Campus Connection

UWL launches Paid Teacher Residency Program

It was the 1930s before medical interns were paid — mostly to address complaints about lack of pay and poor living conditions, which had in turn caused a shortage in the profession.

As our nation continues to grapple with a teacher shortage, lawmakers in a handful of states are creating and funding programs investing in student teachers. Often called a teacher stipend, or a teacher residency, these programs provide aspiring educators with a full year of hands-on classroom experience alongside skilled mentors — while allowing them to earn a living wage or stipend.

Residency programs have been proven to support recruitment and retention of teachers, as well as assisting teachers to be better prepared upon entering the workforce.

The UWL School of Education is piloting such a program: the UWL Paid Teacher Residency Program. This year, 10 aspiring educators were selected to complete a teacher residency in the La Crosse or Onalaska school districts.

Here are the basics. Ten elementary/special education dual majors, who:

• Receive a $30,000/year scholarship — partly funded by district, partly funded by generous donors to the School of Education
• Remain in the same classrooms the entire year, working alongside a general classroom teacher and a special education teacher
• Learn through coteaching with formidable mentor teachers from seven different area schools (who are also paid a stipend)
• Have the opportunity to continue next year as a teacher for the same school district, in some cases.

“We anticipate being able to offer teaching jobs to the best student teachers coming out of UW-La Crosse, who already have the skills and connections they need to be successful on day one as a fully independent teacher,” says Aaron Engel, superintendent for the School District of La Crosse. “We anticipate that this more fully supported start to teaching will result in higher retention rates, better collaboration and increased student outcomes.”

Dean Marcie Wycoff-Horn is actively working to secure funding for the continuation of the program, along with program coordinators Jourdan Stacey and Christy Wopat.

The SOE is accessing resources from the non-profit organization Prepared to Teach, whose mission is to “help states, districts, and programs design affordable, sustainably funded residencies that attract and retain strong, committed teachers.”

Prepared to Teach studies the financial burdens on student teachers and the impact on mental health and their retention to the profession.

As this first cohort of residents continues their journey, the SOE looks ahead to expanding the program and deepening its impact. With continued investment and community partnership, the future of teaching is bright.

Support the program

The SOE is dedicated to the perpetuation of the Paid Teacher Residency Program. If you are interested in donating to the cause or finding out more, contact Dean Marcie Wycoff-Horn at mwycoff-horn@uwlax.edu.