Curriculum

UNC Charlotte Teacher Residency Program participants will have the opportunity to gain an initial K-12 teaching license and complete a master’s degree (advanced license) in less than 18 months. Upon completion of the initial licensure residency program (Phase I), candidates can choose to complete additional online coursework (Phase II) to complete the M.A.T. with a concentration in their area of expertise (e.g., mathematics, science, TESL, or foreign language).

To maximize convenience and affordability, while still adhering to a practice-based approach to teacher preparation, the program offers a blended approach that includes a combination of primarily online instruction with some opportunities for candidates to meet off-site to practice strategies and receive instructor feedback.

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Program Characteristics:

  1. Strong partnerships between a school district and university. The UNC Charlotte Teacher Residency Program was developed in collaboration with our neighboring school district, Cabarrus County Schools (CCS), with which it has a longstanding and mutually-beneficial partnership.

  2. Recruitment of high quality teacher candidates and candidates of color. The UNC Charlotte Teacher Residency Program will take a number of similar steps to ensure selection of candidates with diversity in mind. The inclusion of CCS district administration in the interview and selection process will help to ensure that selected candidates reflect the diversity of students found in their schools. Further, the Cato College of Education plans to enlist the services of its Teacher Recruiter, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, and the UNC Charlotte Faculty Affairs and Diversity Office to recruit underrepresented minority teacher candidates using a variety of targeted strategies

  3. Sustained and deliberate clinical experiences. Meaningful clinical partnerships are the foundation of UNC Charlotte’s Teacher Residency Program. Faculty collaborated to develop a logical progression of meaningful clinical experiences that are connected to coursework. These clinical experiences are differentiated for traditional teacher candidates and residency teachers, require sustained involvement in K-12 classrooms, and provide opportunities for candidates to practice the skills learned in coursework and receive feedback from their mentor teacher.

  4. Capable mentor teachers. Mentoring and coaching are critical components of the UNC Charlotte Teacher Residency Program. Candidates will receive mentoring support from their assigned CCS K-12 mentoring teacher, along with the support from the Site Coordinator. To ensure high quality mentoring, we will use rigorous criteria to select CCS mentors. These mentors will share content area expertise, have a minimum of three years of teaching experience with their mentee, be recommended by their principal, collaborate with colleagues to improve instruction, and demonstrate evidence of teaching effectiveness. All university faculty and CCS mentor teachers will be expected to participate in the annual Teacher Education Institute to gain invaluable mentoring and coaching skills for use while serving as a mentor to a UNC Charlotte Teacher Resident.

  5. Cohort model. The UNC Charlotte Teacher Residency Program will be cohort-based. Each summer (Semester 1), cohorts of 12 teacher candidates will commence the UNC Charlotte Teacher Residency Program. We will hold an annual orientation at a participating school to familiarize all candidates with program requirements and expectations and help foster a sense of community among candidates, As candidates progress to content-specific coursework in Semester 2 (fall), they will work with colleagues who share content area expertise and develop their own networks of content-specific support. These teams (candidate, CCS mentor, and Site Coordinator) will meet monthly to discuss progress, offer support and feedback, and coach candidates to reflect practices learned in their coursework and use coaching strategies learned during the TEI. The release time gained by using substitute teachers will allow opportunities for candidates to co-plan, co-teach, and participate in team meetings and PD activities.

  6. Ongoing support for novice teachers. The UNC Charlotte Teacher Residency Program offers continued mentoring and coaching support to teacher candidates through an established and highly effective induction program. Upon completion of Phase I of the residency program, all graduates will receive support for up to three years at a participating school through the NC New Teacher Support Program (NTSP), a statewide program designed to reduce attrition.