Year 1: The Residency Year

You’ll spend 14 months training under experienced classroom teachers and our expert faculty. That includes two summer sessions and a full academic year in a school. 

Co-Teaching

You will spend your first year progressing in classroom leadership under the direction of a licensed teacher. Throughout the year you will progress from classroom assistant to a full classroom leader with various skill-based checkpoints to meet to ensure you'll be fully prepared for leading your own classroom in year 2. 

The Programs of Study 

Urban Teachers offers three in-demand subject-area specialties.  Each program of study is two years, a total of 40-41 credits, and leads to two certifications (in your subject area and special education). Our Dallas cohort receives additional coursework and a 3rd certification in English as a Second Language (ESL).

You can preference your program of study in your online application, but there may be additional requirements for the Secondary Math or Secondary Literacy placements. Placements are not guaranteed; however, we make every effort to honor your preferences based on our students' and school partners' needs. Additionally, you are unable to switch city placements after beginning our program. More information can be found here. To ensure you get the placement you prefer, it is best to apply early.  Slots fill up quickly!

School Placements

Applicants have the opportunity to state their preference for the city, grade level and content during the application process. If invited to the program, Urban Teachers will send a Letter of Intent with the city placement. Each city has a different school matching process. Urban Teachers places teachers at all grade levels (PreK-12) based on the needs of students and school partners, not the resident preferences. While we do try to accommodate preferences, teaching in under-resourced communities often means working where you are most needed. 

Once placed residents will, ideally, continue at their schools as teachers in years 2-4.  Your program of study and placement will determine your certification areas. Program of study placements will be made in May 2021, prior to the start of Summer Institute.  Urban Teachers works closely with you throughout the placement process. 

Another important feature of the Urban Teachers program is that residents and teachers in each cohort will be placed together in schools. Urban Teachers believes that teaching needs to be collaborative so individuals can constantly learn from and support each other while they are training to be an urban teacher.

School Types

Urban Teachers residents are placed in both traditional public schools, as well as public charter schools; therefore you are unable to preference which school-type in which you are placed. Placements are needs-based and set by the site teams and school partners. Urban Teachers trains you to be successful in both of these school environments with the intent of providing the best education possible to all children.