Clusters of Mentors and Residents

Characteristic 9: Clusters of mentors and residents support and learn from one another at residency partner Teaching Schools.

The Characteristics and Evidence of an Effective California Teacher Residency Program (the Characteristics) serve as a common framework for teacher residencies in the state. They exemplify the scope and complexity of the development of teacher residency programs by which all partnerships can define and develop their program implementation.

The following evidence-based indicators should be used for each level of residency development. 

• Recruitment or tactical outreach plan for potential Teaching Schools

• Teaching School administrators prioritize residents in hiring processes

• Teaching School selection criteria and process defined and prioritizes schools whose students reflect the LEA’s and community's diversity

• Some/all coursework and professional learning opportunities take place on site in Teaching School classrooms

• Professional learning communities at each Teaching School include administrators, mentors, and residents

• Administrators, mentors, residency graduates and residents examine ways in which white supremacy shows up in grading systems, perpetuates and masks inequities, and discredits improvements made by students over time