Using Improvement Science to Implement and Evaluate a Teacher Residency Program in Rural School Districts

L. K. D’Amico, H. W. West, M. Baker, Rachelle Curcio, Kristin E. Harbour, Stephen L. Thompson, Jessie Guest, Catherine Compton-Lilly, Amber Adgerson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

As teacher preparation paths change and rural areas have opportunities to engage qualified community members in the teaching profession, a flagship university co-developed a teacher residency program with two school districts located in rural communities. Through this partnership, the Networked Improvement Community focused on root causes of recruitment and retention challenges in the rural school districts. Using an improvement science approach, a 14-month residency model was developed to recruit qualified community members to transition to the teaching profession, with a focus on mirroring the diversity of the local community. This study focuses on the development of the residency model and the recruitment of teacher residents for the initial cohort of this alternative teacher preparation program.
Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)83-104
Number of pages22
JournalTheory & Practice in Rural Education
Volume12
Issue number1
StatePublished - Jun 21 2022
Externally publishedYes

Disciplines

  • Education
  • Teacher Education and Professional Development

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