The Center for Teaching and Learning, a K-8, nonprofit demonstration school in Edgecomb, welcomed its first group of teacher-interns of the 2013-14 school year last week.

For the past 20 years, teachers from across the country have visited Edgecomb for a week at a time to observe the methods employed by CTL’s faculty and adapt them to their own classrooms and schools.

More than 600 teachers from 39 states, Washington, D.C., India, England, Canada and South America have participated so far in the CTL intern program. Only classroom teachers may apply to become interns; the fees they pay help underwrite tuition assistance for CTL students.

Although not a charter school, CTL accomplishes what charter schools were conceived to do, to innovate, and to pass along successful methods to teachers in public school classrooms.

Faculty members experiment thoughtfully, write books and give presentations about their discoveries, are featured in educational DVD’s about CTL’s programs, and demonstrate their methods in-person to the visiting teachers.

Since 1990 CTL has lived its mission as a demonstration school, collaborating rather than competing with other teachers and schools.