Teach (STEM)3: A Clinical Residency Model for Preparing Effective STEM Teachers

Summary

The University of Indianapolis Teach (STEM)3 (UIndy TS3) program is a clinical residency teacher preparation program in which candidates earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree with licensure in Chemistry, Biology, or Math. UIndy TS3 consists of multiple layers of support, including a clinical residency with clinical mentor teachers and clinical faculty who also serve as university supervisors; integrated and scaffolded university coursework, which includes clinical seminars and classroom observations; and two years of in-service mentoring. Evaluation and retention results indicate that candidates are well-supported in their high-need classrooms by these program components, and our 3-year retention rate of 93% over eight cohorts is higher than the national average. Moreover, the clinical mentor teacher (CMT) is enriched by the candidate’s presence in the classroom, as the candidate imports new teaching methodologies (such as project-based learning) and technologies to the classroom that in turn inform the practice of the CMT. School administrators are also positively impacted by interacting with the candidates, both by keeping apprised of the challenges that new teachers face and by learning new ways to engage students. The efficacy of UIndy TS3 is proven by our 100% placement rate, long-term retention of program graduates, and their recognition as teacher leaders.