The following is a news release by the Montana Office of Public Instruction News.HELENA, Mont. – Superintendent Arntzen is accepting residency and district applications for the third year of the Montana Teacher Residency Program. The Residency program is a one-year paid student teaching experience during the final year of undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or master’s studies for education majors. Residents will be paired with a teacher-leader, and receive a stipend, district-provided housing, and partial tuition support. Resident teachers will also commit to teaching in a Montana school district for a minimum of three years. Those interested in becoming a resident can apply here. Districts interested in hosting a resident can apply here.“The Residency Program is a great opportunity for Montana-made teachers to gain valuable classroom experience,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “The academic success of our children depends on access to high quality teachers who are well prepared from day one. This reflects my Montana Hope and Montana Teach initiatives by emphasizing community engagement and strong teacher leaders to put our students first.”To date, 8 residents in 8 school districts have been placed for the 2024-2025 school year, with more placements pending:12 residents are awaiting lead teacher confirmations15 residents are awaiting placementsA total of 35 Residents are committed to the program and approved by their Educator Preparation ProgramDuring the first two years of the residency program, 40 residents were placed in 20 Montana school districts:
Browning Public Schools – 10 residentsCayuse Prairie Elementary School – 2 residentsFrontier Elementary School – 2 residentsColumbia Falls Public Schools – 1 residentLodge Grass Public Schools – 3 residentsPoplar Public Schools – 1 residentGreat Falls Public Schools – 1 residentPryor Public Schools – 1 residentHardin School District – 5 residentsSunset School – 1 residentHarlem School District – 1 residentTrout Creek Elementary – 1 residentVictor K-12 Schools – 2 residentsWoodman School – 1 residentHavre Public Schools – 1 residentKalispell Public Schools – 1 residentLodge Grass Public Schools – 2 residentsNoxon Public Schools – 1 residentUpper West Shore Elementary School – 1 residentVaughn Elementary – 2 residents
The residents receive a $14,000 stipend from the Office of Public Instruction’s (OPI) Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds that were set aside for workforce redesign. A partial tuition waiver of up to $3,000 is also available to residents who are not already receiving full tuition support. The teacher-leaders who work daily with each resident will receive a $6,000 stipend. The ESSER dollars will fund the Residency Program through June 2024. During the 2023 legislative session, HB 833 was passed and signed by Governor Gianforte. This bill will provide funding for the Residency Program beginning in July 2024.
