Building Mentor Capacity. Strengthening Tennessee’s Educator Pipeline.
Led by the University of Tennessee System, the Collaboratory is a statewide initiative led by the University of Tennessee System to strengthen Tennessee’s educator pipeline by investing in mentor teachers & EPP and district leaders.
The University of Tennessee Mentor & Leadership Collaboratory is a statewide professional learning network advancing Tennessee’s educator workforce through mentorship, collaboration and leadership development. This sustainable, scalable model for educator development engages in on going learning, collaboration and co-design to improve outcomes for aspiring educators across Tennessee.
Tennessee’s educator workforce faces ongoing challenges in recruitment, preparation and retention.
The University of Tennessee Mentor & Leadership Collaboratory addresses these challenges by:
This work ensures that every aspiring educator is supported—and every student benefits.
At the core of this work, the UT Collaboratory Mentor Teacher Network connects educators across districts, EPPs and communities—strengthening consistency, building confidence and driving collective impact.
What this network provides:
The University of Tennessee Mentor & Leadership Collaboratory is more than a program—it is a statewide movement to reimagine how educators are prepared, supported and retained.
By investing in mentors and leaders today, Tennessee is building a stronger educator workforce for tomorrow.
The UT Collaboratory Mentor Toolkit is a comprehensive resource designed to support mentor teachers and program leaders in their daily work. This toolkit serves as both a training resource and a professional learning guide, supporting continuous growth and program quality.
What’s included:
Explore the Collaboratory Mentor Toolkit and start strengthening your mentorship practice today.
The UT Collaboratory provides ongoing engagement opportunities to ensure mentors and program leaders are continuously supported.
These experiences create a connected, statewide learning community.
The UT Collaboratory is designed to deliver meaningful, measurable impact:
The UT Collaboratory is part of the University of Tennessee System Grand Challenges initiative—an effort to address Tennessee’s most pressing issues through innovation and partnership. As a Grand Challenges project, the Collaboratory advances educator workforce development by strengthening mentor support systems and expanding access to high-quality teacher preparation across the state.