Oakland Unified School District is committed to ensuring quality community schools in every neighborhood so every child receives a great education and graduates college, career, and community ready.

We believe great teachers are made, not born, and we know the power of teachers in transforming students’ lives. There is a direct through line from highly qualified educators and effective teaching to success and achievement for all children. One teacher with the ability to fully serve their students, over their lifetime, will propel educational access and advancement, learning and achievement forward for thousands of young people in our community.

Oakland Teacher Residency Mission

We seek to cultivate and grow local and diverse STEM and Special Education teachers to serve our students and communities. OUSD STEM and Special Education Residents (1) reflect the critical identities of their students, (2) are highly-skilled practitioners and committed socio-political activists, and (3) receive the highest-quality preparation and support.

We ultimately strive to eliminate the predictive power of demographics and increase opportunities for our underserved students.

Why Choose a Residency?

Through the Oakland Teacher Residency, we aim to support aspiring STEM and Special Education educators with thoughtful, prepared mentors and an immersive apprenticeship experience. This ensures Oakland teacher residents are trained, prepared, and grounded on day one of teaching. National research shows that educators prepared through a teaching residency are both more effective and stay longer than their peers trained differently.

A teacher residency is a full year of immersive classroom experience with an experienced mentor teacher in the field while receiving financial support. Each Resident Teacher is paid $15,000 for the year of student teaching, and in exchange is expected to make a commitment to teaching at least 5 years in OUSD schools.