STEM TEACHERS IN ADVANCED RESIDENCY (STAR): A CUTTING-EDGE TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM

The objective of this session is to showcase an innovative and cutting-edge teacher residency program known as STEM Teachers in Advanced Residency (STAR) currently implemented as a reciprocal partnership/relationship between Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). STAR is intended to develop and prepare highly qualified secondary science and math teachers for LAUSD. Its focus is on a high-needs LEA with documented need for STEM teachers. Teacher residents earn a master’s and preliminary credential in 15 months and consequently hired by LAUSD in high-need schools that enroll large percentages of low-income minority students with low achievement in math and science. STAR significantly enhances CSUDH’s residency pathway, industry internships, and exposure to varied teaching styles, and more extensive clinical experiences. Residents join instructional teams with veteran and novice (STAR 1st- and 2nd-year) teachers. Teams will conduct intensive cycles of plan-teach-assess-reflect with students who vary from low to high levels of achievement.

In support of collaboration and community engagement STAR activities include recruiting strategies that attract many participants from groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM. CSUDH has redesigned a curriculum to emphasize 21st Century skills, technology, content literacy, new generation science standards and common core state standards, and deliver rigorous, blended credential and master’s coursework that integrates theory and practice. Presenters will discuss how participants complete a yearlong residency with trained master teachers in one of 10 high-need partner secondary schools. Additional clinical experiences in CSUDH’s innovative Lab School fosters collaborative learning opportunities for residents to spend two afternoons a week in internships with researchers or industry to gain applied knowledge. Presenters will further elaborate processes that promote monthly professional learning community meetings in cohorts with mentor teachers, and showcase findings that indicate how graduates are prepared to teach the Common Core math standards and Next Generation Science Standards students of varying achievement levels. The session will end with time allocated for Question and Answer period for audience to engage with the presenters.