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

Transforming the Teacher Workforce Through Teacher Residencies

NCTR is committed to supporting teacher residency programs that are a proven strategy for increasing quality of preparedness as well as teacher diversity and retention in school districts and communities.

What We Do

The National Center for Teacher Residencies (NCTR) is the leader in consulting the design, launch, sustainability, and growth of teacher residency programs as well as provides support toward becoming a teacher registered apprenticeship program.

NCTR directly impacts the teacher workforce by partnering with school districts, charter management organizations (CMOs), nonprofit organizations, state education agencies (SEAs), and institutions of higher education (IHEs) to provide evidence-based support to teacher residency programs, while guided by its research-based teacher residency model.

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.

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 graduates return to teach in a partner district or CMO for a third year

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 improve outcomes for student achievement and teacher retention.

Explore Our Impact & Results

Explore NCTR Services

We build teacher residencies, and advise districts and states. How can we help you?

Explore Our Services