Mississippi Teacher Residency

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is pleased to announce that state funds have been awarded to continue the Mississippi Teacher Residency (MTR) Program. MTR grants will cover tuition and expenses for individuals seeking licensure in elementary and special education. 

The MTR program will provide grants to the universities’ educator preparation programs to enroll candidates to complete an approved program to obtain their initial license or supplemental endorsement in Elementary Education (K-6) or Special Education Mild/Moderate. MTR will include training alongside a mentor teacher, licensure testing support, professional development, and a commitment to teach in a geographical critical shortage area. 

Applicants interested in pursuing this opportunity should contact their prospective university directly for information regarding application procedures, eligibility, specific program requirements, and timelines. 

Vision:

The Mississippi Teacher Residency is part of a statewide strategy to expand the teacher pipeline, so that all students have teachers who are well-prepared, appropriately licensed, and can serve as role models.

Mission:

The Mississippi Teacher Residency will provide grants to Mississippi educator preparation providers to enroll candidates to complete an approved program to obtain their initial license or supplemental endorsement in Elementary (K-6) or Special Education Mild/Moderate in geographical critical shortage areas.

Goals:

1. Recruit, prepare, and license an increasing number of academically talented residents from across the State of Mississippi as highly effective elementary education and special education teachers in geographical critical shortage areas;
2. Design and implement a teacher residency program for qualified IHEs that culminates in MS teacher certification;
3. Collaborate with partners including Mississippi public schools and educators, school leaders, teacher education and Arts and Sciences faculty, and community-based organizations (CBOs)  to implement and continually improve the teacher residency program;
4. Design and implement innovative curricula for the preparation of teacher residents to address the needs presented by students in schools identified as geographical critical shortage areas while enhancing the capacity of EPP’s to meet the educational workforce needs of communities;
5. Support the professional development of teachers and leaders in partnership schools with the development of job-embedded training;
6. Design and implement a mentoring and induction program to support the success and retention of program graduates;
7. Engage stakeholders in a review of the residency program and to identify a framework for sustainability and lessons that can be applied to teacher education programs at MDE; and
8. Conduct research on the impact of teacher residency programs on teacher diversity, retention, and effectiveness relative to student learning.