Sonoma State University Teacher Residency Programs

North Bay Bilingual Teacher Residency Program

North Bay STEM Teacher Residency Program

Petaluma Regional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Residency Program

Novato Cultivating Community Connections

Ukiah Rural Residency Program

Windsor Initiative to Diversify Education (WIDER)

North Bay EC Teacher Residency Program

Round Valley Teacher Residency Program

*To request information, please submit your questions on the Teacher Residency Program Interest Form and we will be in touch.*

Multiple Subject Application

Single Subject Application

Special Education Application

Upcoming Residency Information Sessions

What is a Teacher Residency Program?

A Teacher Residency Program is one of the pathways offered at Sonoma State University for candidates pursuing teaching credentials. Instead of a traditional student teaching experience, which includes multiple shorter placements in different classrooms, a Teacher Residency Program provides credential candidates with an extended opportunity in one classroom, with one mentor teacher, for one entire academic year. This allows for the Resident to become fully immersed in the profession of teaching–starting with professional development and teacher workdays before the students begin their first day of school, and ending the year with work and reflection days after the students’ last day of school.

Sonoma State University’s Teacher Residencies start when the placement school starts in August and end when the placement school ends in June. 

Mission 

Sonoma State University’s Teacher Residency Programs strive to cultivate exceptional educators, rooted in our community, to foster educational equity. This is accomplished through a comprehensive, high quality teacher residency program which includes expert, long term mentoring, relevant coursework integrated into clinical practice, and additional required professional development events for both the resident and the mentor

We believe every student deserves an exceptionally well-prepared teacher and every teacher deserves to be exceptionally well-prepared.

Vision 

To meet the increasing demand for teachers in California public schools, Sonoma State University’s School of Education (SOE), Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD), Petaluma City Schools (PCS),  Old Adobe Union School District, and Santa Rosa City Schools (SRCS) have partnered to develop Teacher Residency Programs). The goal is for teacher candidates who have been accepted into Sonoma State’s teacher credential program to participate in an intensive preparation program with extensive support from experts in the field so that they will  be well-prepared for our local teaching contexts.

We currently have teacher residency programs for the following high-need fields:

• STEM (single subject, i.e. middle & high school)
• Bilingual/ dual-immersion (multiple & single subject, i.e. tk-12)
• Special Education
• TK/K
• Multiple subjects (i.e. elementary school) with a focus on diversifying the teacher workforce

Teacher candidates targeted for participation in the residency programs must be admitted into SSU’s credential programs in one of the areas above. 

Teacher residents will receive a substantial stipend to participate in the residency program along with opportunities to substitute in the district for additional income. They are also eligible for the Golden State Teacher Grant and other scholarships and stipends. 

Benefits

In addition to a stipend, Residents may receive the following benefits, depending upon the specific residency in which they participate:

• Technology (i.e. laptops)
• Book sets for current and future classroom use
• Classroom materials
• Test-fee reimbursement
• On-and-off-site professional development and field trips
• Hiring fairs and opportunities exclusive to residents

Commitment

Teacher Residency Programs are considered a “grow-your-own” model of teacher recruitment and support; as such, teacher residents should be willing to teach in the school district where they were “grown” for 4-years after receiving their credential. That being said, we understand that life circumstances change; therefore, teacher residents are required to teach for 4 years in a California public school following the completion of their residency. If they do not, they may be required to repay the stipend. 

Contact Us 

For more information, please contact SSU’s Teacher Residency faculty:

• STEM (single subject, i.e. middle & high school) - Rajeev Virmani, virmani@sonoma.edu
• Bilingual/dual-immersion (multiple & single subject, i.e. tk-12), TK/K, Multiple subjects (i.e. elementary school) with a focus on diversifying the teacher workforce - Rhianna Casesa, casesa@sonoma.edu
• Special Education and Educational Specialist Program Liaison - Elizabeth Ducy, ducy@sonoma.edu 

If you want to learn more about our teacher residencies or if your school district is interested in discussing partnerships in a teacher residency, please contact Dean Laura Alamillo, alamillol@sonoma.edu.

Other Residency Faculty

• Multiple Subjects Program Liaison and Petaluma Regional Residency - Aja LaDuke, laduke@sonoma.edu   
• TK/K Program Liaison and Content Specialist, Anti-racist & Anti-bias Curriculum Development - Lisel Murdock-Perriera, murdockper@sonoma.edu  
• Content Specialist, LGBTQIA+ Curriculum Development - Don Romesburg, romesbur@sonoma.edu 
• Supervisor, North Bay Bilingual Teacher Residency - Orlando Carreon, carreon@sonoma.edu   
• Supervisor, North Bay Bilingual Teacher Residency - Jennifer Martinez, martijenni@sonoma.edu  
• Supervisor, Petaluma Regional Residency - Carrie Strohl, strohlc@sonoma.edu  
• Supervisor, Petaluma Regional Residency - Anna Henry, anna.henry@sonoma.edu  
• Petaluma Regional Residency - Diana Sharken-Taboada, dianes@sonoma.edu  

Residency Completion Ceremony

2023 Completion Ceremony Video