BUFFALO, NY ― Canisius University is honored to be selected as a recipient of a two-year, $184,000 grant, made possible by the institution’s affiliation with the Buffalo Urban Teaching Fellows (BUTF) program. The funding supports students who participate in the BUTF program, and are enrolled in the Canisius University Teacher Residency (formerly the Western New York Teacher Residency), pursuing degrees in childhood education, special education and TESOL education, and who commit to teaching in the city of Buffalo.
Similar to a medical school residency, the Canisius University Teacher Residency program is a rigorous two-year program that couples master’s level classes with a full year apprenticeship. In the first year of the program, students learn the underlying theories of effective teaching. They then practice and hone those skills in their second year working as teacher assistants in partner schools. During this residency, candidates work and learn alongside teacher-mentors in high-needs classrooms.
Students in the Canisius University Teacher Residency program receive a tuition discount and teacher assistant salary and graduate from the program with dual certification in childhood education and special education (grades K-12) or childhood education and TESOL education (grades K-12). The program boasts a 100 percent placement rate with graduates gaining full-time employment within the Buffalo Public Schools District and several Buffalo charter schools with which Canisius partners. They include West Buffalo Charter School, Elmwood Village Charter School and King Center Charter School.
The Buffalo Urban Teaching Fellows program is partially funded by the Cullen Foundation. It is an “earn and learn” teacher training program that provides aspiring teachers with a paid role in a school and tuition assistance, while candidates pursue certification and transition to a teaching career. With embedded development opportunities and cohort experience, BUTF helps fellows make a meaningful difference in the lives of local students. To learn more about BUTF, click here.
The Cullen Foundation is an independent, private foundation dedicated to enhancing education for students in grades pre-K through 12 and advancing theatre and performing arts to positively impact residents of Erie County. The foundation was an original supporter of the Canisius University Teacher Residency program when it was established in 2018.
For more information about the Canisius University Teacher Residency program, click here.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
