Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1470295
"We make sure our residents are receiving that robust training before they enter a classroom on their own." —Esther Jaramillo-Woo, United Educators of San Francisco S chool D i strict (SFUSD), Stanford University and Unit ed Educators of San Francisco (UESF), going into its 13th year. It was designed to be a teacher preparation program and to help the district fill educator vacancies. Jara- millo-Woo says SFUTR was also created to give context and prepare educators for teaching in an urban environment. " We make sure our residents are receiving that robust training before they enter a class- room on their own," says Jaramillo-Woo, a UESF member. " We maintain strong networks and relationships with our residents throughout their time in SFUSD." Lena Hwang, an eighth-grade science teacher at Aptos Middle School in San Francisco, is a cooperating (mentor) teacher in SFUTR. She says teacher residency programs are so important, especially when the support is long-term. "You can't learn all of it in just one year or from one mentor teacher. e rst two years teaching on your own is really hard. Having support to get through those tough times is essential," says Hwang, a UESF member. "We need good teachers and need them to be well-trained so they don't burn out in two years, and they can help the students in our district." FOCUSING ON SUCCESS FOR EDUCATORS, STUDENTS "It's really beneficial for teacher candidates to commit to a school community and make con- nections that lead them into a more successful and smooth transition into being a teacher," says Emma Nalchajian, English teacher at Fresno's Roosevelt High School and member of Fresno Teachers Association (FTA). Fre sn o S t a t e Un iv e r si ty of f e r s re si d e n c y programs throughout the Central Valley, part- nering students with a professor-in-residence and mentor teacher, and supporting them with a c ompreh ensive professional d e velopm ent curriculum . In school districts in Fresno, Clovis, Madera , Sanger and rural areas, resident teachers are fully immersed in the classroom experience, learning about the district's cul- ture, needs and expectations. R e s i d e n t t e a c h e r s r e c e i v e a s t i p e n d , d i s t r i c t Elyse Johansson, Lena Hwang and Rachel Herrera at Aptos Middle School in San Francisco. Hwang is a mentor teacher; Johansson was her resident teacher last year and now teaches at Aptos, and Herrera is Hwang's current resident teacher. 21 J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 2 Juliet Wahleithner