Survey confirms TExpL strengthens educator confidence and retention

Graduate certificate participants report significant gains as Alvernia advances year-one impact of TExpL programming

Alvernia University releases new outcomes from a 2025 survey of Total Experience Learning® (TExpL) graduate certificate students, providing evidence that the methodology improves educator confidence and supports retention in the profession, including a 25% increased likelihood of staying employed in a school district and 28% increase in likelihood of remaining an educator. The survey included approximately 200 educators who completed the four-course graduate certificate between fall 2024 and May 2025.

"Educators tell us TExpL gives them practical tools they can use the next day, which translates into higher confidence and stronger outcomes for students," said Vice President for Innovation and Educational Ventures and founder of Total Experience Learning, Adelle L. Schade, Ph.D. "These results validate what we see in classrooms every week. When teachers learn to design purposeful, student-led experiences, they feel energized and choose to stay and lead in their schools."

Participants reported a 1.01 point increase on a five-point Likert scale in their confidence to deliver experiential and active learning in their classrooms after completing the certificate. One hundred percent of respondents strongly or somewhat agreed that the coursework improved their teaching, fostered useful collaboration with peers and equipped them with practices that encourage experiential learning. Educators also reported a higher likelihood to stay in their district and in the profession, a number that, according to a 2024 report by the Learning Policy Institute (LPI), matters more than ever, as over 400,000 teaching positions across the country remain vacant or staffed by uncertified teachers.

Anonymous survey comments echoed these findings, noting renewed enthusiasm for teaching and the value of networking with peers: "TExpL reignited my passion for teaching" and "This program changed me as an educator, an administrator, a leader in teaching and instruction."

Graduate certificate findings at a glance:

• +1.01 average increase in educator confidence to deliver experiential and active learning, pre to post certificate
• 100% agreed the coursework improved their teaching and professional growth
• 100% agreed the courses fostered collaboration and provided practices to implement experiential learning
• Likelihood to stay in district improved from 3.6 to 4.5
• Likelihood to stay in the profession improved from 3.6 to 4.6
• Self-confidence as a teacher rose from 4.3 to 4.7

"TExpL was built to address real classroom challenges," said Schade. "The data shows that when educators shift to solutions-driven, student-led learning, they gain agency, see progress and choose to keep doing the work their communities need."

Since TExpL's official launch at Alvernia in August 2024, the institute has accelerated educator engagement, student opportunities and community impact:

• 124 graduate students enrolled in fall 2024
• 100% graduate student retention from fall 2024 to spring 2025
• 97% of educators would recommend the graduate coursework to other educators
• 6 additional Pennsylvania counties engaged for the 2025-26 academic year, including Schuylkill, Philadelphia, Lehigh,, Montgomery, Chester and Dauphin.
• $1M+ in grant funding secured for the 2025-26 academic year.
• 10+ new events drew 800+ attendees in nine months
• 6 public art mural contracts secured for the 2025-26 academic year
• 15 total patent applications approved (or in process) by high school students in TExpL programming across five years, including three during the 2024-25 academic year
• students, educators and visitors engaged with TExpL camps and experiences over four weeks last summer. Registration for the 2026 Momentum Makers Summer Camps opened in January.

These milestones reflect broader momentum for educator innovation and community partnership at Alvernia.

TExpL's Graduate Certificate in Educational Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a four-course, 12-credit program designed for working educators who want to implement experiential, student-led learning with fidelity. Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or an equivalent foreign credential. Courses apply toward Act 45 or Act 48 requirements. Graduates have a seamless pathway to Alvernia's Master of Education in educational leadership.

Learn more about the curriculum, admission requirements and tuition, and start an application by visiting the graduate coursework page. Prospective students or interested administrators can also contact Caryn Stopper, executive director of enrollment and outreach, at 610-796-5073 or [email protected].