WNY Teacher Residency Program Graduates First Class

May 6, 2020

Buffalo, NY - The Western New York Teacher Residency (WNYTR) program at Canisius University graduates its first class of six on May 13, 2020. Graduates of the master’s degree program receive New York State certification in Childhood and Special Education (grades 1-6).

The WNYTR program, partially supported by a grant from the Cullen Foundation, was established in fall 2018. Through this teacher residency program, aspiring educators complete master’s level coursework while building their skills under the guidance of experienced teachers and leaders in high-need schools and districts.  

Similar to medical school residencies, where physicians train in hospitals alongside practicing clinicians, residents in this program co-teach for a full year alongside skilled mentor teachers, who coach and gradually ease them into more teaching responsibilities throughout the school year.

The 2020 WNYTR program graduates are:

  • Briana Williams
  • Phoenix Brown
  • Savannah Jonathan ’18
  • Jessica Dillon
  • Gabrielle Threet
  • Seth Ehrenberg

 

The Western New York Teacher Residency program requires interested graduate students to apply for a position.  Candidates will also be eligible for a Western New York Teacher Residency Scholarship and receive a living wage stipend during their residency year.  Additionally, students selected to participate in the residency program are given first consideration for employment by participating school partners.  The residency program creates a pipeline of committed urban educators.

If you are interested in applying for a 2020-21 residency position with the WNYTR program, please contact Lauren Kicak in graduate admissions at @email or visit www.canisius.edu/western-new-york-teacher-residency.

Canisius launched the Center for Urban Education in January 2017.  It is housed within the college’s School of Education and Human Services and collaborates with the National Urban Alliance for Effective Education to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in urban schools across Western New York.  The expertise and resources of the partnership help to enhance the overall quality of the teacher education program at Canisius. A recruitment and retention component of the program also works to enhance the number and diversity of the candidate pool. 

One of 27 Jesuit universities in the nation, Canisius is the premier private university in Western New York. Canisius celebrates its sesquicentennial anniversary during the 2019-20 academic year, marking 150 years of Jesuit education and leadership in the city of Buffalo and Western New York. Visit www.canisius.edu/150 for more information about Canisius’ milestones and celebratory events.