Get our CREC e-Newsletter:
CREC Magnet Schools Announce Second Cohort of Teacher Residency Program
The Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) has hired 15 new qualified applicants to take part in the second cohort of the groundbreaking recruitment and retention model for teachers of color, the CREC Teacher Residency Program (TRP). CREC began the program in summer 2019 with approval from the CT State Department of Education. Eleven residents who completed year one of the first cohort, are set to begin the 2020 school year teaching in an elementary school classroom.
Once accepted into the program, residents begin their 14-month road to elementary certification, starting with a six-weeks of intensive summer courses to prepare them for the year. Residents are each paid a salary, with benefits, as they work side-by-side with a mentor teacher for one year. Residents who successfully complete the certification requirements are then guaranteed a full-time classroom teaching positions in the second school year. CREC’s idea through this program is to prioritize minority candidates’ potential to work with diverse students and minimizes barriers to traditional certification program admission.
This year, to expand participation in this program, CREC partnered with the Bristol, Ellington, and Southington school districts to place residents in their school as well. The three districts make the same commitment to the residents, but CREC still provides all the instruction and supervision towards earning their certification.
The CREC TRP also received a grant to partially fund and sustain the program, from the NewSchools Venture Fund’s Diverse Leaders investment area. According to the NewSchool’s website, “Our goal is for the PreK-12 education workforce to mirror the racial demographics of U.S. students…NewSchools’ Diverse Leaders strategy aims to close the diversity gap by recruiting, retaining, and supporting Black and Latino leaders in education.”
In addition to the grant from NewSchools, CREC TRP has also received some private sponsorship funds from Vistra Energy, a frequent donor to CREC’s Athletics program.
This residents in the 2020-2022 cohort of the CREC TRP and their school placements are:
Karen Adenken, CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering Elementary School
Johanna Carrasquillo, CREC Discovery Academy
Tobias Ceasar, CREC Museum Academy
Sashana Forbes, CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering Elementary School
Joshua Fritho, CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering Elementary School
Yasmin Goodley, Glastonbury-East Hartford Magnet School
Miltonette Hayles, Southington Public Schools
Aurora Hill, Glastonbury-East Hartford Magnet School
Richard Jernigan, Southington Public Schools
Jovanni Lawrence, Ellington Public Schools
Re’Shantia Mundle, CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering Elementary School
Ovidio Munis, Bristol Public Schools
Michelle Straker, CREC Discovery Academy
Kevin Taylor, Bristol Public Schools
Tammy Walton, CREC Discovery Academy
Photos and biographies of the new residents can be made available upon request.
Placements for residents going into their second year are not yet complete as the CREC schools fill out their staff for the upcoming school year, but some residents have already been placed in classrooms at CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering Elementary School, CREC Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary School, CREC Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Middle School, CREC Museum Academy, and CREC Two Rivers Magnet Middle School.
CREC is thrilled to have these passionate and well-trained educators join the staff as certified teachers this fall. A social-distanced celebration of their achievement is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2020 at 3 p.m. at CREC Museum Academy, 11 Turkey Hill Road in Bloomfield.
