U.S. Department of Education awards $2.3 million to VCU’s RTR Teacher Residency

By Brian McNeill

Virginia Commonwealth University's RTR Teacher Residency program, part of the School of Education'sCenter for Teacher Leadership, has received federal funding to further refine, expand and evaluate the impact of its innovative teacher and school leader residency program on teacher and leader retention and outcomes in high-need schools across Virginia.

The grant, which totals $2,343,101 in its first year, was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education through its Teacher Quality Partnership program, which works to recruit, prepare, develop and retain a strong, effective and diverse educator workforce for classrooms across the country. The initial three-year award could extend two additional years, adding up to a potential of more than $9.5 million in funding over a five-year period.

"Over the course of this grant, RTR will prepare highly effective teachers and school leaders, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to remain in high-need schools," said Kim McKnight, Ph.D., executive director of RTR Teacher Residency and director of the Center for Teacher Leadership. "Every student deserves great teachers. As such, program graduates will be prepared to meet the needs of all learners through the development of a collaborative school culture of continuous improvement that supports the social, emotional and academic needs of students."

In 2011, RTR was created to prepare teachers for high-need and hard-to-staff school settings, and it was the first residency program in Virginia. The program, which has 21 partner school districts across the state, pays for residents' academic degrees in exchange for three years of service in a high-needs school after graduation.

Since its founding, more than 370 teachers have been prepared and trained by RTR, with many program graduates becoming school and district leaders, receiving teaching awards and accolades, and returning to RTR to serve as mentors.

"RTR selects a diverse population of teacher and school leader residents through a rigorous application and interview process," said McKnight, who is also the Schaberg Chair of Practice in VCU's School of Education. It then "prepares them to work in high-need school settings through a clinical experience lasting from one to two years, during which time they are paired with a mentor and receive wraparound support from VCU faculty and staff."

The grant application was supported by U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia and Reps. Jennifer McClellan of the 4th District and Abigail Spanberger of the 7th District.

"After advocating for this federal funding, I'm thrilled to see it come to Virginia to expand the RTR Teacher Residency program, which has been doing phenomenal work training educators to serve in high-need schools across Virginia," Warner said. "For years, I've championed funding to expand this program, and I am proud to see another big federal award on its way. I look forward to seeing this funding preserve and amplify RTR's work, preparing qualified, diverse and committed educators to teach the next generation of Virginia kids."

"Students across Virginia deserve the best, and our teachers need our support," Kaine said. "That's why it's important to invest in programs like the RTR Teacher Residency, which is dedicated to ensuring teachers have the training and skills they need when they enter high-need and hard-to-staff classrooms. I'm proud to help bring this funding to Virginia, and I will always work to ensure that our commonwealth's teachers and schools have the resources they need."

"Virginia Commonwealth University's RTR Teacher Residency Pathway provides financial relief to future teachers while supporting high-needs schools and the students they serve," McClellan said. "I am thrilled that I could help VCU receive grant funding to continue its invaluable work. I will continue fighting to bring federal resources back to our commonwealth's higher education institutions and support our teachers."

"I was proud to help secure this vital funding to support and expand Virginia Commonwealth University's RTR Teacher Residency program," Spanberger said. "Virginia's teachers and school leaders play an integral role in inspiring the next generation to reach for the stars ⁠- and this program helps prepare these dedicated individuals for careers in schools where students may most need that encouragement. I look forward to seeing how this funding is used to help educators meet the needs of students from all backgrounds. In Congress, I will continue to do all that I can to support students and teachers across Virginia."

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