Our Mission

West Michigan Teacher Collaborative exists to ensure all students in Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa Area ISDs have excellent teachers. We seek to be a model of high-quality educator preparation and development in the region, and to create a community of highly-trained educators who reflect the rich diversity of our students. We believe great teachers can dramatically impact the lives of students, families, and the communities they serve.

Our Approach

West Michigan Teacher Collaborative lowers the bureaucratic and financial barriers to the teaching profession while maintaining high standards for teacher preparation and quality. West Michigan Teacher Collaborative candidates participate in a rigorous selection process designed to identify their potential to accelerate learning and their passion for serving students and families. Once selected, candidates receive full-time employment opportunities during their certification process, free coursework, living stipends, and a community of support to help them navigate the challenges of transitioning into the profession. We partner with Grand Valley State University for all required coursework, and classes use a hybrid model of in-person and online instruction. All learning experiences are designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and mindsets needed to be an effective teacher.

Our Values

Our Origin Story

West Michigan Teacher Collaborative began with a powerful vision: to create a new, more inclusive pathway into the teaching profession, led by someone who had lived and breathed public education for years—our founder, Laura Castle.

Laura's journey as an educator began in underserved communities and eventually led her to leadership roles across the country. With every step, her commitment to the transformative power of great teaching grew. In 2019, she brought this passion to West Michigan, where she began designing a program that would lower barriers, raise standards, and build a more representative teacher workforce.

The early days of WMTC were shaped by Laura’s vision and her belief in what’s possible when the right people come together. She invited others to think differently and built something new from the ground up. As our first team member, Morgan Dailey, described it:

"Laura Castle doesn’t just talk about great teaching. She embodies it. She believes in students, she believes in teachers, and she built an entire program to help others answer the call to teach."

Today, Laura continues to serve as a trusted advisor to the program she created. This work started with her. Her legacy lives in every new teacher who joins our community and in the students whose lives they will touch. And we’re proud to carry it forward.