FAQs
Program Overview
Applying
Finance
Program Overview
What is a Teacher Residency?
Based on the medical residency model where residents serve under an assisting physician and gain the training required to practice medicine, SFTR residents work under the supervision of a demonstration teacher while training to become teachers of record for the San Francisco Unified School District.
What would my day look like as a resident?
Residents spend five hours a day, five days a week at one of our Teaching Academies learning under the supervision of an expert teacher. Residents take late afternoon and evening classes at their respective universities to work towards their credential and Master’s degree. The cohort meets once a week for SFTR’s practicum seminar, which emphasizes the San Francisco context and focuses on the needs and issues of students in the San Francisco Unified School District.
Who is eligible to apply for SFTR?
San Francisco Teacher Residency is recruiting talented college graduates, career changers, and community members of all ages seeking a secondary math or science, bilingual Spanish, or elementary education credential.
How many people will be accepted into the residency program?
For the 2013 – 2014 school year we will be accepting 24 residents. Limited spaces will be available for general multiple subjects credentials. The other spaces are available in math, science, or bilingual Spanish.
Why are there so few elementary slots?
SFTR is designed to fill the hardest to staff subjects as identified by the district (SFUSD). Since the greatest needs in the district are in math, science and bilingual education, the majority of our slots are in those areas.
What is my commitment if I am admitted and accept a position with SFTR?
During the program year, residents work with a teacher of record five hours a day five days a week in a San Francisco Unified School District classroom. Additionally, residents are required to take part of the year-long practicum seminar. After the residency year, residents commit to serving for a minimum of three years in a hard to staff subject with the San Francisco Unified School District.
How can SFTR guarantee residents a full time teaching position?
SFTR has a memorandum of understanding with the San Francisco Unified School District to hire our graduates because we are specifically preparing teachers for hard-to-staff subjects.
What does the year look like?
Fall
- Work in an SFUSD classroom a minimum of 5 hours a day
- Work with students in the classroom
- Attend planning meetings with the demonstration teacher
- Help with creating lesson plans
- Attend classes at USF or Stanford in the evening
- Attend a Friday seminar for SFTR residents
- Meet with your site supervisor once a week
- Plan a service learning project with your other SFTR residents at your school site.
Spring
- Continued experience from the fall plus taking on more responsibilities in teaching and lesson planning.
- Evolving and growing in your teaching through coaching and feedback from demonstration teacher and site supervisor.
Applying
What is the application process?
To be eligible for SFTR, prospective candidates must be admitted to the Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP) or the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and credential program at USF's School of Education. A supplemental application for SFTR is also required, and is available for download on our Apply page.
Supplemental applications are reviewed after admission decisions have been made by SFTR university partners. They are reviewed by representatives from SFTR partner organizations.
After the screening of supplemental applications, top candidates will be invited to participate in SFTR’s Interview Day in San Francisco in April (date TBD). Other arrangements will be made for out-of-state candidates. Spanish bilingual candidates will be required to participate in a Spanish language interview before admission is granted.
Can I apply to both USF and Stanford?
Yes, but, Stanford will only accept residents in science and math.
Can I apply if I already have a teaching credential? What if my credential is from another state?
No, SFTR is credential program. As such, applicants with an existing teaching credential from any state will not be considered.
What if I hold an "Emergency Credential?" Can I apply then?
Yes, candidates with an emergency credential who want to participate in the coursework and fieldwork for their preliminary credential are encouraged to apply.
Finance
What makes SFTR an affordable route to teaching?
Upon admission to the program, residents are eligible for financial aid from the University of San Francisco or Stanford. Residents at the University of San Francisco are guaranteed reduced tuition while residents at Stanford are eligible for loan forgiveness.
What type of financial assistance is available to residents?
You may be eligible for financial aid through the USF and Stanford financial aid offices:
USF Financial Aid Office
Does SFTR offer health insurance?
Yes, as SFTR members, residents are guaranteed health insurance during their residency year.