If you are already certified, and are looking to recertify, please click here.
If you are a district employee and are looking to be a trainer, click here.
If you would like to train for Kagan as an Associate Trainer, click here.
Process
The Kagan School Trainer Certification program is structured to support the elements of effective staff development and school improvement. The real goal of staff development is to create systemic change that positively impacts student learning over time. It is essential that any new innovation be part of a structured school improvement process that includes training, monitoring, support, and resources. The primary focus of the trainer certification program will be to train School Trainers in institutions where cooperative learning has been chosen as a school-wide initiative with administrator and teacher buy-in.
Careful consideration has been given to the research on staff development. The three-part process identified below has embedded components that enhance transfer from the workshop to implementation in the classroom. This 3-part process must be completed within four years. Although this process is rigorous, the components are essential to successful long-term implementation of Cooperative Learning: Kagan Structures for Active Engagement.
Description and Requirements
School Level Training
- Entire staff (at least 90%) completes at least one day of cooperative learning with a Kagan National Trainer. More days are strongly recommended with a national
trainer. See Workshops. Applicant submits documentation of training
that includes date of training, Kagan trainer and % of staff in attendance.
Rationale: Staff must be exposed to Kagan Structures for Active Engagement before they can fully support the initiative. - School principal and other administrators attend training with staff and commit to support and monitor the initiative.
- Applicant submits a letter of support from building administrator. Letter includes but is not limited to
the following:
• How Cooperative Learning fits into building initiatives.
• How applicant will be utilized to support cooperative learning.
• Why applicant was chosen to apply.
• Date of Cooperative Learning training attended by administrator.
Rationale: No successful implementation can occur and sustain itself without administrative support.
School Improvement
- Kagan Structures for Active Engagement is identified as a strategy in the building school improvement plan. All staff agree to implement the initiative.
- Applicant submits the page(s) out of the school improvement plan and highlights where Kagan Cooperative Learning is
noted as a strategy. Optional: Additional pages regarding support, resources and timelines may also be
submitted.
Rationale: It is essential to involve staff in collaborative decision making regarding school-wide initiatives.
Trainer Selection/Certification
- Certification applicant must complete a week-long institute by a Kagan National Certified Trainer within three years of the application. (This can occur earlier in the process.)
Rationale: In order to become a trainer, teachers must participate in the actual training they will be conducting at a later date. - Certification candidate must use the Kagan Structures and content from the week-long training with students in a classroom for a minimum of one year. Note: If applicant is not a classroom teacher, he/she must borrow a classroom or classrooms to practice with students. This applies to building and/or district administrators and coaches.
Rationale: A trainer must be able to stand in front of a group and speak from experience. Participants often have questions that can only be answered by someone who has used the structures with students. - Certification candidate must submit the following:
- Written description of your use of 5 Kagan Structures. Please include content, grade level and student work samples if appropriate.
- One page sample lesson plan reflecting the use of Kagan Structures. Please include structures different from those described above.
- Two video clips teaching a structure to students (10-15 minutes), and teaching a different structure to adults (10-15 minutes). The videos can be unlisted links from a service like YouTube or Vimeo. Make sure the videos are set to unlisted.
Rationale: Kagan must ensure that all School Trainers can work successfully with students as well as adults. See trainer characteristics checklist for more information. - One page video reflection with your permission for Kagan to use your videos for training purposes only. Reflection should include perceptions, insights and ideas for improvement if appropriate. Reflection should be about both video clips submitted.
- $50 application fee applies.
- If accepted, school trainer must attend school trainer workshop within 3 years of initial training. Training will be held once a year. Kagan reserves the right to cancel trainings that do not meet minimum enrollment requirements. The next training will be scheduled for the summer of 2023. Cost is $999.
Rationale: Kagan regularly updates the content of workshops. Therefore, it is important that initial training is current to stay abreast of revisions. - School Trainer agrees to abide by guidelines established by Kagan which includes trainer expectations and
copyright guidelines. Click here for Kagan's copyright policy.
Rationale: Kagan is committed to protecting the quality and integrity of the Kagan model. - School Trainer recertifies every three years to maintain school trainer certification.
Rationale: Materials, content and resources used in training are continually improving and updating.
Application Window Closed.
Next application window is January 1, 2024 through March 1, 2024.
Applicants will be notified by April 2024.
