Denver Public Schools Expanding its Pool of Teachers through Alternative Licensing Programs
Denver Teacher Residency and Denver Teach Today programs give professionals an alternative career path to teaching, bringing fresh talent to Denver classrooms
DENVER, Dec. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- It's widely accepted that student success in the classroom and beyond depends greatly on teachers. Denver Public Schools (DPS) is committed to finding and implementing ways to recruit and retain qualified, talented teachers who want to teach and stay in the profession long-term.
The DPS Denver Teacher Residency Program (DTR) and Denver Teach Today (DTT) are unique programs designed to do just that -- prepare, license, hire and keep skilled teachers in DPS classrooms. DTR and DTT are alternative ways for professionals, who already have a bachelor's degree, to jump into teaching and transition from a different career.
Two program options, one accelerated and the other more in-depth, give interested participants a choice. DTR is a more time-intensive program that puts professionals in the classroom for an entire school year before licensing them to teach on their own. DTT is a fast-tracked, five-week course designed to quickly prepare professionals for teaching in DPS.
"Talented, effective teachers at any point in their career are incredibly important for student success," said Shannon Hagerman, director of Teacher Preparation Pathways for DPS. "Professionals who might be mid-career and are looking for a change, make ideal teachers. They bring an alternative perspective to the classroom, and our students benefit beyond anything we can measure on a test."
Teachers who go through DTR earn a master's degree from the University of Denver, have supported time teaching in the classroom and are guaranteed a job in DPS. Once teachers finish their fourth year teaching in the district, they receive full reimbursement of their tuition in the program.
The program has acted as a steady pipeline for bringing talented professionals to the teaching industry and specifically to Denver Public Schools, which is now the fastest growing urban school district in the country – growing by more than 12,000 students (almost 9 percent) in the past five years. As a result, the school system has had a continual need to seek and retain talented teachers for schools across Denver.
Currently, DTR and DTT are accepting applications for this year's programs. The application deadline for DTR is February 15, 2014. The application deadline for DTT is March 7, 2014. Typically, the applications take two to four weeks to complete, so applicants are encouraged to visit www.denverteacherresidency.org or www.denverteachtoday.org to learn more and begin the application process. Both programs are looking for individuals from all backgrounds and careers, but the need is especially high for bilingual teachers who would be interested in teaching secondary math or science.
Applicants are not required to have teaching experience. All applicants must complete the online applications at www.denverteacherresidency.org or www.denverteachtoday.org. Components of the applications include personal information, educational background, university transcripts, essays, references, resume, and verification of a passing score for the PLACE or Praxis II exam, the exams anyone who wants to teach in Colorado must take. For more information about both exams, visit the DTR or DTT websites and click on FAQs.
There are a limited number of resident spaces available. Once the application process is complete, DTR invites applicants for interviews and phase II of the process. More information can be found at www.denverteacherresidency.org or www.denverteachtoday.org.
SOURCE Denver Public Schools
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