As part of the Baker Teacher Leader Center's ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and meaningful impact, we regularly review our programs and initiatives to ensure they best serve educators, schools, and communities. 

Following this thoughtful evaluation, the Teacher Leader Certificate will no longer be offered through the Baker Teacher Leader Center (BTLC) beginning spring 2026. 

This transition allows BTLC to further strengthen its core areas of impact: high-quality professional learning, innovative research initiatives, and dynamic service-learning partnerships in PK–12 settings. These areas have long been central to our mission, and this shift provides greater time, flexibility, and capacity to expand this work in ways that are responsive to the evolving needs of educators and schools. 

Students who are currently in progress and have voluntarily indicated (by February 13, 2026) that they plan to complete the BTLC Certificate must finish all requirements by December 15, 2026. 

We are excited about this next chapter for BTLC and look forward to sharing additional details about new opportunities and initiatives later this semester. 

If you have any questions, feel free to email TLC@uiowa.edu.