The Golden Bell Awards promote excellence in education and school board governance by recognizing outstanding programs and governance practices throughout California.
The Teacher Residency Program won within the Category of Professional Development and Teacher Recruitment/Retention. The HUSD Teacher Residency Program was designed to address critical needs within HUSD including, staffing shortages, retention, and disparities in hiring highly-skilled educators that reflect the rich diversity of the Hemet-San Jacinto Valley and Mountain communities. HUSD, in collaboration with Alder Graduate School of Education and the San Jacinto Unified School District, has established an innovative and affordable pathway to a full-time teaching career that also serves to cultivate diverse, community-based educators prepared in culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate, and content-specific pedagogy. Aspiring educators are strategically recruited from the local community to establish a cohort of educators that not only mirrors the diverse student body but also contributes to the advancement of the overall Hemet School District communities.
Teacher Residents are matched with high-performing Mentor teachers in a yearlong apprenticeship offering a full immersion experience where Teacher Residents co-teach with their Mentor teacher and get hands-on experience inclusive of curriculum planning, delivering whole/small group instruction through Universal Design for Learning (UDL) teaching strategies, equitable classroom management, debriefing observations, analyzing student data, and more. Throughout the program, Residents receive a living stipend, extensive support, and preparation for credentialing exams. At the end of the school year, Residents earn a Master’s degree in Education, a California preliminary teaching credential, and are offered priority hiring for full-time positions. The success of the program has led to the development of a regional consortium to serve more districts.
"Winning the Golden Bell Award for our Alder Residency Program is a testament to the dedication and innovation of our hard-working Human Resources Team and our partners at Alder Graduate School of Education. Our Teacher Residency Program is not just about filling staffing shortages; it's about cultivating a diverse community of educators who reflect the rich tapestry of our community. This program goes beyond traditional teacher preparation, offering aspiring educators a full immersion experience alongside high-performing Mentor teachers. It equips them with the skills, knowledge, and cultural competence needed to make a meaningful impact in our classrooms. We are truly honored to receive this recognition!”- Superintendent, Dr. Christi Barrett.
CSBA is a nonprofit education association representing the elected officials who govern public school districts and county offices of education. The district will be formally recognized this December at the Golden Bell Awards Event during the Annual CSBA Conference in San Francisco, California.