Mission and Commitments

Carolina  Transition to  Teaching Residency  is a teacher preparation  program that immerses teacher residents in the  life of a teacher through extensive, school-based experiences  within rural schools and rural school  communities. Similar to rounds within a teaching hospital,  Carolina Teaching Residents engage in teaching and learning through guided enactments situated in authentic elementary and middle level classroom contexts. These guided experiences occur  within University of South Carolina coursework alongside experienced mentor teachers and University of South Carolina faculty. Carolina Teaching Residents  are coached, guided, and supported  throughout their  residency in a  manner that prepares them to be responsive educators within  localized rural contexts. These supports attend to the relational, logistical, and conceptual aspects of teaching and learning. Carolina  Transition to  Teaching Residency  provides financial supports to residents during the 18-month graduate program.  Additionally, Carolina  Transition to  Teaching Residency is committed to preparing quality teachers ready to teach in rural South Carolina Contexts.  

In  particular, Carolina  Transition to  Teaching Residency is committed to the following tenets that guide our  residency model:   

• Equity, Access, and Inclusion  -  Carolina  Transition to  Teaching Residency is committed to preparing teachers to work within diverse South Carolina communities.   

• Partnerships  -  Carolina  Transition to  Teaching Residency is committed to developing and  sustaining reciprocal relationships with  district—and school-based partners to  enhance  educational  opportunities within South Carolina.   

• Responsive Teacher Education  -  Carolina  Transition to  Teaching Residency is committed to responsive teacher education  designed to engage all  stakeholders in professional learning experiences situated in elementary and middle school classrooms. 

• Sustained Coaching and  Support  -  Carolina  Transition to  Teaching Residency is committed to embedded and  scaffolded  supports throughout the residency and  continued into a resident’s first three years of teaching.   

• Inquiry  Orientation  -  Carolina  Transition to  Teaching Residency is committed to  cultivating inquiry as a pedagogical  practice and tool for teacher  research.   

• STEM - Computer  Science  -  Carolina  Transition to Teaching Residency is committed to developing teachers and  students' integrated knowledge in order to understand complex problems and use innovative problem-solving approaches.