Institutes are structured virtual learning experiences that introduce participants to NCTR’s Levers for Teacher Residencies and foundational elements of teacher apprenticeship design. NCTR consultants guide teams through key program components, share promising practices from across the NCTR Network, and provide examples and tools to support program development.

The customized learning progression of institutes includes consulting on foundational elements of the teacher residency model:

• Innovative Recruitment for Teacher Residents, Mentors, and Training Sites
  NCTR illustrates how residencies transform the teacher preparation pathways, recruiting candidates from the community to address staffing shortages. Design teams draft resident recruitment strategies tailored to meet the specific needs of local students, schools, and districts. Participants will devise a compelling resident value proposition to attract and motivate aspiring teachers, emphasizing the crucial support from mentor teachers and training sites, while also defining a vision for these roles and establishing selection criteria for both mentors and training sites.
• Innovative Selection for Teacher Residents, Mentors, and Training Sites
  NCTR emphasizes the need for an innovative selection process. Design teams will work together to devise asset-based selection criteria for teacher residents and mentor teachers, aligned with the program’s mission and vision. Additionally, they will explore the importance of extending this process to training sites, ensuring alignment with selection criteria and a focus on serving underserved schools.
• Holistic Intentional Supports for Teacher Residents, Mentors, and Training Sites
  NCTR underscores the significance of fostering strong, respectful connections within the residency program, spanning program staff, training site, district leaders, fellow residents, and teacher educators. During this institute, design teams will draft resident matriculation activities, establish onboarding protocols for residents, mentors, and principals, and develop a comprehensive plan for mentor professional development.
• Program Showcase
  NCTR convenes Design Academy programs to reflect, celebrate, and share insights from their residency design. Programs will highlight successes and promising practices in preparation for launching teacher residency programs.

This scope of work is subject to change as a result of experience, new information, changes in process requirements, and/or the availability of resources. NCTR will provide notification for any changes made to this scope of work.

During in-person engagements, NCTR consultants visit partner sites to deepen their understanding of the local context, community, partnerships, and leadership structures. These sessions create opportunities for collaborative planning, stakeholder engagement, and strategic decision-making that support successful program implementation.

This scope of work is subject to change as a result of experience, new information, changes in process requirements, and/or the availability of resources. NCTR will provide notification for any changes made to this scope of work.

NCTR carefully selects exemplary teacher residency and apprenticeship programs to host site visits aligned with participants’ goals and areas of focus. During these immersive, multi-day experiences, participants engage with program leaders, residents or apprentices, mentor teachers, and partners to observe promising practices in action. Site visits may include observations of clinical experiences, mentor professional learning, partnership meetings, recruitment efforts, and other key program components that demonstrate effective implementation of NCTR’s Levers and apprenticeship best practices.

This scope of work is subject to change as a result of experience, new information, changes in process requirements, and/or the availability of resources. NCTR will provide notification for any changes made to this scope of work.