Teacher Residency Program Awarded Grant

October 4, 2022

BUFFALO, NY ― Canisius University is proud to announce that the Cullen Foundation has awarded a significant, one-year grant to its Western New York Teacher Residency program, which is housed within the School of Education and Human Services. The grant will fund scholarships to second-year resident students. The Cullen Foundation has awarded nearly $400,000 to the Western New York Teacher Residency program, since the Canisius program was established in 2018.

Similar to a medical school residency, the WNY Teacher Residency at Canisius University is a rigorous two-year program that couples master’s level classes with a full year of teaching in a classroom with a skilled mentor-teacher. In the classroom, students learn the underlying theories of effective teaching. They then practice and hone those skills in a one-year teaching residency in a Buffalo public or charter school.

All students in the WNY Teacher Residency graduate with a master’s degree and New York State dual certification in Childhood/Special Education (Grades 1-6) or Childhood/TESOL (Grades K-12). They are also among the first candidates to be hired when employment opportunitiesbecome available at Canisius’ partner schools. Partner schools include Buffalo Public Schools, Elmwood Village Charter Schools, West Buffalo Charter School, King Center Charter School, Persistence Preparatory Academy Charter School, and the Stanley G. Falk School.

This is the third grant awarded to the Western New York Teacher Residency program from the Cullen Foundation. The organization was an original supporter when Canisius developed the residency program in 2018. The Cullen Foundation is an independent, private foundation dedicated to enhancing education for students in grades pre-K through 12, and advancing performing arts for Erie County. It was established by John S. “Jack” Cullen II, the late founder and head of Multisorb Technologies. His estate provided the funding for the foundation.

For more information about the Western New York Teacher Residency program at Canisius, click here.  

Canisius University is one of 27 Catholic, Jesuit colleges in the nation and the premier private college in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals – able to promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity. -30-