Applications for Track 1 and Track 2 are currently closed. Please check back soon!
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Program Overview
Aggie Teacher Education Residency Model
(aggieTERM)
“Short-TERM clinical experience, long-TERM teacher impact.”
aggieTERM provides prospective TAMU beginning teachers with a year-long clinical residency, with a master’s program, to develop the classroom expertise to become effective, long-term educators in high need school districts in Texas with a preference for our four premier 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/aggieTERMcalendar2122
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 orientation meetings
- Complete or confirm enrollment in a master’s of education program, if required
- 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
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
- Master’s in education coursework (optional)
Track 2
- Residents serve as an associate teacher up to 4 days per week
- Residents participate in residency rotations to observe expert teachers and instructional practices.
- Master’s in education coursework
SPRING
Track 1
- Clinical teaching 5 days a week
- Sign employment contract with partner school district in April
- Master’s in education coursework (optional)
Track 2
- Residents serve as an associate teacher in the partner school district 5 days a week
- Sign employment contract with partner school district in April
- Master’s in education coursework
Benefits
- Stipend award of $15,000+ for Track 1 students, and $40,000+ for Track 2 students in their 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 may be available after 5 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
- There are two application windows for aggieTERM each year. Check the website for details.
- The acceptance letters for aggieTERM will be sent to students 6 weeks after the application window closes.
- Selected candidates must complete a background check which is paid for by the candidate.
- Students must sign an ‘Intent to Serve’ agreement, which includes a commitment to (a) remain employed as a teacher of record for a minimum of three years after the one year of residency and (b) enroll and complete a master’s in education graduate program (Track 2 only).
- Students accepted into the aggieTERM Program are required to pass the teacher certification exams by mid-July before 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
