Cal Poly Pomona Partners with Pomona Unified to Address Teacher Shortages and Strengthen Bilingual Education
Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Education and Integrative Studies (CEIS) is tackling California’s ongoing teacher shortage through a new year-long teacher residency program designed to prepare highly qualified, bilingual special education teachers for the region’s diverse classrooms.
Led by Nirmla Flores, assistant professor in the Department of Education and CEIS’s new bilingual coordinator, the program is a collaborative effort between Cal Poly Pomona and Pomona Unified School District (PUSD). Funded by a state-supported grant, the initiative blends rigorous coursework with hands-on classroom experience, allowing residents to co-teach alongside seasoned mentor teachers three to four days a week.
“Teacher shortages, especially in high-need and linguistically diverse schools, have made it critical to re-think how we prepare educators,” said Flores. “This residency program offers candidates the sustained mentorship and real-world experience they need to feel confident and effective from day one.”
Each teacher resident receives a $40,000 living stipend, helping to remove financial barriers and ensure that talented, committed individuals can pursue their credential without the burden of debt. Participants also have the opportunity to work as substitute teachers in PUSD, gaining additional experience while supplementing their income.
The residency model is designed to do more than fill vacancies—it aims to strengthen teacher preparation, increase retention, and recruit educators who reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of the students they serve. Through a curriculum that integrates cultural responsiveness and bilingual education, candidates learn to build inclusive, affirming classrooms that value students’ home languages and identities.
“This program is about more than just filling seats in classrooms—it’s about preparing educators who truly understand and reflect the students they serve,” Flores said. “By integrating cultural responsiveness into every part of the residency, we promote educational equity and ensure our teachers are ready to meet the needs of multilingual learners.”
Italso connects with broader statewide efforts such as the California State University Asian Language Bilingual Teacher Education Program (ALBTEP), which supports candidates pursuing credentials in languages including Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Tagalog. Together, these initiatives are helping to rebuild California’s pipeline of bilingual educators and address the growing demand for teachers who can serve multilingual learners effectively.
Alicia Castañeda, director of human resources at PUSD, praised the collaboration, calling it “truly transformative.”
“The teacher residency program is not only changing the lives of our candidates but also the countless students whose futures will be shaped by having educators who see them, value them, and believe in their potential,” said Castañeda. “Pomona Unified is thrilled to partner with Cal Poly Pomona on this innovative approach that strengthens our schools and ensures our students benefit from passionate, well-prepared educators who reflect the richness of our community.”
For more information about the Teacher Residency Program and application details, visit Cal Poly Pomona’s Credential Program Orientation page or contact Alicia Castañeda.