BUFFALO, NY ― The Center for Urban Education at Canisius University is proud to announce the establishment of the Western New York Teacher Residency program. Slated to launch in fall 2018, the program will be supported by a two-year grant from the Cullen Foundation. Through this new residency program, aspiring educators in the college’s graduate education programs will complete master’s level coursework while building their skills under the guidance of experienced teachers and leaders in high-need schools and districts.
“Similar to medical school residencies, where physicians are trained in hospitals alongside practicing clinicians, residents in this new program will co-teach for a full year alongside veteran educators who will coach and gradually ease them into more responsibilities throughout the school year,” says Jeffrey R. Lindauer, PhD, dean of the School of Education & Human Services. He explains that urban teachers need extended experiences in the field to meet the needs of school-dependent students. “The Cullen Foundation grant will enable Canisius to develop an effective and sustainable teacher residency program and we are extremely grateful for its support.”
The Western New York Teacher Residency program requires interested graduate students to apply for a residency position. Approximately 10 individuals will be selected for the first year and an additional 10 will be selected for the second year. Candidates will also be eligible for a Western New York Teacher Residency Scholarship and receive a living wage stipend during their residency year. Additionally, students selected to participate in the residency program will be given first consideration for employment by participating school partners. “The hope is that the residency program creates a pipeline of committed urban educators,” adds Lindauer.
The Western New York Teacher Residency program will operate under the strategic guidance of the National Center for Teacher Residencies (NCTR). The non-profit organization works to improve student achievement through the preparation of excellent new teachers for high-need school districts. Based in Chicago, NCTR’s two-fold mission is to build and support high performing teacher residency programs, and to impact and inform the transformation of teacher preparation through the dissemination of research and best practices.
The Cullen Foundation is an independent, private foundation dedicated to enhancing education for students in grades pre-K through 12, and advancing performing arts for Erie County. It was established by John S. “Jack” Cullen, the late founder and head of Multisorb Technologies. His estate provided the funding for the foundation.
Canisius launched the Center for Urban Education in January 2017. It is housed within the college’s School of Education and Human Services and collaborates with the National Urban Alliance for Effective Education to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in urban schools across Western New York. The expertise and resources of the partnership help to enhance the overall quality of the teacher education program at Canisius and provides potential teachers for Buffalo and Western New York schools. A recruitment and retention component of the program also works to enhance the number and diversity of the candidate pool.
For more information about the Western New York Teacher Residency program at Canisius visit www.canisius.edu/western-new-york-teacher-residency.
One of 28 Jesuit universities in the nation, Canisius is the premier private university in Western New York.
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