Residency Orientation Group Photo

Residency Cohort II

“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 of 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

 

50%

Cohort I Teacher Residents
under contract

+ 50%

Cohort I Teacher Residents completing undergraduate and licensure requirements

= 100%

Cohort I Teacher Residents Teaching in Montana Schools!

 

The Montana Teacher Residency Demonstration Project prepares teachers to best serve their students. Through undergraduate coursework, the teacher-leader academy, targeted support, and a yearlong apprenticeship in the classroom, residents 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. 

Residents begin the program with a two-day orientation, then enter a one-year in-school apprenticeship under a teacher-leader. During the year, residents engage in summits sponsored by the Office of Public Instruction while simultaneously completing coursework to earn a bachelor’s degree from their Montana university. In exchange for committing to teach in a rural Montana school district for two years, residents receive a stipend, partial tuition support, and district-provided housing.

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 launched in fall 2022 and will begin year two during the 2023-24 school year.

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.

2023-2024 Teacher Residency Orientation

 

Residency Orientation Session 1

Missy Emler Instructing on Universal Design for Learning

Residency Orientation Session 2

Residents and Teacher Leaders collaborating


A big shout out to Representative Brad Barker who sponsored HB 833, supporting teacher recruitment and retention in the state of Montana!

 

Representative Brad Barker Headshot

 

Beginning in fiscal year 2025, House Bill 833 will provide funding for residency. For more information on House Bill 833, please visit the official Montana Legislature website.

 

Residency Learning Lab Dates

August 10-11, 2023: Great Falls

Agenda | Materials

October 19-20, 2023: Havre

Materials Coming Soon

December 4-5, 2023: Virtual

Materials Coming Soon

March 7-8, 2024: Helena

Materials Coming Soon

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

2022-2023 Teacher Residency Map

Teacher Residency Map 2023-2024

2022-2023 Participating Districts

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

Participating Universities

  • Montana State University

  • Montana State University - Northern

  • University of Montana-Western (Lead Resident Partner)

2023-2024 Participating Districts

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

  • 1 resident

Lodge Grass Public Schools

  • 2 residents

Noxon Public Schools

  • 1 resident

Upper West Shore Elementary School - Dayton

  • 1 resident

Vaughn Elementary

  • 2 residents

 

 

Residency Diagram Year 2

 

 


OPI Staff are here to help:

Cameron Cady, Teacher Residency Program Specialist, 406-444-1962

Krystal Smith, Operations Manager, 406-249-0758

 

Meet the Teacher Residency Staff