CPP Wins Grant to Support Residency Program for New Special Ed Teachers

The Education Specialist Credential Program at Cal Poly Pomona has been awarded an additional $20,000 grant from the California State University system to train new special education teachers through its teacher-residency program offered in partnership with Upland Unified School District (UUSD). 

The grant program is part of a larger effort by the CSU to help reduce student loan debt among aspiring teachers, which will help them fulfill their student teaching requirement and promote new teacher retention.  

Associate Professors Heather Taylor and Joanne Van Boxtel in the College of Education and Integrative Studies will serve as the project leaders.  

“We are excited that the additional residency scholarship funding awarded by this grant to CPP will financially support our teacher residency candidates,” said Taylor. “With the current COVID pandemic, we know that so many CPP families have been hit hard by health and economic hardships. We are thankful that our residency students will have additional scholarship funds, reducing some financial stress, so they can focus on becoming stellar teachers in Upland Unified School District.” 

This award builds upon a $140,000 grant that UUSD received from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to create a teacher-residency model with CPP.   

“We are thrilled to support our residency candidates in such a tangible way as they participate in this new residency partnership with Upland USD,” said Van Boxtel. “These additional funds come at a perfect time as the candidates move into their full-time residency experience this fall. We are looking forward to launching such a promising group of future teachers into the field as they learn alongside dedicated and talented mentor teachers in Upland.”

Marthy Cablay, a selected resident, said he looks forward to beginning his new teaching assignment.  

“I had an overwhelming sense of relief when I found out I was selected for this opportunity,” said Cablay. “Being a residency student will allow me to focus on earning my teaching credentials while providing for my family. I look forward to working with my master teacher to help prepare me for the classroom experience.” 

To learn more about the Education Specialist Credential Program and its current opportunities, visit www.cpp.edu/ceis/credential-program/education-specialist-credential-programs.shtml.