Jeanne Russell, CAST Schools’ Executive Director, Anastasia Perez, CAST Network’s Educator Engagement Coordinator, and Bryanna Zammaron, a high school teacher at CAST STEM, provided public testimonies to members of the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). The SBEC is responsible for overseeing the certification and licensure of educators in the state, and Dr. Cherylynn Jody Moody, Director of Apprenticeship in the Division of Educator Quality at Texas Education Agency (TEA), asked CAST to speak on the CAST model for Teacher Residency Programs and to testify to the power of a high-quality teacher residency program. Sharing the experiences from the CAST model of Teacher Residencies advocates for statewide implementation of high-quality teacher residency programs for secondary teachers. Research on high-quality teacher residency programs shows they have the potential to impact teacher retention and student outcomes positively.
CAST members spoke with SBEC members to:
- Voice their support for high-quality Teacher Residency Programs in Texas, particularly emphasizing those preparing secondary teaching candidates
- Showcase an exemplary teacher residency model implemented by CAST Schools
- Advocate for rigorous and meaningful standards in Teacher Residency Programs in Texas
Since 2018, CAST has partnered with the Institute for School and Community Partnerships through the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University to offer sustained, campus-based support to develop clinical teachers who will become effective novice teachers. The model began at CAST STEM High School in Southwest ISD, and has since expanded to several CAST schools, including one at Northside ISD and two with San Antonio ISD. Like many Teacher Residency Programs, this model encompasses elements such as:
- Long-term classroom experiences
- High quality mentorship
- Integrated coursework
- Certification support
