The BTR Impact
BTR’s mission is to prepare excellent teachers for the Boston Public Schools (BPS) — teachers who know the city’s students and the district’s work. Since graduating its first class in 2004, BTR and its network of graduates teaching in the BPS have helped spearhead a new movement in education reform — developing teachers in the areas of highest need, reversing trends in teacher retention, and receiving positive feedback from administrators across the district.
Nationally, an estimated 50% of all urban school teachers leave within their first three years — not because they don’t want to help, but because they’re not always ready. By preparing a new kind of teacher inside the classroom — providing the practical learning, the hands-on experience and the support network they need to be effective right away — BTR is reversing that trend. Currently, 80% of all BTR graduates are still teaching in the BPS.
“One of the biggest challenges in urban school districts today is retaining teachers. Getting people hooked early on teaching – giving them positive support and a good experience in their training, then following up with even more support during those critical first few years – that's been the real key to success
for BTR.”
-Tom Payzant
Senior Lecturer on Education,
Harvard Graduate School of Education
In years past, the lack of qualified teachers in high-need areas has put Boston students at a distinct disadvantage. BTR has worked to offset this imbalance by preparing and supporting teachers of color and teachers of math, science, English as a Second Language (ESL), and special education (SPED) for the BPS. Currently, 30% of BTR graduates are teaching ESL or SPED, and 52% are teachers of color. And in the span of just three years, the percentage of newly hired BPS math and science teachers trained by BTR climbed from 10% to 60%.
“BTR is an exciting program... it has zeroed in on how to prepare high-quality teachers in our highest-need areas, and has given us the chance to develop teachers who otherwise wouldn't come to the profession. Teachers coming out of BTR are better skilled at working with our English Language Learners and students with special needs - and it's the strongest program we know in terms of diversifying our workforce. ”
-Dr. Carol Johnson
Superintendent,
Boston Public Schools
School leaders’ assessment of BTR graduates is incredibly important in shaping and refining the residency model to ensure effectiveness, and gives BTR significant insight into the efficacy of its graduates. In a recent survey, 93% of principals rated BTR graduates similarly or more effective than their peers with the same years of experience, and 97% would recommend hiring a BTR graduate to a colleague.
“You can pick out right away who the brand-new teachers are – they’re scared to death. The people who have been through the Boston Teacher Residency program, they’re at a whole different level.”
-Michelle Boyers
Former Head of Human Resources,
Boston Public Schools
