Why will a teacher residency program be successful at finding strong math and science teachers?
We’re looking for individuals who love math and science. Given those interests, such individuals typically pursue math and science in college rather than a teaching degree. But it’s often the case that they decide they’d like to share this love of math and science with children. Currently, they can do that through an alternative teaching certificate, but this route essentially throws them into sudden, full responsibility for a classroom with very little preparation – and they have to go to school at night to gain certification at the same time that they are wrestling the challenges of classroom planning, grading papers, and learning how to teach! The difficulties of this approach are a deterrent to many people. Teacher residency offers a much stronger method of giving a teacher the training, experience and support needed to take effective responsibility for a classroom.
