Our Program

The Memphis Teacher Residency is a Memphis-only non-profit organization whose mission is to recruit, equip and retain excellent teachers to work in Memphis’ urban areas where the need for strong educators is most critical.  We are a Memphis-only partnership involving the MTR, Union University and local urban schools.

The residency model is one adapted from the medical field and provides the opportunity to get classroom learning along with practical experience. We believe this is the best way to become an effective urban school educator.  

We offer a 12 month cohort program that integrates a Masters in Urban Education coursework through Union University with extensive classroom experience. Each Resident will be paired with an experienced Mentor-Teacher in their content area for four days per week for an entire school year. In addition, participants gain both a Masters of Arts in Urban Education and a State of Tennessee Educator License for either elementary or secondary education.  We offer content endorsements for secondary education in Math, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Spanish (7-12), History and English.

In addition to providing technical educational training, the MTR believes in the value of speaking to the whole person; and, therefore, provides a year-long, Biblically-based series of courses, discussions, and speakers to offer a Christian worldview in all aspects of the Resident's life.

Entrance into the Memphis Teacher Residency program is available to both education and non-education college graduates, and offers the following benefits: