Most professional development comes to teachers out of the box, out of the context of their learning communities or out of touch with the specific needs of their students. The CRESS Center takes a different approach, one that recognizes that context and setting are critical components for change.

We house four of the region’s California Subject Matter Projects. These projects are among the most respected models for teacher professional development in the state. The SMPs focus is on building robust professional learning communities where teachers identify their needs and lead their own learning. In each of these projects, teachers investigate their teaching, deepen their knowledge of subject matter content, and share their insights with peers.