Teacher Residency
The Teacher Residency Model
All students deserve a highly-quality education. Research shows us that the greatest school factor that can impact a child’s learning outcomes is the quality of their teacher. Therefore, we are focused on recruiting, preparing, and developing highly effective teachers in the classroom. Through the teacher residency, residents complete coursework that is applied to both certification and master’s degree credits while training under a mentor teacher. This model allows teacher residents to learn theory and apply strategies in real-time.
Residents gradually transition from observing and supporting the mentor teacher, to lead-teaching full days of instruction by the end of the school year. After the residency year is complete, graduates commit to being a teacher of record in Kansas City for at least 3 years. Throughout the entire process, The EA provides instructional coaching to our teachers to ensure they are growing to become highly effective in their classrooms.
Residency Year (1 year)
- Model emphasizes classroom experience with a mentor teacher, supplemented with coursework
- One-on-one instructional coaching from EA staff
- Service through AmeriCorps
- Receive a stipend
During the Residency Year and AmeriCorps service year, teacher residents spend 1 day and 1 evening a week in EA coursework. Coursework both prepares residents for their classroom experience, and grounds them in foundational principles of instruction that will prepare them for their teaching certification and beyond. The other 4 days of the school week, residents are in the classroom with their mentor teacher serving students and applying their learning in real time. This model allows residents to gain substantial experience in the classroom before becoming a teacher of record. This rigorous program provides a gradual release into teaching responsibilities. EA staff support residents through coaching, and testing support, so by the end of the residency year, residents are fully certified and will have earned 18 hours towards a master’s degree from UMKC.
Teaching Commitment (3 years)
- Full-time teacher of record in a partner school of EA
- Earn full time salary through partner district
- Continue to engage in instructional coaching from EA staff
Resident graduates commit to teach for 3 years in a partner school of The Educator Academy. Throughout the duration of the teaching commitment, The EA continues to provide development and support through professional development opportunities, coaching, and community events. Graduates can complete the second half of their master’s degree with UMKC.
Why choose the teacher Residency Program?
Why Choose Our Program?
The Educator Academy is dedicated to making a difference in education. Our unique teacher certification and preparation program will empower you to become the teacher that students deserve.
- Equity Focused, Kansas City Centered
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We customize our course work to be meaningful to the context of Kansas City and the specific school context in which you’ll be placed with your mentor. Through our program, teacher residents learn about the history of education in Kansas City and history of racism within our public education system. By looking at our unique history, we prepare teachers for the specific circumstances they will encounter in Kansas City schools and prepare them to be leaders for change within the classroom and their school.
- Community Support
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Our program works within a cohort model, meaning you will have dozens of other AmeriCorps members going through the teacher residency program right alongside you. Throughout the process, you will gain support from other individuals who also have a passion for educational equity. Cohorts serve as a point for professional and personal support and growth. Beyond your cohort, being a part of one of the most forward-thinking teachers training programs in the nation connects you to our entire The Educator Academy network of residents, graduates, mentors, and alumni.
- Hands on Experience
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We go beyond the theoretical experience—we want you to be deeply connected to the communities and children you will be teaching. Traditional training and preparation models often include years of course work followed by a short student teaching experience; our residency model is flipped. From the start of the school year, you will be in your mentor teacher’s classroom gaining hands-on experience. The certification and master’s courses you attend are meant to bolster and support your experience within the classroom.
- Teacher Wellness Supports
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In addition to our programmatic development through classroom mentorship and coaching, Educator Academy also offers well-being and sustainability supports to our members as they work towards accelerated certification including:
- Experience check-Ins:
- Time and task management tools
- Teacher support spaces
- Access to free and low cost mental health services
- Relocation supports
- Wellness funds
And more!
- Preparation & Development
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Our program stands out in the depth of support that we provide. In addition to your mentor teacher, you will also have weekly support from a coach of The Educator Academy. We see coaching as a primary lever to grow and develop highly effective teachers. Our coaching style and approach is adapted to meet needs of our residents and their mentor teacher while helping them apply their coursework in their classroom. We customize the certification and master’s coursework to The Educator Academy context to support your training and development as an educator. All of these intentional supports aid in preparing highly effective teachers for Kansas City area schools.
Teacher Residency
Financial Aspects of the Program
The Educator Academy is a financially competitive option for receiving your teaching certification. Too often, finances keep well-qualified individuals from joining education, so we work to make the financial components of our teacher training program as reasonable as we can. Residents pay for tuition through the University of Missouri-Kansas City for the master’s degree, and are therefore eligible for federal student aid, scholarships, and grants. In addition, residents are AmeriCorps members which means they receive a living stipend, are eligible for an education award, and can receive health care benefits.
Financial Supports
Residency Stipend – The Educator Academy provides a $25,000 taxable living stipend for residents during the residency year to help aid their living costs as they commit to the full-time residency programming. After the residency year, graduates are then teachers-of-record earning a salary from their school site.
Americorps Benefits – Residents are eligible for various benefits including: Segal Education Award which is a grant of $7,395 that can be used on federal loans or tuition. Additionally, AmeriCorps provides access to childcare assistance, loan deferment, interest forgiveness and more!
Other Benefits – The EA subsidizes a portion of the cost for enrolling in the healthcare plan endorsed by the EA and also provides textbooks for all residents during the residency year. Black residents are also eligible for the Black Educator Initiative. This includes the Josephine Silone Yates scholarship for master’s coursework and additional certification and emergency funds support.
Costs of Program
Certification Costs – Residents are responsible for a background check and the cost of certification test. Cost vary depending on the content area of certification and the number of testing attempts. Assistance with certification costs may be available.
Teacher Residency
Additional Financial Aspect for Master’s Degree
The Residency Program provides you with the opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree. The Master’s Degree + Certification track gives access to additional education and development, particularly in the second year, along with access to higher earning potential at many of our partners, who have a graduated pay scale for teachers who hold a Master’s. This pathway comes with additional benefits and costs, outlined below.
Financial Supports with the Master’s Degree
TEACH Grant – This is an optional grant managed by the Federal Government that many residents choose to pursue to help cover the cost of their tuition, providing grants of up to $4,000 a year. The requirements for the TEACH grant are separate from and beyond the EA commitment.
Higher Earning Potential – Many of our school partners have a salary schedule that includes higher wages for individuals with an advanced degree. Teachers who have an advanced degree can make more over the life of their career.
Costs of Program with the Master’s Degree
Master’s Degree – Program participants who pursue a Master’s complete their Master of Arts in Teaching through our partnership with the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC). This program consists of 36 credit hours completed over 6 semesters. The tuition rate is set by the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC). Funding may be available to assist Black residents with tuition. For year 2 of the master’s program, individuals are responsible for purchasing any needed textbooks.
Ready to join the Teacher Residency Program?
The Educator Academy Process
- Eligibility
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- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
- Able to commit to teaching in an Educator Academy partner school for at least three years
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident
- Application
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- Stage 1: Initial Application – Applicants submit an initial application with their basic information including academic history, background experience, certification preferences, as well as one short answer question. Submit your application here!
- Stage 2: Phone Interview – The Educator Academy conducts a 30 minute phone interview where we ask a few questions, check in about application materials, and answer any questions candidates may have. Applicants also submit three references and all unofficial transcripts.
- Stage 3: Selection Day – Applicants attend a full day event which includes more interviews, a group project, & teach a demonstration lesson to other other adults.
- Residency Year / AmeriCorps Year of Service
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- Attend Summer Institute, a full-time, 5-week intensive training
- Attend Seminar courses all day Monday, and Methods courses Wednesday evenings
- Placement at a school with a Mentor Teacher for training Tuesday – Friday
- Participate in coaching and development opportunities
- Take certification content test
- Teaching Commitment
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- Work full time as a teacher of record within one of our partner public schools in Kansas City for 3 years after the completion of the residency year
- Continue to engage in The Educator Academy coaching and development opportunities
- Complete your master’s course work
Which Program is right for me?
The Residency vs Fellowship
Both of our teacher certification programs provide you support and development in your career in education. Both pathways are rigorous and accelerated, yet each has unique requirements and offerings.
Both Offer:
- Teacher wellness support
- High quality instructional coaching
- Certification in 1 year
- Access to The Educator Academy network
Fellowship
The fellowship focuses on individuals with significant experience in the classroom–moving them into a lead teacher role within a school while earning their certification in 1 year. Following teacher certification, The EA continues to provide support and coaching to ensure fellow graduates are set up for success in their career.
- Requires instructional experience, either as a lead teacher or support role focused on academics.
- Teacher of Record year 1 in the program
- 2-year teaching commitment
Residency
The residency is a 1 year program followed by a 3 year teaching commitment. This gradual release model supports individuals with a wide range of experience to transition into the classroom.
- No background in education required
- 1 year residency before teacher of record year
- 3 year teaching commitment
Want to learn more about the residency? Check out our frequently asked questions
Ready to be a Teacher?
Are you ready to earn your teaching certification and master’s degree while receiving coaching and support in a hands-on classroom environment? Then we want you to apply for the most innovative teachers training programs in Kansas City.