Urban Teacher Residency Program

students sitting around work table

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: elementarysecondary 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