“There is nothing that compares to the past student teachers I’ve had. Each of the students I had previously didn’t get the experience that my yearlong student resident teacher had. I honestly believe that this should be the new student teacher requirement. This will either show students who wish to be educators if they really want to be in this profession because they get to experience everything with support of a teacher-leader.”
Teacher-leader
“[I] really feel like this is better than the standard student teaching because you get to not have to cram all the information [in 12 weeks]… [you] get the whole school year. [I] manage behaviors and look out for students, build relationships and learn how to interact with parents. [I] have a helper in the room all of the time.”
Resident
The Montana Teacher Residency Program (MTRP) is a year-long student teaching opportunity for higher-education students in Montana seeking initial teacher licensure. Since launching in 2022, this Program helps prepare aspiring teachers to best serve their students through an opportunity to connect theory to practice and gain the skills of highly effective practitioners who will be ready on day one to successfully lead their own classrooms. In addition to giving Residents a more in-depth experience, the MTRP was designed with the goal of incentivizing teaching in a wider range of communities across the state and increasing long-term teacher retention by working with rural and understaffed districts.
Residents begin with an in-person orientation in August, then enter a yearlong, mentored student teaching under the guidance of a Teacher Leader. During the year, Residents engage in learning labs sponsored by the Office of Public Instruction while simultaneously completing their remaining coursework to earn an education degree from their educator preparation program. In exchange for committing to teach in a Montana public school district for three years, Residents receive a monthly stipend, tuition support, and district-provided housing assistance.
The Montana Teacher Residency Program is the first of its kind in the state, 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.
Join the MTRP or Connect with the Teacher Residency Coordinator
If you would like to join the MTRP or connect with the Teacher Residency Coordinator to learn more, please scan the QR code on the right, or click the link below:
Learn More
2022–23 EPP partners
- University of Montana Western
- University of Montana
2023–24 EPP partners
- University of Montana Western
- Montana State University
- Montana State University Northern
2024–25 EPP partners
- University of Montana Western
- Montana State University
- University of Montana
- Montana State University Northern
- Montana State University Billings
- Stone Child University
2025–26 EPP partners
- University of Montana Western
- Montana State University
- University of Montana
- Montana State University Northern
- University of Providence
- Rocky Mountain College
Teacher Residency Orientation
Resident Learning Labs
Teacher Leader Professional Development
Teacher Residency Final Gathering
Resident Placements
Resident Teacher Host District Areas
- Anaconda Public School District – 1 resident
- Bonner Public School District – 1 resident
- Columbia Falls Public School District – 1 resident
- Culbertson Public School District – 1 resident
- Custer Public School District – 1 resident
- Great Falls Public School District – 3 residents
- Harrison Public School District – 1 resident
- Havre Public School District – 1 resident
- Hobson Public School District – 1 resident
- Kalispell Public School District – 1 resident
- Park City Public School District – 1 resident
- Poplar Public School District – 1 resident
- Shields Valley Public School District – 1 resident
- Turner Public School District – 1 resident
- Anaconda School District – 3 residents
- Billings Public Schools – 1 resident
- Butte School District – 1 resident
- Columbia Falls Public Schools – 2 residents
- Darby School District – 1 resident
- Forsyth Public Schools – 1 resident
- Hardin Public Schools – 2 residents
- Harlem School District – 1 resident
- Harrison Public Schools – 1 resident
- Havre Public Schools – 1 resident
- Kalispell Public School District – 3 residents
- Lodge Grass Public Schools – 2 residents
- Richey Public Schools – 1 resident
- Target Range Elementary School District – 1 resident
- Twin Bridges Public Schools – 1 resident
- Browning Public Schools – 5 residents
- Cayuse Prairie Elementary – 1 resident
- Columbia Falls Public Schools – 1 resident
- Frontier Elementary School – 1 resident
- Great Falls Public Schools – 1 resident
- Hardin School District – 5 residents
- Harlem School District – 1 resident
- Havre Public Schools – 1 resident
- Kalispell Public Schools – 2 residents
- Lodge Grass Public Schools – 2 residents
- Noxon Public Schools – 1 resident
- Upper West Shore Elementary School – Dayton – 1 resident
- Vaughn Elementary – 2 residents
- Browning Public Schools – 5 residents
- Cayuse Prairie Elementary – 1 resident
- Frontier Elementary School – 1 resident
- Lodge Grass Public Schools – 3 residents
- Poplar Public Schools – 1 resident
- Pryor Public Schools – 1 resident
- Sunset School – 1 resident
- Trout Creek Elementary – 1 resident
- Victor K–12 Schools – 2 residents
- Woodman School – 1 resident
Special Thank You
A big shout out to Representative Brad Barker, who sponsored HB 833, supporting teacher recruitment and retention in the state of Montana!
Since fiscal year 2025, the Montana State Legislature supplies funding through MCA 20‑4‑702 . For more information on MCA 20‑4‑702, please visit the official Montana Legislature website .
Positive Testimonials
Roles within the Montana Teacher Residency Program
OPI Staff are Here to Help
Kirsten Minnick, Teacher Residency Program Coordinator, 406 683-7327
Krystal Smith, Operations Manager, 406-249-0758