About us - International Teachers Association

About ITA and the Executive Board Members

The International Teachers Association (ITA) is a prestigious global organization headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, dedicated to empowering educators and institutions through professional development, accreditation, and innovative educational programs. Founded with the purpose of creating a platform for knowledge exchange and capacity-building among teachers, the ITA has established itself as an authority in advancing global educational standards. The association organizes international conferences, accreditation programs, and specialized initiatives that promote excellence in teaching practices across diverse educational systems. With flagship projects such as the International Olympiad for 21st Century Teachers and Managers and the ITA Accreditation Project, the ITA has become a recognized leader in benchmarking high-quality teaching, while fostering a culture of continuous professional growth for educators worldwide.

Beyond its core projects, the ITA has earned recognition for its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to teaching through its STEM/STEAM programs. These initiatives unite educators from across the globe, fostering the integration of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics into classroom practice. By promoting innovative pedagogy and collaborative models of instruction, ITA ensures students are better prepared to thrive in the knowledge-based economies of the 21st century. The association has successfully extended its work across continents, forming strategic partnerships with schools, universities, and governments to create educational models that are both scalable and sustainable. The ITA’s reputation as a thought leader in professional teacher development underscores its critical role in shaping global educational policy and advancing innovative learning approaches for future generations.

A Message from Our Founder

My name is Dr. Peter Cooper, and I am the founder and Chairman of the International Teachers Association.

Every organisation begins with a dream. Ours began in 2016, when my friend Mr. Daniel Ostermiller, and I first shared the hope of creating a true home for teachers, a place where educators around the world could feel seen, supported, and connected. For three years, that dream stayed with us and grew stronger. In 2019, we finally took the leap and founded ITA.

Our beginning was simple but heartfelt. We wanted to build a platform where educators and educational institutions could come together to exchange ideas, share their hopes, and dream about a better future for education, whether by improving what already exists or by building something entirely new.

What happened next moved us deeply. The response was far beyond anything we had imagined. As our community grew, so did the ways we could serve it, and today our members come from 150 countries. Teachers from every corner of the world have found a place here, and that is something we never take for granted.

At the heart of everything I do are two personal missions. The first is to offer free education wherever possible. The second is to keep membership free, so that no one is ever left out because of cost. I believe that every teacher, every learner, and every dreamer deserves a place in our mission, vision, and goals. Education is a human right, and no one should be turned away from it.

Together, we are building something that belongs to all of us.