An Apprenticeship Model for Texas

Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of Curriculum and Instruction professors, Dr. Gilbert Naizer (Project Director), Dr. Martha Foote (Co-Principle Investigator), and Dr. Carole Walker (Co-PI and Project Professional Learning Community Coordinator) have received the Texas Teacher Residency Program grant award for the second consecutive cycle. This award, sponsored by The Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), in the amount of $1,396,421, will continue the work of An Apprenticeship Model for Texas teacher preparation and training model leading to teacher certification and a Masters of Education in the Art of Teaching (T-RES II).

The T-RES program recruits individuals who already have a bachelor's degree to complete coursework and clinical experience for teacher certification along with a Master of Education in the Art of Teaching degree. Through the THECB grant funding, and a partnership with the Dallas Teacher Residency organization, the program also provides a stipend for these teacher candidates while they complete the program. T-RES II will be in partnership with Mesquite and Dallas Independent School Districts who will host the residents with placements in their districts, providing the mentor teachers for the year-long residency. The grant award also provides for a sub-award for a similar program at the University of Texas at Tyler.

“Teacher residencies are a state-of the-art method of teacher preparation. Teacher residents, like medical residents spend time in an apprenticeship under the guidance of an expert,” Dr. Naizer said.

Mentors and teacher residents also meet every month to touch base and share as a community.

“We are especially delighted to be starting this third cohort of Teacher Residents in partnership with Mesquite and Dallas ISDs and through the support of the THECB grant. Additionally, our partnership with the Dallas Teacher Residency organization supports this effort through recruitment of the graduate students/residents and in collaboration of program delivery. This latest cohort of teacher residents will begin their coursework this summer and complete their clinical experiences in the 2016-2017 school years,” stated Dr. Foote.

Through this year-long residency in conjunction with graduate level coursework, prospective teachers are better prepared to start their teaching careers.