Kansas City Teacher Residency
Creating Equitable Education
Kansas City has a long history of racism and inequity that continues to impact the quality of education students receive today. The Kansas City Teacher Residency (KCTR) was founded in 2015 to improve student outcomes in local public schools through the recruitment, preparation, and support of highly skilled and diverse new teachers.
KCTR accomplishes this goal through a rich curriculum and the support of a coach and mentor for all Residents within a one-year Residency experience and AmeriCorps service year. Residents obtain their teaching certification in the State of Missouri and earn a Master’s degree.
After completing the Residency year of service, Residents agree to teach in Kansas City Title 1 schools for three additional years while continuing to receive personalized coaching and support. By preparing teachers to be highly effective in the classroom, we can create a more equitable, antiracist, educational experience for KC area students.
Why choose KCTR?
Why Choose KCTR
Hands on Experience
We go beyond the theoretical experience—we want you to be deeply connected to the communities and children you will be teaching. Traditional training and preparation models often include years of course work followed by a short student teaching experience; our Residency model is flipped. From the start of the school year, you will be in your Mentor teacher’s classroom gaining hands-on experience. The certification and Master’s courses you attend are meant to bolster and support your experience within the classroom.
Why Choose KCTR
Community Support
Our program works within a Cohort model, meaning you will have dozens of other AmeriCorps members going through the teacher residency program right alongside you. Throughout the process, you will gain support from other individuals who also have a passion for educational equity. Cohorts serve as a point for professional and personal support and growth. Beyond your Cohort, being a part of one of the most forward-thinking teachers training programs in the nation connects you to our entire KCTR network of Residents, Graduates, Mentors, and Alumni.
Why Choose KCTR
Preparation & Development
Our program stands out in the depth of support that we provide. In addition to your Mentor teacher, you will also have weekly support from a KCTR coach. We see coaching as a primary lever to grow and develop highly effective teachers. We adapt our styles to meet the needs of our Residents and their Mentor teacher while helping them apply their coursework in their classroom. We customize the certification and master’s coursework to the KCTR context to support your training and development as an educator. All of these intentional supports aid in preparing highly effective teachers for Kansas City area schools.
Why Choose KCTR
Financial Support
KCTR is a financially competitive option for receiving your teaching certification and Master’s Degree. Too often, finances keep well-qualified individuals from joining education, so we work to make the financial components of our teachers training program as reasonable as we can. Residents pay for tuition through the University of Missouri-Kansas City for the Master’s Degree, and are therefore eligible for federal student aid, scholarships, and grants. In addition, residents are AmeriCorps members which means they receive a living stipend, are eligible for an education award, and can receive health care benefits.
Why Choose KCTR
Equity Focused, Kansas City Centered
We customize our course work to be meaningful to the context of Kansas City and the specific school context in which you’ll be placed with your Mentor. Through our program, teacher residents learn about the history of education in Kansas City and history of racism within our public education system. By looking at our unique history, we prepare teachers for the specific circumstances they will encounter in Kansas City schools and prepare them to be leaders for change within the classroom and their school.
Ready to join the Residency Program?
KCTR Process
- Eligibility
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- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
- Able to commit to teaching in a KCTR partner school in Kansas City for at least three years
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident
- Application
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- Stage 1: Initial Application – Applicants submit an initial application with their basic information including academic history, background experience, certification preferences, as well as one short answer question. Submit your application here!
- Stage 2: Phone Interview – KCTR conducts a 30 minute phone interview where we ask a few questions, check in about application materials, and answer any questions candidates may have. Applicants also submit three references and all unofficial transcripts.
- Stage 3: Selection Day – Applicants attend a full day event which includes more interviews, a group project, & submission of a teaching demo video.
- Residency Year / AmeriCorps Year of Service
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- Attend Summer Institute, a full-time, 5-week intensive training
- Attend Seminar Courses all day Monday, and Methods courses Wednesday evenings
- Placement at a school with a Mentor Teacher for training Tuesday – Friday
- Participate in coaching and development opportunities
- Take content test for Certification
- Teaching Commitment
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- Work full time as a teacher of record within one of our partner public schools in Kansas City for 3 years after the completion of the Residency year
- Continue to engage in KCTR coaching and development opportunities
- Complete your master’s course work
Have any questions?
Check out our frequently asked questions page to learn more.
Ready to be a Teacher?
Are you ready to earn your teaching certification and Master’s degree while receiving coaching and support in a hands-on classroom environment? Then we want you to apply for the most innovative teachers training programs in Kansas City.