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The Department of Education at Mount Saint Mary’s is addressing California’s teacher shortage and diversifying the educator workforce with a new and innovative teacher residency program in partnership with New Heights Charter School — a TK-8 neighborhood, high-performance school located near the Doheny Campus. The Mount launched a one-year, accelerated teacher preparation program that provides hands-on classroom experience to students as they earn their teaching credentials.

The program offers a unique blend of in-classroom and online learning with Mount professors as well as New Heights teachers and students. Participants in the program are placed in a yearlong teaching assistant position, where they work closely with mentor teachers and receive structured, ongoing feedback.

“We are building a stronger bridge between theory and practice,” explains Julie Feldman-Abe, PhD, director of Elementary Teacher Preparation Program at Mount Saint Mary’s. “Unlike other traditional programs, residents are fully immersed in a classroom for a full year, working alongside experienced mentors while they complete their credential coursework. It is a challenging and innovative experience that prepares them to lead their own classrooms.”

The program was developed in response to a massive shortage of qualified teachers post-COVID-19. “The pandemic saw many veteran educators opting for early retirement, leaving significant gaps in staffing,” says Amy Berfield, executive director of New Heights. “This program offers aspiring teachers a pathway to the classroom that is both affordable and directly aligned with community needs.”

Mount Saint Mary’s received nearly $1 million in funding to launch the program through two highly competitive grants from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and an additional grant from Branch Alliance for Education Diversity.

Designed to overcome common barriers like time and cost, the program’s structure aims to make teacher credentialing more accessible for aspiring educators. With 90% tuition assistance, a competitive teaching salary during the school year, and full health benefits covered by New Heights, program residents can focus on their training without financial strain. Additional support, such as funding for state assessments and a bonus stipend for those who teach for four years in public schools upon completion of their residency, further enhances the program’s appeal.

With a guaranteed teaching position at New Heights Charter School upon completion, participants will have the opportunity to immediately apply their skills in a supportive and dynamic setting. In addition, graduates can also opt to pursue a Master of Science in Education at the Mount with only eight additional units required, benefiting from a rigorous curriculum that further prepares teachers for successful careers.

The inaugural cohort of students in the teacher residency program are receiving training that directly aligns with the needs of the diverse student body at New Heights, where 75% of students are Latino and 25% are African American.

For Heidi Aguilar, a member of the first cohort, the program is a life-changing opportunity: “This residency allows me to work and earn a salary while I study, which is a huge benefit. Having an experienced mentor I love and trust has made a huge difference in my ability to learn fast and get hands-on training.”

Mount Saint Mary’s plans to expand the program, partnering with other local schools and exploring funding to sustain the initiative beyond its current three-year grant. This project reflects the Mount’s long-standing mission to educate and empower future leaders ready to make a difference in their communities.

Teacher Residency Program Highlights:

• Clinical practice with mentor teacher
• Guaranteed teaching position upon completion of program
• 90% tuition assistance
• 10% bonus stipend upon completion of 4 years of teaching
• Full health benefits coverage