Urban Teacher Residency Program
About us
The Urban Teacher Residency Program at Western Michigan University works to develop an affordable pathway for long-term substitute teachers and paraprofessionals to become certified teachers in Benton Harbor Area Schools and Kalamazoo Public Schools. Urban Teacher Residents receive a $20,000 stipend to participate in the program with a new cohort of 25 Resident Teachers launching annually in July. We offer elementary, special education and secondary teaching pathways.
- In this 12-month program, Urban Teacher Residents take online graduate courses in culturally responsive teaching and content standards for your desired area.
- Students complete a research project using assessment data to inform their teaching practices.
- Resident Teachers become certified in the district and receive 3 years of comprehensive induction support to be effective urban educators.
- We offer three pathways: elementary, secondary and special education.
Program goals
- Recruit more teachers of color by creating cohorts that are at least 20% racially diverse.
- Ensure that all program graduates have the professional development they need to be rated as effective teachers within three years.
- Increase the number of certified teachers in high need areas by at least 90 teachers.
- Increase the three-year retention of certified teachers in high need areas.
Hear from a recent graduate
Video of WMU UTRP