The Relay Teaching Residency (RTR)

Residency Program Pillars

Relay Teaching Residency features Relay’s traditional master’s program plus four distinct program pillars that serve to prepare residents to be effective first-year teachers. The program pillars serve to create differentiated and targeted support as residents acquire and integrate new knowledge and skills to hone their craft. Those pillars are:

• Deliberate Practice

• Assessments & Gateways

• Resident Advisor

• Gradual On-Ramp

Within each of the above section links, you will find helpful information to reference as well as summaries and resources for how Residence Advisors can provide critical and relevant support of your Residents! You can also access the entire Resident Advisor Handbook, here.

Relay Resident Job Description

Each Resident has a unique job description based on both school need and the Resident’s expertise and passion. Residents are aware that the Residency year serves as a “year-long interview” and like all people who work in schools, there is some degree of flexibility and willingness required to serve all students.

Resident Roles and Responsibilities

Residents need to spend a large portion of every day in their RAs’ classrooms as an observer, apprentice teacher, and/or co-teacher, depending on their gradual on-ramp. This will provide Residents with several important opportunities to:

• Develop relationships with a group of PK–12 students and their families

• Observe and learn from the RA, who will model strong teaching

• Instruct small groups to support all learners

• Assist with grading and feedback for all students

• Co-teach with the RA

• Practice specific teaching skills in a classroom setting and receive feedback

Gradual On-Ramp Aligned Teaching

The metaphor of a gradual on-ramp implies that Residents should gradually take on increased ownership of whole-class instruction. Fulfilling gradual on-ramp aligned teaching responsibilities throughout the year is a critical part of the job description to ensure readiness for full-time teaching. Above all, residents should proactively and positively communicate and self-advocate to ensure there are ample and appropriate teaching opportunities.

School Support

Residents will be fully present member of a school community; like everyone else in the building, they will pitch in to serve students and advance the school’s mission. Across a given week and a given year, this means providing structured support and maintaining flexibility with school-specific changes or unforeseen events to ensure students meet their goals.

Residents can provide the school with support as/by:

• Teaching intervention blocks by subject or ongoing phonics/guided reading instruction

• Pulling PK–12 students to pre-teach or remediate critical concepts

• Tutoring individual students

• Coordinating school activities like “community meeting” or a rewards program

• Teaching “specials” classes such as research, computer science, gym, or art, with strategic support

• Leading clubs or extracurricular activities

• Teaching SAT/ACT prep

• In-house substitute teaching, which provides opportunities to practice instruction and classroom management*

• Leading homerooms or small-group advisories

• Supervising during morning, lunch, dismissal, or after school

• Providing organizational support by organizing materials or assessments (though this should not be more than 10% of their jobs)

*In-house subbing should be minimal, especially the first few month. Please adhere to your school’s/district’s subbing policies. *

Personal Learning and Development

A critical part of a Resident’s job is to learn and develop as a teacher. This is sacred and protected. This professional learning can include:

• Attending school and network professional development

• Attending all Relay classes, complete all assignments, and be in good standing

• Attending Weekly 30–60 minute check-ins with resident advisor and/or coach to name learning goals, review lessons, and discuss support for the upcoming week

• Initiating learning and development in the teaching profession

• Building deep content expertise through the support of their school team

• Maintaining strong performance in their role and adjust accordingly as needed

It is Relay’s hope that Residents find great success with their current school partner and position. Residents are expected to complete their entire Residency year at one school to ensure consistency in the residency experience and to build strong relationships with students. If a Resident is thinking of making a change to their program or position (e.g., major change, residency/traditional MAT program change, change to a different school site, withdrawal, or taking a leave of absence), they should contact their Relay Faculty advisor right away, as this may have implications for programmatic completion, certification/licensure, and Relay tuition.

Want to learn more about the Residency?

• Access a recorded Residency orientation, HERE.

  • Passcode: 09t%=xG3

• Access the SELF-PACED Nearpod and follow along with the recording.

  • Passcode: I5AMB