In 2009, such specialized training did not exist for high caliber teachers. NAATE was founded because we see teachers as the single most important resource in the whole equation. NAATE believes it is strategic to invest in top tier teachers, nurture them, deepen their classroom practice, and develop their skills to support and lead peers. Already high-performing teachers need to continuously work on their own classroom mastery. They also need to develop the skills to transfer their knowledge and support peers, struggling teachers and newer teachers. By making such investments, school leadership would have the capacity, talent and resources to sustain high performance in teaching as well as improve recruitment, onboarding, training, coaching, mentoring, and professional development.