The Urban Teacher Partnership

A Collaboration of

Metropolitan State College of Denver

Denver Public Schools

Mayor’s Office for Education and Children

Purpose of UTP

To prepare middle and high school math, science, social studies and English teachers for professional service in urban, hard-to-staff schools.

Evolution of UTP

• UTP is currently funded through a $9.5 million grant from the federal Teacher Quality Enhancement (TQE) Partnership Program

• Metro State and Denver Public Schools were awarded the 5-year grant in 2004; we are in the final fully-funded year of the support

Key Components of UTP

Secondary Education– The program serves Metro students preparing to

teach in middle and high schools

Four Content Areas– the content areas of math, science, social studies and

English

Curriculum Redesign– Curriculum in the content areas were redesigned at

both the college and the district addressing teacher preparation and on-going professional development

Components of UTP

Field Experience in Urban Schools– Students in the program complete 180 hours

of field experience prior to student teaching in 8 designated Urban Apprentice Schools (UAS) within the Denver Public Schools

Hill MS Martin Luther King East HSMerrill MS Bruce Randolph North HSLake MS Thomas Jefferson HS

Components of UTP

UAS Site Coordinators– Each UAS has designated a Site Coordinator

to support student field placements, including student teaching

– Act as liaison with UTP students, cooperating teachers, supervising professors, and UTP program staff

– Identify and provide opportunities to acquaint UTP students to the school, its policies, teachers and culture

Components of UTP

UTP Field Placement Coordinator– UTP Field Placement Coordinator serves as

an information conduit between the program leadership and site coordinators in the eight schools and between Metro professors and students and DPS teachers in UAS sites

– Field Placement Coordinator helps coordinate activities and works with program leaders to resolve problems

Components of UTP

Recruitment into UTP– Complete application in Metro’s Secondary

Teacher Education Program– Major in math, science, social studies and

English – Submit a one-page essay indicating an

interest and commitment to urban schools and students

Components of UTP

Scholarship Support in High Demand Subjects– UTP students in math and science

• $1,000 per semester

– UTP students in all majors who complete set of designated ELA courses• $525 per 3 credit course

– Enrolled full-time– Hold a 3.0 cumulative GPA

Components of UTP

Supplemental Resources– Priority placements in Urban Apprentice Schools for

field experiences and student teaching– Special seminars and workshops focused on urban

teachers– Opportunities for paid tutoring positions– Complementary registration at the Great Teachers

for Our City Schools National Summit

Components of UTP

Great Teachers for Our City Schools: National Summit on Recruiting, Preparing and Retaining Quality Urban Teachers– May 2008 and April 2009– 3rd Annual in Spring 2010– National Experts/Urban Education Partnership Models

UTP Outcomes

• Between Fall 2005 and Spring 2009, 270 students entered the program, including: 38 science, 36 math, 102 English and 94 social studies

• 113 scholarships were awarded since program inception

• 26 UTP students have been hired by DPS

Lessons Learned from the Current Grant

We were spread too broadly across the district Lesson: What if we narrow the geographic focus?

We were focused only on secondary educationLesson: Could we develop a P-16 strategy that includes all

levels of student learning – early learning, elementary, secondary and college?We used a traditional model of curriculum and clinical practice

Lesson: Are there models that prepare teachers for the specific needs of students in urban schools?UTP students experiences in the school were limited to classrooms

Lesson: Engage the broader community inside and outside of schoolUTP program is not well known across the region and state

Lesson: Connect with and learn from other urban partnerships within the region and across the country

-From Project to System-Center for Urban Education

Mission Statement

CUE believes that through genuine partnership, higher education, urban

schools and local communities together can build a coherent system that will

address multiple and complex needs of urban school students

Components of CUE

• Zone for Student Achievement ~ P-16• Urban Teacher Partnership ~ Preparing

Teachers for Urban Schools • Community-based Resources and Support• Network Development and Expansion

Components of CUE

Zone for Student Achievement ~ P-16

The Zone will be made up of a community of high needs schools located in a geographically defined area that support the learning needs of children – pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle, high school, college degree and workforce

Components of CUE

Urban Teacher Partnership ~ Preparing Quality Urban Teachers

• Residency• Urban-focused Curricula• Induction, Mentoring, Professional Development Support

Instead of studying about differing cultures, UTP students will study from within the cultural settings of the schools and their surrounding communities.

Components of CUE

Community-Based Resources

and Support

CUE will fully integrate the resources and support of community-based organizations that provide services to students in the targeted high-needs schools.

Components of CUE

Network Development and Expansion

• National: Great Teachers for Our City Schools

• Statewide: Engage urban partnerships across the Denver Metro and Colorado region

• Local: Departments, programs and interested faculty and staff from across Metro State College

UTP Contact Information

Esther M. Rodriguez

Director and Principal Investigator

Urban Teacher Partnership

303-352-4996

erodri25@mscd.edu

www.mscd.edu/utp