Strategic Staffing
As states across the country grapple with growing teacher shortages, and seek to build a teacher workforce that is well equipped to meet the diverse learning needs of our nation’s students, more and more school systems are turning to teacher residencies — yearlong clinical experiences that pair teacher candidates with highly effective mentor teachers in a K-12 classroom — as a core pillar of their talent pipeline strategy. Teacher residencies are emerging as a highly successful model of teacher preparation, developing candidates that are more diverse, more likely to stay in the classroom longer, and have a greater impact on student learning outcomes.
While teacher residencies are growing rapidly, most programs struggle to create a financially sustainable model that also meets the economic needs of all their candidates. Enrolling in a residency program can create significant financial hardship. Some candidates rely on outside income to help cover tuition or living expenses, yet fitting in a part-time job on top of student teaching and coursework is challenging. Recognizing the economic struggles their students are facing, residencies have begun to test drive creative solutions that meet students’ financial and developmental needs, while also meeting the immediate staffing and instructional needs of schools and districts.
Strategic staffing reallocates underutilized district funds to provide sustainable resident stipends. In turn, residents fulfill immediate instructional needs in schools as a part of their yearlong student teaching experience.
