About the WEA Teacher Residency

“The WEA Teacher Residency is a platform for aspiring teachers to learn how to teach Special Education through the lens of students, families, teachers, paraeducators, and community members. We have four rotations in our program in one year and mentorship looks different at each rotation. Each mentor has a goal for his/her classroom, from focusing on inclusion to meeting graduation requirements. We are introduced to evidence-based practices that are infused with the diverse personalities of mentors and instructors. In the process, we discovered the kind of teacher we wanted to be and which skills we wanted to develop to meet that goal."

- 2023-24 WEA Resident 

The WEA Teacher Residency is the nation's only union led preparation program — led by practicing educators who understand the real work and the true impact of skillful and inclusive instruction for students with disabilities. The program is built for aspiring educators who have a passion for equity, who are student centered, who find joy in working with students with disabilities, and who represent the students and the community in which they will serve. 

While in the program, residents:

• Earn a living wage and benefits
• Experience different settings across the special education services in schools
• Teach students of all ages K-12- elementary, middle and high school
• Get support from mentors, coaches, field supervisors, faculty and staff
• Work in community with WEA Teacher Residency Program participants from across the state- supporting, challenging, and inspiring each other

Upon successful completion of the program, residents:

• Earn a full teaching certificate and an endorsement in Special Education
• Have the opportunity of a job offer in the school district where they trained
• Have a starting salary of a BA (or higher) plus 90… earning thousands more than typical first year teachers
• Commit to teaching for at least three years in the district where they completed their residency

Our residents spend six months working as Paraeducators and engaging in coursework, and engaging in learning about students and the work of a special education teacher. They participate in an in-person Summer Institute, and continue their coursework virtually, both synchronously and asynchronously throughout the summer. In the fall, they begin their work as full residents. For the entire school year, they coteach in classrooms working shoulder-to-shoulder with experienced expert mentors doing the work of teachers: goal setting, planning, instructing, assessing, and reflecting — building their skills and their efficacy with students every day. The coursework is immediately actioned in the classroom and residents receive feedback to improve their practice and support their learning and growth.

In our program, residents experience the breadth of special education programs and the different age levels of students in our schools. Throughout the program, residents will work in four different classrooms with different experienced mentors, in four instructional rounds including: resource support, behavior support, intensive support, and in general education using inclusion.

“This program has honestly made me feel like I have a family of current and past teachers around me. My 4 mentors, my coach, my field supervisor, and my course instructors have been there to support me as I gradually started to lead each classroom I was in. Having the 4 different environments allowed me to grow in areas of education, that I never would have thought I would have gotten to experience. I have met so many experts in the field that I feel as though I have a huge support system going forward.”
- 2023-24 WEA Resident

Find out more about how to Apply to be a WEA Teacher Resident.

Return to the Teacher Residency Homepage.