Benefits of Network Membership

Serving Our Network Partners

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Residency for Residencies Program:

UTRU’s Residency for Residencies Program, or RRP, is a two-year long program of comprehensive guidance and support for school districts, not-for-profit organizations, and universities who are developing residency-based teacher preparation programs.  The RRP combines an intensive series of learning institutes along with remote and site-based, individualized consulting services. The RRP leverages the learning from all seventeen of our network partners, and their experiences in building and sustaining a high quality residency program.

Learning Communities:

UTRU develops and manages “Learning Communities” — collaborative forums that bring together teams from individual residencies to explore, discuss, and seek support on programmatic and operational goals.  Learning Communities focus on the implementation of UTRU’s Network-Wide Quality Standards.  Each “learning community” engages deeply on a specific element of the residency model (e.g., program management, recruiting, training, measurement and evaluation) where network partners can share best practices and insights in order to refine their methods.  Learning Communities take place over conference calls or through webinars with various formats, including content-based presentations, facilitated conversations, and project-based work sessions. 

Intranet:

UTRU has recently launched its network-wide Intranet.  It includes a login and password for each partner; access to documents organized by the UTRU Quality Standards, including the RRP curriculum, program documents, and case studies; a video library that highlights best practices in teaching and mentoring (in development); a calendar of upcoming network events; and project management tools for partner programs working with UTRU.

Instructional Rounds:

UTRU recently identified “Instructional Rounds” as having great potential for our network, as they allow for partners to critically examine teaching within the residency model and troubleshoot challenges within the network. Instructional Rounds involve a self-selected small group of network partners who will convene twice a year to conduct “rounds” at a selected training site where participants will observe the teaching and learning that takes place in resident classrooms.  UTRU will facilitate a pre-observation meeting to review norms and the “problem of practice” identified by the hosting UTR.  Network partners have the opportunity to describe what they observe in resident classes, analyze patterns that emerge, and make recommendations on the next level of work that can help the UTR better achieve their desired goals. 

Program Audits:

Program Audits will begin in 2012, using our quality standards as the foundation.  UTRU will utilize Program Audits as a way of maintaining and assessing our standards, as well as improving the performance of our network programs.  UTRU is currently developing Program Audit protocols and how it plans to engage partners in the process. 

Ongoing Site Advisement:

UTRU provides monthly, individualized support services to address the specific needs and dynamics of each network partner.  In the form of remote calls and site visits, UTRU provides teams with consultation on local implementation challenges. 

E-blast:

Every week, Network partners receive a brief email blast with information about happenings around the network and in the education media.  This may include articles of interest, network partner events, job postings, and opportunities for funding.

National Advocacy

To promote awareness and rally support for Urban Teacher Residencies at the local, state and federal levels, UTRU has developed an active policy department. The department serves the interests of the network by shaping policy positions, conducting analysis, publishing papers and promoting advocacy on Capitol Hill. Partners receive media briefings and press releases to showcase outcomes, and the department plans to provide training and support for conducting advocacy at the state level.

Marketing Support

UTRU has developed marketing collateral for its partners, including program logos and recruitment materials. In addition, the UTRU website serves as a hub for those interested in learning more about UTRs and to channel qualified Resident teacher candidates as well as resources to partner programs.

Program Assessment

UTRU works with network partners to evaluate the efficacy of each Residency program. By defining a common approach to the measurement and evaluation of important metrics, UTRU provides partners a critical resource for ensuring the continued success and progress of their Residency programs. The results of these assessments are shared with all network partners and with funders and policy makers.

UTRU plans to offer its Friends the following benefits

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UTRU Quality Standards: UTRU will share and facilitate discussion around the Quality Standards and how to translate the standards into highly effective programming.

• Webinars:

  UTRU offers content-rich webinars several times a year on topics related to residency programs and their ongoing development and sustainability.

• E-blast:

  Every week, Friends receive a brief email blast with information about happenings around the network and in the education media.  This may include articles of interest, network partner events, job postings, and opportunities for funding.

• National Advocacy:

  To promote awareness and rally support for Urban Teacher Residencies at the local, state and federal levels, UTRU has developed an active policy department. The department serves the interests of the network by shaping policy positions, conducting analysis, publishing papers and promoting advocacy on Capitol Hill. Friends receive media briefings and press releases to showcase outcomes, and the department plans to provide training and support for conducting advocacy at the state level.

• Tool kits:

  UTRU has developed materials that can assist both potential Network Partners and Friends in developing a residency program.  These include, budget template, job descriptions, and financial models.

 

Strategic Alliance

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UTRU is always interested in engaging with organizations who believe we can change the way teachers are selected, prepared, and supported in high needs school districts; that teachers are the key to impacting student achievement; and that states and districts can revise teacher quality policy to support and encourage comprehensive human capital reform.