At each residency site, teams of educators work together to support one another. The project aims to place at least two residents with two teacher-leaders in each school. The project will launch in fall 2022 with a minimum of eight demonstration schools, 16 resident teachers, and 16 teacher-leaders.
The Montana Teacher Residency Demonstration Project is the first program of its kind in the state. The project was co-developed by representatives from the Montana University System, the Office of Public Instruction, school districts, the Montana School Boards Association, legislators, and residency model experts from Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The Region 17 Comprehensive Center has facilitated many think-tank sessions since October 2021.