Recruiting and Selecting Teacher Residents
Identifying Future Educators in Your Community
The MAT Teacher Residency Pathway is designed to support school districts' Grow Your Own initiatives by creating pathways for individuals already working in or connected to their communities to become certified teachers.
Potential teacher residents may include paraeducators, substitute teachers, and other individuals who have demonstrated an interest in pursuing a career in education.
The District's Role in Recruitment
District partners play an important role in identifying and recommending prospective teacher residents. Because districts understand their own workforce needs and community contexts, they are well positioned to identify individuals who may be successful in the residency Pathway.
Districts are encouraged to:
- Identify potential candidates within their schools and communities.
- Share information about the Pathway with interested employees.
- Encourage qualified individuals to apply to MAT Teacher Residency Pathway.
- Participate in candidate interviews and selection, as appropriate.
- Recommend candidates for available residency opportunities.
Selecting Teacher Residents
The selection process involves both the university and the district partner.
District partners help determine whether prospective residents are a good fit for their available placements, while CWU evaluates candidates for admission to the MAT Teacher Residency Pathway and eligibility for teacher certification.
Admission to the MAT Teacher Residency Pathway and selection for a teacher residency placement are related but separate processes.
What Makes a Strong Teacher Resident?
Successful candidates typically demonstrate:
- A commitment to becoming an effective educator.
- An interest in serving the students and communities within the partner district.
- The ability to balance graduate-level academic coursework with an intensive classroom internship.
- A willingness to learn from experienced mentor teachers.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and professional dispositions.
Working Together to Build Your District's Teacher Pipeline
CWU works closely with district partners throughout recruitment and selection to identify candidates whose professional goals and qualifications align with district needs and available residency placements.
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