KHSD Partners with CSUB to Prepare Future Teachers

KHSD Partners with CSUB to Prepare Future Teachers

As the Kern High School District welcomes back its students and teachers for the 2018-2019 school year, it is also welcoming teacher residents from Cal State University, Bakersfield.

Twenty teacher residents were selected through interview by a team of CSUB and KHSD leaders and instructors to take part in the Kern High Teacher Residency Program. The Department of Teacher Education at California State University, Bakersfield, and the Kern High School District is launching the innovative teacher preparation program for the first time this fall to develop future high school teachers for the KHSD and Kern County.

The residents participate in a yearlong, co-teaching experience with outstanding mentor teachers in the district, according to Vickie Spanos, Teacher Residency Program Coordinator. Residents complete their credential program coursework at the district site as a cohort, and university faculty and district instructional specialists co-teach the coursework to ensure they meet rigorous standards for teacher preparation.

“This program offers great opportunity for the development of future teachers by using experienced and effective KHSD teachers to train, mentor, and coach new teachers, and it also meets a significant need for our community.” -Dr. Michael Zulfa, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources.

Residents will also receive tuition support and living stipends to help reduce some of the financial burden people often face while trying to become a teacher.

The program is modeled after other CSUB teacher partnerships with residency placements at districts including the Bakersfield City School District and Greenfield Union School District.