The Transformation Waco Urban Educator Residency Program (TWUERP) is an innovative partnership between the Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL), Tarleton State University (TSU), and Transformation Waco (TW) to provide interns and residents with the training they need to be better prepared to teach in the challenging and fast-paced environment of today’s classrooms. Each of the five Transformation Waco schools use their flexibilities and resources to dramatically improve outcomes for students by recruiting, training, and retaining the best teachers in and around the area.  

The TWUERP is an alternative certification pathway for experienced professionals or recent graduates seeking to become a highly effective teacher through hands-on training. This highly selective program will only accept and certify the highest-potential candidates with the time and energy to fully commit to a rigorous graduate-level program and the necessary focus to learn and apply best practices in pedagogy and how teachers and students learn together.

Over the course of the two-year program, residents earn a master’s degree and teaching certification through a cohort-based learning experience while leading a classroom in the TW. Residents receive personalized support from AUSL and TSU experts to gain the skills needed to become highly effective educators, and join an elite group of educators who learn, teach, and inspire in Waco. The TWUERP requires commitment, so aspiring educators must commit to serving in a TW school for at least 5 years in order to be eligible to enter the program of study.

degree & certification

Residents will earn a M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from Tarleton State University (TSU) through the Tarleton Model for Accelerated Teacher Education (TMATE) program. TMATE provides a program of study where participants will earn a masters and alternative certification through a cohort-based learning experience in a hybrid online and in-person environment. The full cost of tuition is covered for residents.

compensation

Up to eight selected interns will be invited to participate in spring substitute teaching at the regular substitute rate of pay. Additional interns selected will start in June teaching summer school at $640 per week. In August 2020, hired residents will start off with an annual teaching salary of $49,000 with competitive health benefits and an opportunity to earn additional stipends after the first year of teaching.

professional development

Interns will participate in a yearlong urban teacher training program facilitated by the Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL). During the training year, participants will work with a carefully selected and trained mentor teacher in the classroom and receive intensive professional development from AUSL and TSU that will enhance effectiveness.

The Process

• Applications will be reviewed by the Transformation Waco team on a rolling basis. Qualified candidates will receive an invitation to interview no later than January 31, 2020.

• During your interview, you may be asked to deliver a sample lesson and speak with program representatives about your experience, qualifications, and passion for teaching.

• If accepted, you will be invited to spring and summer programming (this does not guarantee a teaching placement).

• Upon successful completion of summer programming and passing your content exam, you will be eligible for hire by a Transformation Waco school in the 2020-21 school year.

SPRing Programming

• Early accepted and qualified interns will be eligible to start working in January 2020. Up to eight interns will be invited to start substitute teaching in Transformation Waco schools for the spring semester full-time. This will allow interns to develop the practical skills needed while networking with campuses to secure fall employment opportunities.

Summer Programming

• Summer programming is a full-time (8am-5pm) commitment over the course of 8 weeks, starting June 1, 2020 with a break for the week of July 4th.

• Selected candidates will receive high-quality professional development, practical teaching experience in summer school, and support for passing the certification content exam.

• Selected candidates will receive a $640 weekly stipend for summer programming.