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10 years of championing stronger pathways into teaching
Valerie Sakimura
Category: Organization
Dear partners:
I remember countless moments back in the early days of DFI, asking, what if?
- What if teacher preparation wasn’t as “stuck” as so many believed?
- What if we brought together teacher-preparation leaders who were energized by confronting the status quo — and set out to prove that transformation was possible in preparation?
- What if people could see teacher preparation not as an afterthought, but as a driving force for more sustainable pipelines of novice teachers and stronger student outcomes?
From the beginning, DFI was built on a simple but understated belief: education systems must be shaped by people who combine their deep empathy for others with a steadfast commitment to evidence of what works. That conviction guided our founding as a “third way” organization in 2015, and it defines us all the more today.
In 2025, we celebrated our 10th anniversary as an organization. Over the past decade, we’ve worked with practitioners, researchers, and changemakers from classrooms to statehouses to equip new teachers with the knowledge and skills that contribute to strong student outcomes. From supporting hundreds of educator-preparation leaders to reimagine their leadership in our year-long Impact Academy fellowship to moving the needle on instructional improvement with nearly 300 programs, we’ve shifted mindsets, beliefs, and practices to be grounded in evidence. We’ve shared those learnings through impact stories and data that have shaped policies and influenced public narratives about what’s possible when aspiring teachers are ready to effectively teach from day one.
As we pause and look back, it’s clear the field has evolved in profound ways. Educator-preparation programs are increasingly grounding instruction in evidence of what works, better aligned with the needs of today’s PK-12 classrooms, and being shaped by leaders who recognize that innovation and responsiveness are both possible and essential. In our “Hand in Hand, Place to Place” podcast, where we explore how teacher preparation has changed and where it’s headed, our partners shared glimpses of key shifts over the last decade:
- A nationwide movement to adopt evidence-based instruction particularly in early literacy and mathematics, with EPPs strengthening coherence between research, coursework, and the instructional needs of today’s classrooms.
- A growing embrace of paid, practice-based clinical experiences, such as teacher apprenticeships and residencies, that better prepare future teachers by ensuring high-quality, mentor-supported practice is accessible to all who aspire to teach.
- A shift from the mindset of “anyone can teach” in state policy toward the passage of new legislation and guidelines that actively invest in rigorous preparation, raise the floor on standards, and strengthen the long-term development and retention of the educator workforce.
Looking to the next 10 years, DFI will continue to support changemakers, ground our work in evidence, and amplify the ideas that stand to change the system to ensure more future teachers and students thrive.
Thank you for continuing to believe in us and in what’s possible.
With gratitude and resolve,
Valerie Sakimura
Executive Director, DFI
