Program Overview
Aggie Teacher Education Residency Model
(aggieTERM)
“Short-TERM clinical experience, long-TERM teacher impact.”
aggieTERM provides TAMU education students with a year-long clinical residency, with a master’s program, to develop the classroom expertise to become effective, long-term educators with school district partners: Austin Independent School District, Bryan Independent School District, Caldwell Independent School District, and Hearne Independent School District. Candidates will be offered a teaching position upon successful completion of the residency.
Media
Watch the video at tx.ag/aggieterminthenews.
Read about aggieTERM in the news at tx.ag/theeagle.
Aggie student teachers kick off first aggieTERM at Bryan ISD: tx.ag/kickoff
Bryan ISD hosts orientation breakfast for aggieTERM students: tx.ag/OrientationBreakfast
“Fannin Elementary students write to US service members” tx.ag/letters
Facebook: “Bryan ISD Human Resources checked in with our 11 Aggie student teachers…”
KBTX: “Bryan ISD extends aggieTERM Program”
The Eagle: “Bryan school board to expand student-teaching partnership with Texas A&M”
KBTX: “Caldwell ISD First Day of School-Daleigh Drgac”
Calendar
2020-2021 Calendar: tx.ag/aggietermcalendar
Handbook
2020-2021 Handbook: tx.ag/aggietermhandbook
Meet aggieTERM’s newest residents — class of 2021!
We now have residents at Bryan ISD and Caldwell ISD.
What is a Teacher Residency?
Teacher residency programs are, by definition, district-serving teacher education programs that pair a rigorous full-year classroom apprenticeship with master’s level education content. “Residency programs are partnerships among school districts, universities, and other stakeholders to prepare and retain effective teachers” (NCTR, 2018, p. 3). Teacher residencies are opportunities for preservice teachers to be authentically active in the classroom for an extended period and to “experiment with specific and concrete strategies under realistic conditions” (Pankowski & Walker, 2016, p. 4). Read more here.
Our Approach
aggieTERM is framed within a 5-point Comprehensive Community Induction Model. There is an impressive body of research on the aspects of teacher preparation that have the most impact on quality teachers. From this literature, one can identify five key attributes that researchers have found to be linked to quality clinical teaching:
- A coherent vision of teaching between school and university partners
- Comprehensive strategies that enhance clinical experiences
- Shared governance
- Developmental induction training for clinical teachers and mentors
- Anchored in the community
Eligibility Requirements
The aggieTERM program is made up of two tracks. Track 1 is for current undergraduate students enrolled in a teacher preparation program in the last year of their program. Track 2 is available for those who have earned a bachelor’s degree and who would like to pursue a graduate secondary certificate.
Track 1
- Undergraduate students in all certification areas are eligible to apply; high need certification areas are highly encouraged to apply (e.g. bilingual education, ELAR/SS, Math/Science, Special Education)
- Good academic standing and no growth plan in junior year; pass Junior Methods courses with no grades lower than a C
- Pass content exams by mid-July
- Enroll in a master’s program in the College of Education and Human Development
- Intent to serve as a full-time teacher with partner ISD for a minimum of 3 years at the conclusion of the residency year
- Ability to participate in a paid internship/residency as a teacher in a partner school district
Track 2
Track 2 is available for those who have earned a bachelor’s degree and who would like to pursue a graduate secondary certificate. Track 2 students must be
- Accepted into the Graduate Certification Program at Texas A&M University
- Able to participate in a paid internship/residency as a teacher in a partner school district
Selection Criterion
Students’ responses from the application process are ranked by aggieTERM faculty and school district staff. The students who receive the top rankings are selected for aggieTERM.
Timeline
SUMMER
Preparation for School Year [Track 1 and Track 2]
- Complete required teacher content certification exam by the third Monday in July
- Attend two mandatory meetings with the university supervisor
- Attend professional development with cooperating teachers to prepare for the upcoming academic year
- Candidates will follow partner school district’s calendar, rather than TAMU’s calendar
- Complete or confirm enrollment in a master’s of education program
FALL
Track 1
- Clinical teaching 2-4 days a week meeting the same professional and teaching standards as all TAMU clinical teachers
- Complete Senior Methods coursework as instructed by your program area
- On select Fridays, candidates will be required to attend advising and TAMU sponsored workshops
- Residents participate in residency rotations to observe expert teachers and instructional practices
- Residents participate in residency rotations to observe expert teachers and instructional practices
- Master’s in education coursework
Track 2
- Residents serve as a teacher of record in the partner school district
- On select Fridays, candidates will be required to attend advising and TAMU sponsored workshops
- Residents participate in residency rotations to observe expert teachers and instructional practices
SPRING
Track 1
- Clinical teaching 5 days a week
- Sign employment contract with partner school district in April
- Master’s in Education coursework
Track 2
- Residents serve as a teacher of record in the partner school district
- Sign employment contract with partner school district in April
- Master’s in Education coursework
Benefits
- Stipend award of $33,000+ for pre-bac students, and $41,000+ for during the internship/residency year
- Authentic year-long clinical teaching experiences in a partner school district
- Coursework designed to support teaching certification
- Laptop courtesy of the school district
- Quality mentoring from school district staff, TAMU faculty, and local community
- Free professional development opportunities each semester
- Opportunities for paid after-school tutoring
- Financial assistance for teacher certification exams
- Job placement in partner school district
- Student loan forgiveness after 3 years of teaching in a high need school
- Opportunity to share professional expertise and a passion for teaching and learning
How to Apply to the aggieTERM Program
- Applications accepted through March 8 each year; early applications are encouraged.
- The acceptance letters for aggieTERM will be sent to students the first week of April.
- Students must sign an Intent to Serve agreement, commit to enrolling in a graduate program. Additionally, selected candidates must complete a background check and fingerprinting, which is paid for by the aggieTERM program.
- Students accepted into the aggieTERM Program are required to pass the teacher certification exams before the start of the residency year.
Please contact aggieterm@tamu.edu for more information.
What do our Texas A&M faculty have to say?
aggieTERM brings together all the best teacher preparation practices in partnership with our partner school districts —fostering a day-1-ready start to students’ careers as beginning teachers.“
– Dr. Miranda Walichowski, Clinical Associate Professor Undergraduate Bilingual Education Programs
Dr. Valerie Hill-Jackson
Assistant Dean of Educator Preparation & School Partnerships
