UA Little Rock presents teacher residency results; district hired three former residents

UA Little Rock staff told the Jacksonville North Pulaski School Board that a grant-funded teacher residency program produced multiple hires for the district and continues this year with four residents serving as math tutors and classroom residents.

Rachel Eels, Wendy Endowed Director of the School of Education at UA Little Rock, described the partnership and its outcomes. "Jacksonville North Pulaski School District was our very first partner," she said, and credited district leadership with supporting the inaugural cohort.

Program details: Eels said a Forward Arkansas Transformation Grant (secured in October 2022) funded an immersive residency model that placed five paid residents in the district in 2023' three at Jacksonville Middle and two at Merle Taylor. After graduation, three of the five were hired by the district. One former resident, Chadwick Comer, addressed the board and thanked the district and his mentor teachers for the support: "This program helped lay the foundation in me... It helps get those first year jitters out with the help of a mentor teacher," Comer said.

Current year: Eels said four UA Little Rock residents are currently serving in the district as math tutors while completing residencies in elementary, middle-level, secondary history and special education.

Board reaction and next steps: Superintendent (Dr. O) and board members thanked UA Little Rock for the partnership. The district did not take formal action Tuesday related to the residency program; presenters offered a token of appreciation and discussed ongoing collaboration.

Ending: UA Little Rock and the district said they will continue to explore ways to sustain and expand the residency pipeline.