Clarksville-Montgomery County School System works to increase instructional effectiveness through teacher residency pathways

A CMCSS instructor leading a math lesson. (Screenshot from CMCSS’s YouTube)

Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) leaders say that more than 15,000 students in total have been taught so far by instructors from the district’s Teacher Residency Program, which provides pathways to teaching for “those interested in a non-traditional approach to a degree or certification.”

CMCSS Director of Opportunity Culture Lisa Baker gives an overview of teacher residency programming at Tuesday’s school board meeting. (Screenshot)

According to CMCSS Director of Opportunity Culture Lisa Baker, who provided an overview of teacher residency programming within the district at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, teacher residents at CMCSS can gain certifications at no cost through partnerships with Nashville State Community College, Austin Peay State University, and Lipscomb University.

Baker said that there are currently 98 teachers in the district’s elementary level pathway programs offered through partnerships with Nashville State and Austin Peay and 118 active residents in the Lipscomb cohorts that offer pathways for middle school teachers to gain certification, licensure, master’s degrees in education for other grade levels. Overall, she said, 176 former teacher residents are currently employed as CMCSS teachers.

“Sixty-eight percent of these teachers currently serve elementary students, 32 percent of these teachers currently serve middle or high school students, and out of those 176 teachers, 16 percent are special education teachers,” she said, adding that teachers in the program have become more effective instructors.

Baker noted that the district has been working to increase professional development supports for residents in order to help them complete the program, such as tutoring support and practice assessments. She added that the district has also increased its site visits to provide additional support and feedback for program participants.

“As we're continually striving to eliminate and reduce barriers, we provide a variety of supports such as professional development for our residents and their mentors,” she said. “We provide on the job training support to help them achieve their teacher competencies, and we also provide professional coaching for mentors and residents.

“We've worked with the middle school director and curriculum director to revamp the competencies for middle school teachers or residents,” she continued. “And we're also conducting full observations [of teachers] to calibrate feedback with those mentors.”

Today, Baker said, nearly 90 percent of the district’s current teacher residents are “on track for licensure,” according to practice assessment results.

“That's a 56 percent increase from what we've seen in the past, so we're excited to continue those supports and see what else we can add to because we want that number to become 100 percent,” she said.

To learn more about the district’s residency pathways, visit www.cmcss.net.