Atlanta's solution to finding math and science teachers? Train them

By Jaime Sarrio

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Public Schools has a plan for easing the shortage of math and science teachers -- create them.

The 50,000-student district is launching a residency program to prepare both those taking up teaching after a career in another field and existing educators to work in math and science classrooms.

The recruits will spend a year shadowing a high-performing APS teacher while completing a master's in education from Georgia State University. They will pay their own tuition, but while they are in school they will earn a starting salary of $25,000 to $30,000 in exchange for agreeing to teach four years in the urban school district. 

Qualyn McIntyre, who is overseeing the approximately $1.5 million annual program for APS, said this is just one of many approaches to dealing with shortages in critical areas. The district looked at test scores and at staffing needs to determine it needed another way of finding middle and high school math and science teachers.

"We wanted to improve the teachers coming into the system, and the best way to do that is to have a hand in their preparation," she said.

The residency concept is similar to what's used in the medical field. Starting next school year, 12-15 teacher recruits will spend four days a week in a classroom under the watch of an experienced teacher. One day a week they will devote to master's level coursework.

The recruits also will spend two summers doing college work. The first group is expected to graduate by 2013, and the district hopes to add a new group every year, depending on the need.

The idea is to retain teachers by better preparing them to work in urban schools, which have unique challenges. Students in urban schools tend to move more during the school year, and may not have as much learning support at home.

McIntyre said the district will evaluate the program by looking at student test data and talking to teachers and staff in schools where the residents are assigned.

"There is still a need for traditional programs and alternative certification programs; this is just another pipeline," McIntyre said. "People have different needs in the way they will be the best prepared. And I think we owe it to our future educators to offer them a differentiated approach to how they are trained."

Similar residency programs exist in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett, offered through Georgia State University.

The program is funded through a five-year, $13.5 million Network for Enhancing Teacher Quality grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The university is looking for ways to continue the program even after the grant expires, said Gwendolyn Benson, an associate dean at GSU.

But Atlanta is one of the first districts in the country to sign on with Urban Teacher Residency United, which connects cities where residency programs are being offered. The program has more than 400 residents enrolled nationwide this school year, and offers districts, colleges and nonprofits a road map for setting up a successful program, said Anissa Listak, executive director.

Sara Mercadante, a graduate from the first cohort in the Denver Public Schools residency program, said working for a year with a master teacher gave her a window into what teaching would be like. The former archaeology major and event planner experienced fun things like setting up the classroom and harsh realities like reporting child abuse.

"By the time it came to my first year, I had already done report cards and parent conferences. I had already filled out a child abuse report," she said. "It was still hard, but I had some sort of cushion."

For Atlanta's teachers, training won't stop after the master's degree. The teachers commit to earning several certifications through the district that will allow them to work in more specialized areas such as special education, gifted education and English for Speakers of Other Languages.

The program also will offer another avenue for teachers to advance without having to leave the classroom. Teachers who agree to train these residents will earn a stipend of $3,000 a year.

The district will start accepting applications for residents at the end of November through a website, www.atlantapublicschools.us/autr. The teachers will earn a master’s of arts in teaching with a focus in secondary math.