Le Marquee Le Flora is a Resident at the Memphis TeacherResidency. This photo was taken at Kingsbury High School.

Equitable Access to Teachers of Color Matters

NCTR’s core commitment is to build and develop teacher residencies as a lever to address the enduring and systemic inequities in school systems.

What We Do

The National Center for Teacher Residencies (NCTR) is the only organization in the country dedicated to developing, launching, supporting, and accelerating the impact of teacher residency programs.

Through community-based clinical preparation that is tailored to partner school districts’ context, teacher residencies are a proven strategy to increase teacher diversity, effectiveness, and retention.

Mission

Our mission is to transform educator preparation

by advancing the teacher residency movement to prepare, support, and retain more effective educators who represent and value the communities they serve.

Vision

Students of color and students from
historically undersupported communities

have equitable access to effective, diverse, and culturally responsive educators.

Mission

Our mission is to transform educator preparation

by advancing the teacher residency movement to prepare, support, and retain more effective educators who represent and value the communities they serve.

Vision

Students of color and students
from historically undersupported communities

have equitable access to effective, diverse, and culturally responsive educators.

What is a Teacher Residency?

NCTR’s residency model blends a rigorous full-year classroom apprenticeship for pre-service teachers with academic coursework that is closely aligned with the classroom experience. Teacher residents learn how to teach by working for an entire year alongside a highly trained, supported mentor teacher in the school district where the teacher resident will eventually work. Teacher residency programs typically require that candidates commit to teach in the school for a minimum of three years.

Learn About the Residency Model

What is a Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program?

Teacher registered apprenticeships include on-the-job training with a mentor teacher (also called a journey worker in labor terms) and related coursework while ensuring teacher apprentices earn while they learn and are provided a progressive wage during their teacher preparation. Just like teacher residency programs, teacher registered apprenticeship programs are designed to be rooted in a partnership between a coursework provider (an approved education preparation provider) and an employer (school or school district). NCTR’s teacher residency model centers this partnership.

Learn About Registered Apprenticeships

Armani Alexander is a teacher resident at the Memphis Teacher Residency. This photo was taken at Treadwell Elementary School.

Abigail Broughton is a teacher resident at RTR Teacher Residency. This picture was taken at Ettrick Elementary School.

Why NCTR’s Model is Better

Since 2007, NCTR has helped launch more than 100 teacher residency programs that are preparing diverse and effective educators.

NCTR’s model has been documented to have a unique impact on the instructional effectiveness of mentors. In a study conducted by Glass Frog Solutions, “hosting a resident in NCTR residency programs has shown to improve teacher effectiveness throughout the residency year” (NCTR Annual Report 2019-2020).

0 %

of graduates were hired to teach in Title I schools

0 %

of graduates return to teach for a third year

0 %

of teacher residents enrolled for 2023-2024 identify as a person of color

0 %

of principals report graduates are more effective than the typical first-year teacher
NCTR Network Residency Principal

Having a teacher resident in our school adds value to the classroom... Our students benefit from having another teacher in the classroom, while at the same time, our mentor teacher is developing her leadership, instructional, and mentor skills.
NCTR Network Residency Graduate

My mentor teacher taught me absolutely everything I know. Her classroom management style allowed for mutual respect and safety.
NCTR Network Residency Mentor Teacher

I'm genuinely proud to be a mentor in this program and continue to support our future teachers as they develop into successful educators.
NCTR Network Teacher Resident

The program is rigorous and challenging, but also very rewarding. I think having a full year in a classroom with the support of my university instructors has been an invaluable way to prepare myself to become an effective teacher.

NCTR in Action

Teacher residency programs impact student achievement and teacher retention, improving outcomes for children in hard-to-staff and high-need schools.

Explore Our Impact & Results

Explore NCTR Services

We build residencies for teachers of color, and advise districts and states. How can we help you?

Explore Our Services