Innovative Teacher Preparation Program
The Seattle Teacher Residency program is a leader in reimagining the way that teachers are prepared to be Day 1 ready in Seattle Public Schools. Click here for 2024-2025 Cohort 12 Application Process.
The Residency Model
Teacher residency programs, pioneered over the last two decades in cities such as Boston, Chicago, and Denver, successfully apply the medical residency model to teacher preparation. By blending classroom experience with aligned, graduate-level, equity-centered coursework and a Resident/Mentor partnership, residencies such as STR aim to accelerate student achievement through the training, support and retention of excellent and equity-focused teachers. Learn about our partner Residency Programs across the nation through National Center for Teacher Residences: https://nctresidencies.org/
Equity Focus
STR is committed to preparing teachers to work in culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Seattle Public Schools so that they can dismantle educational inequities and barriers for students.
Core Practices
The Core Practices stem from the Values of our program and describe what the work of teaching looks like. The Core Practices are what we DO as teachers, the actions we take, that make the vision and values real and tangible. To that end, the STR Instructional Team uses these Core Practices to plan coursework and makes these practices transparent within their own instruction. In addition, the Core Practices are grounded in the coaching model. Residents are expected to identify core practices in planning for their own instruction and will be evaluated throughout the year with a framework that incorporates these elements.
STR Graduate Benefits
Master in Teaching degree from the University of Washington in one year
Washington State Residency Teaching Certificate, with endorsements in Elementary K-8 and your choice of English Language Learners (Multilingual Learners) or Special Education
Priority hiring and binding contingency teaching contract in Seattle Public Schools in a Title I K-5 setting
Access to the STR network of graduates, alumni, mentors, UW instructors, principals and community partnerships
Impacting Seattle Students Since 2012
Hear about Seattle Teacher Residency from the perspective of some of our program graduates and hiring principals!
The Residency Year
The Seattle Teacher Residency is a Masters in Teaching 1-year teacher preparation program completed through the University of Washington. The 5-quarter program begins in June and runs through August of the following year. Graduates of the program commit to teaching in a Title I school in Seattle Public Schools for 5 years following their residency year.
Residents begin the program and immediately start working with students at an elementary summer school in Seattle Public Schools.
Residents take coursework in methods of teaching literacy, mathematics, social studies and science as well as foundational coursework for working with English language learners (Multilingual learners) and students with disabilities. Theory and best practices are directly implemented in their work with students.
Residents learn about the social and political foundations of school and schooling and begin to engage in our community, families, and politics strand.
Starting from the first day of their Seattle Public School placement school, alongside their Mentor teacher, Residents begin developing relationships with students while learning to develop a classroom community. Monday through Thursday, Residents are planning, co-teaching, pulling small groups for differentiation, and creating connections with families and colleagues.
Residents continue UW coursework on Wednesday evenings and all-day Fridays, continuing to develop strategies and skills around teaching literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies.
Wednesdays in Seattle Public Schools are early release days. Fridays will be spent engaging in UW Coursework off-campus from their assigned Residency placement school.
Residents will have support from an Instructional Coach who is responsible to support the Resident’s development as a professional and a colleague. Coaches observe Residents, provide feedback and push thinking on planning and instruction centered on students and culturally-responsive teaching.
During winter and spring quarters, Residents continue in their placement with their Mentor teacher. They co-plan and co-teach with their mentor teacher on a daily basis and continue to hone their practice while working with their students.
Wednesdays in Seattle Public Schools are early release days. Fridays will be spent engaging in UW Coursework off-campus from their assigned Residency placement school.
Residents will take on Lead Teaching during each program quarter. During Lead Teaching, Residents are responsible for the bulk of the lesson planning and teaching while their Mentor teacher and Coach provide targeted feedback and support.
Residents who have successfully completed all evaluations, testing for endorsements and UW coursework will be recommended for priority hiring from SPS and interview for teaching positions during this quarter. This will result in a binding contract and guaranteed teaching position in a K-5 Title I school.
In addition, Residents, upon successfully completing the program, will graduate from the University of Washington with a Masters in Teaching.
The second summer quarter includes UW coursework related to residents’ choice of second endorsement in either English language learners (ELL or Multilingual learners) or Special Education (SpEd).
At the end of the summer, Residents begin working as teachers of record in Seattle Public Schools, starting the first of their five year commitment to the district's high-need schools. STR will continue to support Graduate Residents through their first year and beyond through Induction opportunities!
UW Coursework
There are two pathways in the STR program. In the General Education (Gen Ed) pathway, Residents choose their second endorsement about halfway through the program – ELL (English Language Learners) or SpEd (Special Education). In the Special Education pathway, Residents front-load some of the SpEd coursework earlier in the program and take a Special Education Seminar.
ELEMENTARY ED + ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS ENDORSEMENTS
- Teaching and Learning in Literacy
- Teaching and Learning in Numeracy
- Schools and Society/Working in Schools
- Culturally Responsive Classroom Management
- Child Development
- Differentiated Instruction: Learning Environments and Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
- Foundations in Special Education
- Assessment in Elementary Education
- Teaching & Learning in Science
- Social Studies Education: Elementary School Programs and Practices
- Field Experience
- Approaches to Assessing 2nd Language Students in K-12 Schools
- Multicultural Socialization and Development
- Methods in Teaching English as a 2nd Language
- Learning Theory
- Understanding Indigenous Perspectives: Since Time Immemorial
- Issues of Abuse
- Physical Education and Health in Schools
- Immigrant Schooling
Typically, the second ELL endorsement is granted after completing a state required practicum during the fall of your first year teaching.
ELEMENTARY ED + SPECIAL EDUCATION ENDORSEMENTS
- Teaching and Learning in Literacy
- Teaching and Learning in Numeracy
- Schools and Society/Working in Schools
- Culturally Responsive Classroom Management
- Child Development
- Differentiated Instruction: Learning Environments and Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
- Foundations in Special Education
- Assessment in Elementary Education
- Teaching & Learning in Science
- Social Studies Education: Elementary School Programs and Practices
- Field Experience
- Managing Student Behavior: Positive Behavior Intervention Support
- Learning Theory
- Understanding Indigenous Perspectives: Since Time Immemorial
- Issues of Abuse
- Physical Education and Health in Schools
- Developing Instructional Materials for students with disabilities
- Autism & other social, communication, & developmental disabilities
Typically, the second SpEd endorsement is granted after completing a state required practicum during the fall of your first year teaching.
SPECIAL EDUCATION + ELEMENTARY ED ENDORSEMENTS
- Special Education Seminar
- Teaching and Learning in Literacy
- Teaching and Learning in Numeracy
- Schools and Society/Working in Schools
- Classroom Management
- Child Development
- Differentiated Instruction: Learning Environments and Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
- Foundations in Special Education
- Assessment in Elementary Education
- Teaching & Learning in Science
- Social Studies Education: Elementary School Programs and Practices
- Field Experience
- Learning Theory
- Understanding Indigenous Perspectives: Since Time Immemorial
- Issues of Abuse
- Physical Education and Health in Schools
- Autism & other social, communication, & developmental disabilities
- Special Education Capstone project
Residents in the SpEd Pathway earn both Elementary and Special Education endorsements by August of their Residency year.
