“We are not only learning teaching skills from our mentors, but we are also learning life skills. I am sure I will be much more prepared for my own classroom after this program.”
- 2023-24 WEA Teacher Resident Meenakshi Boma
The ideal candidate:
WEA Teacher Residents model the values of the WEA Teacher Residency Program for our communities and stakeholders, and our students. Through these values, we expect you to demonstrate our core dispositions of professional practice. You are an ideal candidate for this program if you reflect the core values.
The WEA Teacher Residency’s six core values are used to assess applicants’ readiness for the program throughout the selection process. Review the core values to get an understanding of the program’s focus and to determine if the program is the right fit for you.
Program eligibility:
Interested in applying? Check to make sure you meet these eligibility requirements. Find our application checklist.
- Degree. You must have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher prior to the program start date. The degree may be in any subject and may have been issued in another country. Find out more on our FAQs page.
- District placement. You must be available for residency (student teaching) in one of our partner districts: Auburn, Federal Way, Mukilteo, Pasco, Peninsula, Sedro Woolley (pending legislative funding), Sumner-Bonney Lake, or Walla Walla/College Place. Some districts have specific requirements regarding prior employment or other relationships with the district. See our FAQs below for additional information.
- You do NOT need an existing teaching certificate. If you do hold a teaching certificate or have completed a teacher preparation program in Washington state, another state, or another country, you may already be eligible for a Washington state teaching certificate. If this is the case, you would NOT be eligible for WEA’s program. Please contact the OSPI Certification Office at cert@k12.wa.us or (360) 725-6400 to determine your certification status.
- Interested in adding a special education endorsement to an existing teacher certificate? Complete our interest survey.
How to apply:
There is a two-step application process. All three steps must be completed prior to the application deadline. Applications for the 2024-25 WEA Teacher Residency program are now closed. Complete our interest survey to be informed when applications for the next cohort open.
Step 1: Application questions. Share contact information and district preferences, and respond to short questions about your experience and assessments. The application process includes taking a basic skills assessment with no minimum score required. It can take some time to register for the basic skills assessment, so please do this right away! Find out more in our FAQ.
After you complete Step 1, you will receive a link via email to complete Step 2, the document portal.
Step 2: Document Portal. Upload documents including a personal essay, transcripts, letters of reference, and more.
Check out our application checklist for more information.
Important links:
- Applications for the 2024-25 WEA Teacher Residency program are now closed. Complete our interest survey to be informed when applications for the next cohort open.
- Program Admission and Completion Requirements
- Application Checklist
- Applications for the 2023-24 WEA Teacher Residency program will open soon.
- FAQ page for applicants
- Contact us at admissions@washingtonea.org
WEA Teacher Residency Application, Admissions and Residency Timeline:
|
Date |
Step |
|
Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 |
Applications for the 2024-25 WEA Teacher Residency program are now closed. Complete our interest survey to be informed when applications for the next cohort open. |
|
Friday, April 12, 2024, at 5 p.m. |
Application submission deadline. |
|
Week of April 22-26. 2024 |
Application screening. Applicants selected for an interview will be notified after the screening process. |
|
Monday, April 29 - Friday, May 10, 2024 |
Applicants invited to an interview will be asked to complete a virtual teaching simulation in Mursion. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive instructions for scheduling your teaching simulation. Reflecting on the simulation experience will be one part of the interview process. |
|
Week of May 13-18, 2024 |
Candidate interviews. Candidates selected for an interview will need to be available for an in-person interview in their anticipated school district. |
|
Friday, May 24, 2024 |
Candidates notified of admission decisions. |
|
Thursday, June 15, 2024 |
Last day for candidates to accept admission and submit first tuition payment. |
|
Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024 |
Attempting the content knowledge assessment, Special Education WEST-E 070, is required prior to August 14, 2024. Residents may not begin student teaching without attempting this test. Passing the content knowledge assessment, or receiving a case-by-case exception, is required for program completion. |
|
Monday, June 24 - Friday, Aug. 9, 2024 |
Summer Institute #1
|
|
Aug. 2024 - June 2025 Exact dates depend on the local district calendar. |
Year-long mentored teaching residency in partner school district. |
|
Monday, June 23 - Aug. 8, 2025 |
Summer Institute #2
|
|
Friday, Aug. 8, 2024 |
Residency program completion. |
Return to Teacher Residency Homepage.