Superintendent Elsie Arntzen is Redesigning the Educator Workforce

• Brian O'Leary
• May 05 2022

HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen is redesigning Montana’s educator workforce through the Montana Teacher Residency Demonstration Project. Since February, when the program was announced, 25 school districts have expressed interest in placing teacher residents. A teacher resident is a one-year paid student teaching experience during the fourth year of undergraduate studies. The Office of Public Instruction has partnered with the University of Montana Western, Stone Child College, and Montana State University, which will act as the program evaluator.

The first year of the demonstration project is capped at 30 Teacher Residents. Out of 10 teacher preparation programs in Montana, the University of Montana Western in Dillon is the largest teacher residency partner and will place nearly 87% of the residency candidates.  This one-of-a-kind residency project is targeting rural and/or high-risk schools.

“I am creating another solution to Montana’s teacher recruitment and retention issue,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “Teacher residents focus on the teaching and learning process while being embraced by school mentors. Teacher residents will become an integral part of the communities where they serve, which will give them a solid foundation to build their future.”

Participating school districts include:

The Montana Teacher Residency Demonstration Project prepares undergraduate college students majoring in education to be effective teachers from day one in their classrooms. This one-year program includes deliberate on-site learning, coaching from an effective teacher-leader, and support from the university and community. Participating teacher residents will receive a stipend, partial tuition support, and district-provided housing. Residents will gain the skills and confidence they need to support our Montana students and become highly effective educators. Resident teachers will commit to teaching in a Montana high-needs school district for a minimum of two years.

Prior to the Teacher Residency Project, undergraduates would become a student-teacher for 12-16 weeks, which is about one semester. The new project will give teacher residents a start to finish experience in a classroom while fulfilling graduation requirements.

Teacher Residency Project Infographic