullivan. “There were supervisors and teacher education programs represented from across the state—all kinds of educators who were craving a space to talk, share, ask questions, and learn from each other.”

A Statewide Learning Network

The STENT Conference is one of the first events of its kind: a workshop-based gathering that brings together supervisors, faculty, and graduate students for hands-on professional learning. Sessions focus on practical tools, shared strategies, and approaches participants can bring directly back to their programs.

The conference remains centered on its long-standing theme, “Building a Community of Supervisors for Equity and Justice,” though each year features new workshops shaped by current challenges and emerging practices in teacher education. In 2025, sessions covered topics ranging from culturally responsive teaching and asset-based practices to the use of artificial intelligence in supervision and confronting transphobia in classrooms. All workshops are recorded and uploaded to the STENT video library, creating a free resource for supervisors and teacher educators to access throughout the year.

“I’m a brand-new supervisor, and I received invaluable information from each session,” shared one conference attendee. “The information and resources I got from all the workshops will help guide my work.”

A Clearer Understanding of the Field

The STENT Conference not only creates space for supervisors to collaborate—it also allows Sullivan and her colleagues to better understand the priorities and challenges facing the field.

In 2025, representatives from 29 teacher education programs across California joined the event, including participants from UC, CSU, and private universities. Of these attendees, more than 40% had been working as supervisors for over eight years, while over half maintained a part-time status.

When asked whether they were receiving professional learning opportunities through their institution, more than 20% of conference participants reported that they were not or were uncertain if such opportunities existed. Survey responses also highlighted the kinds of support supervisors are seeking through professional learning. Participants identified several priorities:

• Practical tools, examples, and day-to-day resources
• Assessment guidance and credentialing support
• Time, funding, and systemic support for supervisor growth
• Information about emerging trends and technology in teacher preparation
• Equity-centered and reflective supervision practices

Taken together, these findings reveal a profession that is both highly experienced and eager for continued learning. They also provide Sullivan and her colleagues with ongoing insight into where supervisors need the greatest support and how future conferences can continue responding to those needs.

Looking Ahead

In 2023, STENT became an Associated Organization of the California Council on Teacher Education. This partnership has been invaluable in helping STENT grow into a statewide community of teacher educators and it facilitates all program and individual registrations for the conference.

As STENT continues to grow, Sullivan hopes to expand professional development opportunities beyond the annual conference. One idea the team is considering is an onboarding workshop for new supervisors. “If you’re hired as a supervisor, you might get an hour of training, but there’s no formal onboarding,” Sullivan said. “This doesn’t respect the importance of the supervisor’s role and how complicated it can be.”

By continuing to listen to supervisors and respond to their feedback, Sullivan hopes STENT will strengthen the annual conference and help build a more connected and better-supported community of supervisors across California. “The conference created a space to elevate the supervisor profession,” said Sullivan. “That’s something we’ll continue building on. The stronger we are as supervisors, the better we’re able to support the next generation of teachers.”

Register to Attend

The 2026 STENT Conference will run from July 30 to 31. Visit the STENT Conference registration page to sign up and learn more about this year’s event. There you’ll find: 

• A digital registration form for individual attendees
• A printable registration form for groups of supervisors to complete