Duncanville ISD approves Region 10 residency MOU to expand paid resident-teacher pipeline

The Duncanville Independent School District Board of Trustees on Dec. 15 approved a memorandum of understanding with Region 10 to expand a state-supported teacher residency program designed to recruit and retain educators.

Ms. Brown summarized the partnership and said the state PREP allotment grant and educator preparation providers will place paid resident teachers with cooperating host teachers in the district. "This is a state initiative, and it aligns us in partnership with EPP providers," she said, adding that residents will earn an enhanced resident-teacher certificate while completing clinical residency hours.

Under the MOU, resident teachers are expected to complete at least 750 hours of classroom experience and will be employees of the district in roles similar to paraprofessionals while participating in co-teaching and scaffolded instruction. Ms. Brown said the district would pair residents with host teachers who meet state criteria — at least three years' experience and strong performance evaluations — and that Region 10 would help match candidates to district needs. She emphasized the partnership would be "no cost to the district."

Trustees asked about selection criteria for host teachers and how residents would be matched to campuses; staff said Region 10 would identify eligible candidates and work with the district to align placements based on subject-area certification and campus needs. The board approved the MOU (motion passed 5–0).

District staff said the residency program is part of a broader effort to build a sustainable pipeline of teachers and to retain residents in Duncanville ISD where possible.