Project Inspire Teacher Residency

What Project Inspire Teacher Residency does

Public Education Forward (PEF), formerly the Public Education Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1989 and headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The organization operates within Hamilton County and pursues a three-pillar mission focused on Students, Teachers, and Innovators. Its core programs include Camp College (a year-long college preparation and financial aid navigation program for first-generation students), Teacher Resident Sponsorship (recruitment and training of teachers for high-need Hamilton County classrooms), and eLab Instructional Learning (professional development delivered in partnership with VW eLab teacher teams). PEF also develops 'Innovators' programs aimed at supporting education leaders who drive school- and district-wide impact.

PEF does not sell products or services; rather, it is funded through donations and corporate sponsorships. The organization has formalized a tiered sponsorship model with price points of $5,000 (Camp College), $9,100 (Teacher Resident), and $10,000 (eLab Instructional Learning), each tied to a defined programmatic outcome. Distribution is direct: programs are delivered in-person through partnerships with Hamilton County schools and the broader local education community. The staff is small (~10 employees), and organizational reach is intentionally regional rather than national.

Over its 35+ year history, PEF claims cumulative impact of 750k+ students supported, 1.5k teachers empowered, and 150+ schools served across Hamilton County. In 2026 the organization rebranded from Public Education Foundation to Public Education Forward, signaling a public repositioning. No AI/ML, technology platform, or proprietary software products are disclosed; the organization's value proposition is built on community relationships, program delivery capacity, and an established regional brand.

Name

Project Inspire Teacher Residency

Legal name

Public Education Forward

Website

https://projectinspiretn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Public Education Forward (PEF) is a Chattanooga-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers teacher residency, college preparation, and educator professional development programs to students, teachers, and school leaders across Hamilton County, Tennessee, funded through donations and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative Teacher Certification & Licensure Programs (EDAHAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Portfolio, Capstone & Project-Based Program Support (EDAMAKAD), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Teacher residency program
• Education nonprofit services
• Teacher training
• College preparation
• Professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Chattanooga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Project Inspire Teacher Residency is a program of Public Education Forward (PEF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs sponsorship-funded educational programs in Hamilton County, Tennessee. The core offerings include the Teacher Resident Sponsorship (training and placing residents in high-need classrooms), Camp College Sponsorship (year-long college preparation for first-generation students), and eLab Instructional Learning (professional development for VW eLab teacher teams). All programs are funded through donations and sponsorships ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 per unit.

Product overview

Public Education Forward (PEF) is an education nonprofit organization operating a multi-program portfolio focused on students, teachers, and education innovators. The core offerings include Teacher Resident Sponsorship (teacher training), Camp College Sponsorship (first-generation college preparation), and eLab Instructional Learning (professional development for eLab teachers). These programs are organized into three strategic pillars: Students Programs (high school to career pathways), Teachers Programs (recruitment and support), and Innovators Programs (school/district impact).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Teacher Resident Sponsorship A sponsorship-supported program that recruits and trains one Teacher Resident to serve in a high-need Hamilton County classroom. Sponsorship priced at $9,100 per resident.
• Camp College Sponsorship A year-long program providing first-generation students with skills, mentorship, and resources to confidently navigate college applications and financial aid. Sponsorship priced at $5,000 per student.
• eLab Instructional Learning Comprehensive professional learning for VW eLab teacher teams to ensure high-quality instructional growth. Sponsorship priced at $10,000 per team.

Quantifiable outcome

• 750k+ students supported since 1989
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• VW eLabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for eLab Instructional Learning program that supports comprehensive professional learning for VW eLab teacher teams to ensure high-quality instructional growth. PEF provides funding of $10,000 per sponsorship to support these teacher teams.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/project-inspire-tn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Project Inspire Teacher Residency