The Oaks Center exists to strengthen teaching by supporting the people doing the work: teachers and mentors. We provide advocacy, human resources, and program support alongside professionally developed and supported tools, professional learning, and collaborative structures that help educators stay grounded in their purpose while building effective classroom practices.
We understand that teacher growth is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. Our work combines research-based strategies with extensive real-world experience, making the products, services and support we provide grounded in practicality and highly adaptable. Our work ranges from supporting beginning teachers to building and operating full induction programs, always tailored to the specific context of each teacher, mentor, school, district, or partner.
Our current work includes:
Professional Development
The Oaks Center develops and conducts workshops, coaching sessions, and professional learning communities tailored to the needs of teachers at all stages. These sessions are designed not only to build instructional skills but also to strengthen confidence, encourage reflective practice, and deepen classroom engagement. We work with schools and districts to align professional development with their goals while keeping teachers’ day-to-day realities at the center.
Teacher Induction Consulting
The Oaks Center consults with districts and schools on the design and operation of teacher induction programs. We help school and district leaders create systems that provide consistent support for beginning teachers, ensure and manage compliance with state requirements, and guide teachers toward clearing their certifications. Our consulting includes program design, mentor training, evaluation frameworks, and hands-on assistance so that new teachers feel supported and remain in the profession.
Mentor Training Programs
The Oaks Center provides tools, protocols, guidance, counseling, and online courses for new and experienced mentors. Our training emphasizes practical strategies for guiding conversations, supporting teacher identity development, and fostering resilience in the teachers who rely on their mentors’ guidance. We design mentor supports to be flexible and adaptable, so mentors can use them in one-on-one coaching, group sessions, or site-wide initiatives.
Teacher Placement & Partnerships
The Oaks Center works with schools and agencies to provide qualified instructors where they are needed most. Our current partnerships include managing instructors and handling HR services for educational programs serving under-resourced schools, ensuring students have access to high-quality learning opportunities. We are well-positioned to support contract placement of teachers more broadly, helping districts, schools, and community programs secure skilled educators while providing payroll, benefits, compliance, and ongoing professional development services.
Free Tools & Downloads
The Oaks Center continually develops practical resources that teachers and mentors can adapt quickly to their own contexts. These include templates, coaching protocols, and reflection guides designed for everyday use. By providing these resources at no cost, we make it easier for educators to save time and focus more fully on their students, while developing their capabilities in ways that have been time-tested and professionally designed.
At The Oaks Center, we know that teachers and mentors remain lifelong learners. Everything we create: online courses, coaching protocols, professional learning programs, and more, is designed to assist teachers and mentors in the critical work of making teaching more sustainable and more connected to students.