CEIS to Partner with UUSD to Train New Special Ed Teachers

The Upland Unified School District will tap into a $140,000 grant to create a teacher-residency model in partnership with Cal Poly Pomona.

The district received the funding from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and will work on developing the model with the College of Education and Integrative Studies’ Educational Specialist Credential Program, which prepares teachers to work with students with disabilities.

Assistant Professor Joanne Van Boxtel, CPP’s project lead, said the grant will provide financial assistance to education specialist teacher residents and their mentor teachers as they participate in a one-year residency program with UUSD. The candidates’ time in residency will satisfy their clinical practice requirement.

“I am thrilled to partner with Upland Unified School District to design an innovative and effective model for teacher preparation,” said Van Boxtel. “Through the residency model, education specialist candidates will engage in powerful hands-on learning in the field from experienced and supportive mentor teachers—it’s a perfect fit with Cal Poly Pomona’s learn-by-doing philosophy!”

The teacher-residency program will formally launch in Spring 2020 and end Spring 2021. Van Boxtel, along with co-project lead Assistant Professor Heather Wizikowski, will be working with UUSD to recruit residents until then.

“One of the most exciting features of this grant is the ability to work with Upland to train teachers right in the district's own classrooms. It's a win-win in that Upland is able to train high-quality special education teachers and CPP is actively involved with meeting the needs of our surrounding communities,” said Wizikowski.

In order to qualify, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field and be accepted into the Education Specialist Credential Program by Spring 2020 semester. All qualified applicants will be considered for the residency program through a joint vetting process with Upland USD. Each candidate must commit to teach in Upland once they complete the program.

For more information, email jmvanboxtel@cpp.edu or hewizikowski@cpp.edu.