Why Choose a Residency?

Research suggests that well-designed and well-implemented teacher residency models can create long-term benefits for districts, for schools, and ultimately and most importantly, for the students they serve. Key benefits include increased teacher recruitment diversity, higher teacher retention, and greater student outcomes.

Guha, Tyler, & Darling-Hammond (2017)

Our teacher residency is committed to growing the Sacramento region's next generation of education specialists while also advancing inclusive practices in our schools for students with disabilities. We will do this by recruiting Residents and Mentors who are also committed to advancing the equity and access of ALL students and providing a year-long intensive apprenticeship experience. Students often choose to pursue the Residency (placed in a Mentor teachers classroom and gradually learn from and take over their role) versus an Internship (whereby they work as the teacher of record while completing their credential) for many reasons including:

1. The Commitment
   
   Residents are drawn to our commitment to advancing equity and inclusion for students with disabilities. Our mentors are advocates, our coursework teaches the skills to be both an effective and inclusive educator as well as advocate, and our partner districts are committed to disrupting inequities and making progress toward inclusive education for students with disabilities.
   
   
2. Community
   
   Joining a community of Residents and Mentors in their future place of employment is what leads to Residents feeling supported and connected. When accepted into SMTR, Residents join a closely connected cohort across the education specialist credentials (in addition to their cohort within their credential) where they attend events and bimonthly seminars together, engage with expert teachers (district Mentors), and develop job-specific skills within the district where they are committing to work for at least 4 years following graduation from the Residency.
   
3. Experts
   
   The Residency is intense with coursework closely aligned with their fieldwork experience where they spend the entire year learning from and alongside their mentor teacher within their program and/or classroom. Residents often choose this award program because they are interested in being placed with an expert in the field (rather than be the lead teacher as an intern) because they want to spend time learning from them and gradually taking on more responsibility within the safe and trusted space with their mentor teacher.
4. Financial Support
   
   The Residency is an award program offered as a Teacher Residency grant from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. With the funds from the grant, Residents receive funding that pays for their tuition (up to $18,000; any unused tuition is paid to the Resident as a stipend check [taxed] at the end of the program), pays them stipend checks throughout the program (beginning in early August; up to $20,500 [taxed]), and reimburses them for up to $100 in tests or credential fees. Additionally, they are supported in identifying and applying for additional funding including the Golden State Teacher Grant (up to $20,000) and other funding sources – we highly encourage applicants apply for Financial Aid as early as January/February to receive timely grants, awards, and loans for the summer semester start. While in the program, we encourage Residents to substitute teach for their Mentors when possible and/or work on non-fieldwork days.

Our Partners

The Sac Metro Teacher Residency is excited to partner in growing our region’s exceptional education specialist teachers. The consortium is a partnership between Sac State's education specialist credential programs and 8 partner districts (Twin Rivers USD, Elk Grove USD, Sac City USD, Davis Joint USD, Washington USD, California Montessori Project, Woodland Joint USD, and St. Hope Public Schools). You could be placed in one of our 8 local school districts.

Am I eligible?

Do you:

• Have your bachelor’s degree (or will by next summer)?
• Aspire to advance equity and inclusion for students with disabilities within our school systems?
• Want to join a supportive community of colleagues within your future place of employment?
• Intend to apply to one of Sac State’s education specialist programs?

Then you should apply to be a Resident in our Sacramento Metro Teacher Residency!

The SMTR partners are looking for Residents committed to our Mission/Vision that focuses on equity and inclusion for students with disabilities and their families. Applicants will be rated higher if they have experience in the credential area as well as demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion, learning from a mentor teacher, being a full-time student in a year long intensive program, and organizational skills. For more information about the commitment, see The SMTR Resident Agreement signed by each Resident that accepts the award.

I’m interested!

Are you interested in our SMTR award program? Click the button below! This interest form will allow us to stay connected with you and answer your questions. 

I’m Interested!

Ready to Apply?

To apply to SMTR, follow the application procedures for the specific education specialist program that interests you, indicating your interest in applying to the 1-year pathway with SMTR scholarship/award. Applications for the next cohort to begin each Summer are due March 1 (Priority) and April 1 (Final deadline). After each application deadline (March 1st, April 1st ), applicants are contacted to sign up for an interview day; at this time, applicants sign up for the in-person SMTR interview day.

Learn about pre-requisites for the credential programs, download the application and resources, and see who to contact for help with your application

Apply Here

Mentor FAQs

Mentors are expert education specialists in one of our three credentials teaching in one of our 8 partner districts. If you’re interested in applying to be a SMTR Mentor, see our Mentor Flyer

Questions?

For answers to common questions, see here

For more information, contact our SMTR Coordinator, Dr. Cindy Collado, cindy.collado@csus.edu or 916-278-4616.