Cohort 1 - Does it get any better than this?

Nine Residents in Cohort 1 are nicely tucked under graduate seminar desks and beginning to think about working with their Clinical Faculty Coaches (master teachers) to jointly launch their classrooms in the fall.  You can read all about it under their blog named, Resident Talk. They are wonderful.  Of course.  Talented.  Bright.  Passionate.  Caring.   Dedicated.  Fun.  Grounded. 

Does it get any better than this? 

These nine came from all walks of life - from the big city and the small town.  All but one came directly from undergraduate and graduate school programs.  We have 3 Residents from Virginia Tech, and one each from Temple, U. of Chicago, William & Mary, Radford U and of course, VCU!  We have in our midst 4 English, 3 Social Studies, 1 Math and 1 Science teacher (s).  They will set you on fire with their enthusiasm and drive.  They want to teach for change.  They know that our world depends on teachers who do.  They are up for the challenge.

If you were to talk to them they would snag your attention.  They are eager to be the tipping point for student success.  They already talk about measuring their success by the success of their students.  They are eager to position their students to learn and grow and wonder and try and stretch and imagine and hope and dream and become . . .

. . . to be transformed by the learning itself. 
. . . to be ignited to become the change.
. . . to be full of imaging what could be in place of what is.

Yep, this Cohort 1 is special.  They are on the cusp of something big.  Something sacred even.  Something beyond words and description.  In two weeks when they step into their Richmond Public Schools classrooms, they will become the important tipping point in many lives.  The critical factor is building up a city from inside a classroom.

At the end of the day, does it get any better than this?

The RTR Stipend - Does it get any better than this?

Graduate school is expensive.  We know that.  Our program is designed to help.

The Richmond Teacher Residency provides a $19,000 stipend to help you cover your  living expenses.  You decide how you will spend your stipend.  Your tuition costs for the year ($7,896) are not deducted from your $19,000 scholarship. We differ from the traditional way that money is allotted to graduate students because we give you the option of determining how to cover your tuition costs.

After year one in RTR, and with a Master of Teaching degree in your hand, you will be ready to be hired by Richmond Public Schools as a teacher.  During years two and three in the program, you will receive a teacher's salary and continued mentoring support for your teaching.  In year four, you will receive  leadership training and support for recognition as a National Board Teacher (only the top 1% of all teachers achieve this distinction).

RTR is a program with a return benefit.  A great way to roll because you are in control of your finances as you earn your degree.  We hope our stipend helps you get a leg up on graduate school costs as we position you to launch your career teaching for Richmond Public Schools.  We invest in your future so you can invest in teaching for change.  It is a sweet deal.

We can't wait for Superman

Want to make a difference here and now?  Then consider being part of the solution by teaching for change as a RTR resident. 

RTR is an urban graduate residency to equip you for teaching in city schools, in particular, in Richmond City middle and high schools. We can have an impact, we can change lives, we can turn around statistics here and now - by being the change.  This is an opp to be educated as one of the best of the best teachers to serve in an elite public school system.  You will learn and grow in a yearlong residency that brings the theory behind effective urban teaching to life. Not only will you benefit from outstanding faculty members and on site master teachers, you will graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with a Master's of Teaching degree.

Does it get any better than this?  It does when you factor in that you will receive a $17,885 stipend, low cost tuition and low cost chic apartment, living with your resident cohort in the heart of Richmond. You will study, grow, teach and play as you learn to be the critical tipping point/change that kids need today. In exchange for your residency, you will serve as the classroom teacher (teacher of record) for Richmond City Public Schools for the next 3 years. During this time, you will be mentored and provided with leadership training for National Board Certification.

Want to really be equipped to make a difference?  In this program, you actually are given the opp to teach for change in a fleshed out, real, concrete and mentored way.  This is a cutting edge approach to teacher education.  A yearlong residency, a MT degree and continued leadership and mentor support as you teach for at least 3 years.  It really doesn't get any better than this.  Be the change you want to see.  Teach for change as part of the RTR program and see kids lives changed, now!

Want more info?  Check-out our fb page and "like" us at:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-Teacher-Residency/176450452397359
Ready to apply?  Click this link:  www.applitrack.com/vcu/onlineapp

Application deadline is March 14th.

Tired of "Waiting for Superman?"

Richmond Teacher Residency (RTR) is a cutting edge urban graduate teacher residency program to prepare middle and high school teachers to "teach for change".  Only 20 talented Residents will be selected for the 2011-12 program.  Tired of waiting for superman?  Then, check RTR out:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Richmond-Teacher-Residency/176450452397359

Application and webpage soon to be live; in the meantime, you can contact the RTR  program at teach4change2@gmail.com