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VCU residency program highlights teacher pipeline for Petersburg schools
Summary
VCU representatives updated the board on the Richmond Teacher Residency (RTR) partnership: since 2018 the program has prepared 42 teachers for Petersburg and 457 systemwide; residents receive degree funding and sign a three-year service agreement with PCPS upon hiring.
Representatives from Virginia Commonwealth University told the Petersburg board on July 2 that the Richmond Teacher Residency (RTR) partnership continues to be a primary pipeline for new teachers in the division.
Dr. Kim Mcnite, presenting for RTR, described the residency as a medical-residency-style program that places "residents" in classrooms for one to two years alongside mentor teachers while the university covers degree costs. "Our mission: we recruit, prepare, support, and retain extraordinary and inspiring teachers for Petersburg," Dr. Mcnite said. She noted the program started in 2010, has prepared 457 teachers systemwide and 42 teachers specifically for Petersburg since the districts began the partnership in 2018.
Board members asked operational questions: whether the four residents who completed the program were hired by PCPS (answer: yes), whether the principal-apprenticeship pathway is open (not currently; it depended on a federal grant), and how mentors apply (application available on teachrt.org; mentors are paid $3,500 while mentoring). Dr. Mcnite reiterated that residents sign a three-year service agreement to remain with Petersburg upon program completion.
Why it matters: PCPS leaders framed the RTR partnership as both a recruitment and retention strategy — not only paying training costs but providing salary and benefits during residency and aiming to keep teachers in the city. The board approved a 2026-27 VCU RTR partnership agreement later in the meeting as part of consent/action items.
