Boettcher Teacher Residency Seeks Colorado’s Next Generation of Great Teachers

Priority Application Deadline for 2015-2016 Teacher Preparation Program is January 30

DENVER – Jan. 6, 2015 – PEBC’s Boettcher Teacher Residency, which prepares people to have exceptional teaching careers through a hands-on master’s degree program, is now accepting applications for the 2015-2016 school year. Through the Boettcher Teacher Residency, candidates have the opportunity to receive a master’s degree in education, a Colorado teaching license, and a full-year apprenticeship in a classroom alongside an experienced teacher. Candidates may teach in a variety of high-needs Colorado school districts and receive ongoing professional development support as they begin their careers. Interested candidates may apply online by the priority deadline of Jan. 30, 2015.

“We’re committed to creating exceptional teachers and the Residency provides qualified candidates the comprehensive preparation they need, not only at the onset, but throughout their entire teaching careers,” said Rosann B. Ward, PEBC president. “Boettcher Teachers have the unique opportunity to receive their master’s degree, assistance with job placement post-residency, and the training and support they need to confidently and effectively lead students well into the future.”

The Boettcher Teacher Residency program stresses the importance of hands-on, mentored learning and training for teachers. Unlike other teacher training programs, Residency participants go through a one-year apprenticeship alongside a mentor teacher before leading a classroom of their own.

“To be in a classroom for a full year with a mentor is so critical and I was fortunate to work with a master teacher who had a lot of experience,” said Dawn Skala, a Boettcher Teacher at William Smith High School in Aurora Public Schools. “I learned so much in that resident year that I still use – everything from classroom organization to the way I teach problem solving and motivate students. My experience in the Residency was and continues to be so valuable – it’s changed my life!”

Since its establishment in 2004, the Boettcher Teacher Residency has prepared and retained a network of over 180 effective teachers who have been placed in school districts throughout Colorado. This past fall PEBC was awarded $2.9 million from the U.S. Department of Education to expand this program.  For the 2015-2016 school year, the Residency is looking to recruit candidates for school districts in areas such as Alamosa, Durango/Cortez, La Junta/Rocky Ford, and Montrose, and in metro Denver districts including Adams 12, Aurora, Brighton, Douglas, Englewood and Jeffco.

To be eligible to apply for the 2015-2016 school year, candidates must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution by June 2015, have maintained a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher, be a United States citizen, permanent resident or able to legally work in the U.S. Candidates who have already completed a teacher preparation program are also encouraged to apply. For more details on eligibility, application instructions and the Residency program, visit http://www.boettcherteachers.org.

About PEBC:
PEBC (Public Education & Business Coalition) is a Colorado-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that  works with teachers, schools and districts throughout Colorado and nationwide to cultivate great teachers and advance education. PEBC provides professional development for practicing educators, and operates the Boettcher Teacher Residency, which prepares individuals to have exceptional teaching careers through a hands-on master’s degree program.  PEBC’s mission is to drive cutting-edge teaching practices, and inform and provoke the public to improve education for all. For more information visit www.pebc.org.

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