MTR Residency

Onboarding Guide

If you are an accepted applicant who has been offered a position, congrats! You’re in the right place.

On-boarding is a critical process in becoming a resident, and it’s very important that you read and understand each part of the process outlined below. Meeting deadlines and showing professionalism during this process are the first steps into a career that requires excellent communication and attention to detail.

First, complete these two surveys:

On-Boarding Survey

Click here to fill out the survey. It is a critical data collection form that MTR needs as soon as possible in order to proceed with preparing for your arrival as a resident. Please note: you will be asked about the date of your scheduled Praxis Subject Assessment test if you haven’t already passed it, so you may want to see below and register for the Praxis Subject Assessment ASAP and then return to this survey.

Housing Survey

Click here to fill out the survey. The purpose of this survey is to give MTR more information about yourself, your personality, and your preferences so we may better determine your housing needs.

Next, download the checklist:

On-Boarding Checklist

Below is a a printable checklist that we encourage you to print to keep track of each of the items listed on this website. Put your checklist somewhere that you’ll see it daily, and please work diligently to complete the steps ahead of the deadline. Ask yourself each time you see it what documents you still need to gather and what you need to be doing today to keep the ball rolling.

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE ON-BOARDING CHECKLIST

Where to go with questions:

Fingerprinting & Background Check

As part of your journey, you will have to undergo a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Background Check for MTR, even if you’ve recently been fingerprinted for another purpose. This is necessary for all persons seeking to work in a school setting. Failure to pass the background check will prohibit you from enrolling in MTR. If you anticipate any difficulties with your background check, please contact Floresha Smith (floresha@memphistr.org) to explain your situation.

You will find a Consent to Fingerprinting and Background Check Form in your e-sign packet, and you must sign and submit that form before continuing with the fingerprinting directions below based on whether you currently live in Tennessee or live in another state.

All fingerprinting appointments should be scheduled and completed by the residency deadline. Background checks can be delayed, so it is important that you get your appointment early in order to ensure you are cleared and ready to participate. You will not be allowed to move in until your background check results are received by MTR.

MTR should receive the results of your background check 5 – 7 business days after you have visited the TBI service location / had your mailed fingerprint card processed.

  • • Follow this link to schedule your ten-minute appointment for fingerprinting at an in-state location. You can also revisit this link later to change your appointment if necessary.

    • Click the green button to “Schedule a New Appointment.”

    • Enter TNCC79140 for ORI number. It will tell you that this ORI corresponds with Memphis Teacher Residency.

    • Enter zip code for a fingerprinting location near you, and select a location and appointment time.

    • Enter personal information. At the bottom you will want to provide employer information: Memphis Teacher Residency, 1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 366, Memphis, TN 38104 as your employer.

    • Verify all information is correct and submit.

    • Make payment with Visa or Mastercard OR take money order or cashier’s check with you to fingerprinting location.

    Bring the following to your appointment:
    - Valid Government ID: Driver's license, state ID, or passport
    - Money or cashier's check if you did not pay for fingerprinting services during scheduling

  • Step 1: Schedule an Appointment

    • Find a place to be fingerprinted: You need to obtain a set of fingerprints from a local law enforcement agency or other entity that provides fingerprinting services. These fingerprints may be either traditional ink rolled fingerprints on a FBI (FD-258) fingerprint card or LiveScan fingerprints printed to a FBI (FD-258) fingerprint card.

    1. Click here to locate an IdentoGo location.

    DO NOT ENTER A SERVICE CODE.

    2. Scroll down and click on "Fingerprint Cards".

    3. Click on "Schedule or Manage Appointment". Follow instructions from there to make your appointment.

    4. Return to MTR's onboarding site and complete Steps 2 - 6.

    Of note: IdentoGo may not have a print-taking location near you. In that case, please reach out to your County Sheriff's department or your City's Police department to have your prints taken. Once you have your fingerprint card, follow Steps 2-6 on MTR's onboarding site.

    —

    Step 2: Register for Fingerprint Card Processing

    • Follow this link and click the green button saying “Register for Fingerprint Card Processing Service.”

    • You will need to confirm that you currently live in another state (not in Tennessee).

    • Enter TNCC79140 for ORI number. It will tell you that this ORI corresponds with Memphis Teacher Residency.

    • Enter personal information as prompted.

    • At the bottom you will want to provide employer information: Memphis Teacher Residency, 1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 366, Memphis, TN 38104

    • Verify all information is correct and submit.

    • Make payment online for fingerprinting.

    • Once you have made your payment, you will be directed to the final registration page. Print this page. Follow all directions on this page (ex: sign & date, enter contact information). Keep this until after your  appointment to mail in with your fingerprint card.

    —

    Step 3: Prepare for your Appointment

    • Print off Page 1 of this document to bring with you to your appointment.

    • Add your appointment time to your calendar so you don't forget.

    • Make sure you have a valid Government ID to bring with you to your appointment: Driver's license, State ID, or passport.

    —

    Step 4: Get Fingerprinted!

    • Bring a Valid Government ID: Driver’s license, state ID, or passport.

    • Give the instructions you printed off to the technician doing your fingerprints.

    • The technician will give you your fingerprint card when you are done. Take it home with you to be mailed in  (next step).

    —

    Step 5: Mail your Fingerprints & Form to IndentoGo

    • After your appointment, mail the fingerprint card AND the printed off registration page to the address listed  on the registration page:

    Prints Inc.
    IdentoGO TN Card Scan Operations
    100 Salem Ct.
    Tallahassee, FL 32301

    • **Make sure the form is completed and signed before mailing. Cards received without the completed and  signed form will not be processed and will be returned for completion and re-submission. Please remember that this fingerprint card and registration page get mailed to the background check company in Florida—so please DO NOT mail this fingerprint card to MTR.

    —

    Step 6: Confirm you've finished the Fingerprinting Process with MTR

    • Email Suzanne Oates (suzanne@memphistr.org) once you’ve mailed in your card & registration form.

    —

    Questions:

    • Reach out to Suzanne Oates (suzanne@memphistr.org).
    • You can check the status of your fingerprints or ask questions about the process by contacting IdentoGo at 855-226-2937.

COVID-19 Vaccination

Vaccination and staying up to date with boosters offers protection for us as individuals as well as offering protection to students, school communities, and the collective MTR community. MTR strongly encourages vaccination for COVID-19, but you are not required to be vaccinated. We are currently precluded from requiring vaccination by the state of TN.  However, if or when that ruling is retracted, MTR residents will, at that time, be required to be vaccinated and up to date.

Fully vaccinated means a person has received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines. Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible.

E-Sign Packet

You should soon receive an e-signature packet of documents you will sign using your computer or smartphone / tablet. This will come in an email from Foxit eSign. Below is an explanation of the documents you will be signing digitally. We request that when signing and being given a font choice for your “e-signature” that you not select Arial or Times New Roman or anything that looks too much like a typical computer font.

VECHS Form

This document is required by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of accessing and reviewing Tennessee and national criminal history that may pertain to you from the FBI.

MTR Contract

Congrats! It’s time to make this official. Your contract is your agreement with MTR. We will go over the contract during the on-boarding webinar, but please read through it before signing it. After signing, a copy of the contract will be emailed to you. Please save this copy as it is required for applying for housing at the Parcels.

Release of Information Agreement with Districts

MTR requires that residents sign a release of information regarding evaluation scores and TVAAS scores (growth scores for student standardized tests). This is so we can track our effectiveness and continue to know how our graduates are doing.

Consent to Fingerprinting and Background Check

You will sign a consent form in your e-sign packet that allows MTR to conduct a background check with fingerprinting. Please note that the instructions for actually being fingerprinted are given above and you need to follow those carefully. This background check also includes a search of the national sex offender database. You still need to follow the fingerprinting directions (above) after signing this consent. All residents must complete this process through MTR, even if you have completed a screening for another organization.

Noncriminal Justice Applicant’s Privacy Rights

This document explains your privacy rights as they pertain to a national fingerprint-based criminal history record check.

Finance, Insurance, Identification & Stipend

Please scan or take a picture of your Birth Certificate and Driver’s License / State ID (front only). You will attach these as attachments to your e-sign packet.

Please fill out the W9 form which is included in the e-sign packet. You will need your social security number handy for this.

You will also fill out a direct deposit form for your monthly stipend. MTR requires direct deposit and does not cut individual checks for the stipend. You will need a checking account, and must attach a picture, pdf, or scan of a voided check OR a direct deposit authorization form from your bank during the eSign process. If your current bank does not have branches in Memphis and you want to open a new account now (online) for your time in Memphis, you may find the list of Memphis banks below useful.

“What if I don’t have a check?” A direct deposit authorization form from your bank works!

MTR does not offer medical insurance. Residents must prove health insurance coverage. Many residents find it most affordable to stay on a family policy if possible (allowed until age 26). Another option for those without insurance is the ACA marketplace policies that are available at healthcare.gov. See below for helpful information on qualifying for for ACA marketplace insurance policies.

You will attach a scan or photo of your health insurance card (front only) as part of your e-sign packet. If you are currently uninsured, you should start working on coverage promptly. If you will be unable to provide proof of health insurance coverage by the e-sign deadline, please email suzanne@memphistr.org to explain your situation.

  • Many residents find it helpful to switch to a bank that has local branches. If you decide to do so, it may be useful to know that the top four banks in Memphis by branch count are Regions Bank (29), SunTrust Bank (Truist Bank) (18), First Horizon Bank (17), and Bank of America (12). SunTrust Bank and Hope Credit Union have branches and/or ATMs on the ground floor of the Crosstown Concourse building where residents live and MTR has offices.

  • ACA marketplace insurance policies are available at healthcare.gov. Most residents qualify for heavily subsidized coverage (perhaps even free coverage) if they anticipate their 2024 income being at least $12,760. Oddly enough, you get no subsidy if you earn less than $12,760 in 2024, but you get a huge subsidy if you earn $12,760 or more. Your 7 stipend-plus-housing checks from MTR in 2024 will amount to approximately $14,400 of “income” in 2024.

    Even though you’re typically required to start marketplace insurance on Jan. 1 each year, there are a number of qualifying events (like moving or losing prior coverage) that many residents qualify for that would allow you to start an insurance plan mid-2024 as long as you apply within 60 days of said qualifying events. If you decide to go this route, it’s important that you don’t miss out on your 60-day window to apply for coverage after moving or losing existing coverage.

Praxis Subject Assessments

Praxis Subject Assessment tests must be passed prior to starting at MTR. Please reference our Praxis page for more information on which test(s) to register. You will send your Praxis Subject Assessment scores both formally and informally to MTR and the TN Department of Education.

FORMAL SCORE REPORTS

When signing up to take the Praxis Subject Assessment, designate the TN Department of Education (Code 8190) as score recipients for your Praxis Subject Assessment exam. If you have already taken and passed the Praxis Subject Assessment required for your MTR content area, please log into the Praxis website and request score reports to be sent to TN DOE.

INFORMAL SCORE REPORTS (as soon as you receive your score)

As soon as you receive it, email a PDF of the score report to testscores@memphistr.org. If you have already passed the Praxis Subject Assessment, you can retrieve a PDF from the Praxis website (while sending formally above), download the PDF and send it to testscores@memphistr.org.

Fee waiver

Based on your family’s size and income, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. It is up to you to determine if you qualify.

Transcripts

MTR needs official, degree-conferred transcripts. These must be transcripts that are sent after your undergraduate degree is conferred. If you are still finishing your undergraduate degree, you cannot send an in-progress transcript that shows your grades through the present. If that happens, you’ll have to resend another transcript. The transcript must be sent after final grades are in, and it must indicate your degree has been conferred.

If you are in your senior year of college, we encourage you to go ahead and ask the registrar for transcripts now, but only if you are able to select on the transcript request that the registrar should wait until after your undergraduate degree is conferred. To do this, you’ll see on the request form some options like these for you to select:

  • Send after degrees are conferred

  • Hold for posting of degree

  • Hold for degree

Do not pick “Send Now” unless you are already graduated. If your college or university doesn’t offer the option to ask for the transcript now but have the registrar wait to send it until after your awarded degree is shown on the transcript, you’ll just have to wait and put in your transcript request ASAP after graduation.

transcripts for LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY

GRADUATED COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT:
– Request 1 OFFICIAL copy of your degree conferred (final) transcript.
– Rising graduates should request a final degree transcript now (if possible) to be sent AFTER graduation.
– If that option is unavailable, you’ll need to wait and request a final transcript ASAP after graduation.

We prefer an electronic official transcript, which should be sent by the registrar directly to GradAdmissions@lipscomb.edu.

transcripts for MTR

GRADUATED COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT:
– Request 1 OFFICIAL copy of your degree conferred (final) transcript.
– Rising graduates should request a final degree transcript now (if possible) to be sent AFTER graduation.
– If that option is unavailable, you’ll need to wait and request a final transcript ASAP after graduation.

We prefer an electronic official transcript, which should be sent by the registrar directly to suzanne@memphistr.org.

Email & Technology

You will be receiving an MTR Google account with your MTR email address in order to access many MTR resources in Google Drive, Google Calendar, and other Google Services. Be on the lookout for an email from with setup instructions sometime within a month of receiving these on-boarding instructions. If your personal or school email address changes over the coming months, please email floresha@memphistr.org to update us of your new email.

When you receive your email address notification, you’ll want to set up your email signature and your MTR Google Calendar. Expand the directions below for details. It is important that you check this new email regularly. All MTR correspondence will come to this email account after you receive it. If you wish to temporarily forward all messages arriving in your new MTR inbox to another email address, there will be directions for this in your setup email. All Class of 2026 residents will be placed in a Google email group with the address 2026@memphistr.org. MTR will send mass emails to your class by simply addressing to this group. You may do the same, with restraint.

MTR does require residents to arrive on the first day with a reliable laptop meeting the requirements listed below. You will use a laptop intensively during the residency year for both master’s coursework and your internship placement. It is important that your laptop not hold you back from efficiently completing this work. If your current computing device is not powerful enough, an investment in a better computer will pay off in real time savings during a year that is already very busy.

  • We would like for all residents and graduates to have an identical email signature. This is the beginning of community, common language, and family that we communicate even in the details of email signatures. For directions on creating an email signature in your MTR Gmail account, click here.

    Please create an email signature according to the following template:

    Name (bold)
    Memphis Teacher Residency, 2026
    Undergrad School, year
    Phone number (optional)
    *insert MTR logo - download here*
    www.MemphisTR.org (should be a link to MTR website)


    FOR EXAMPLE:
    John Doe
    Memphis Teacher Residency, 2026
    University of Memphis, 2024
    901.123.4567
    *MTR logo*
    www.MemphisTR.org

  • We will populate the 2025-2026 Residency Calendar in Google Calendar late February or early March. Currently you’ll only see the 2025-2026 Residency Calendar items and while this helps you understand approximately what your residency year will look like, it won’t be exactly the same. You can access the residency calendar once you have set up your MTR Google account. Please follow the instructions below to set up access:

    Important first step: Log out of all non-MTR Google/Gmail accounts when doing the initial calendar setup to prevent permissions errors.

    Next: Log into your MTR Google account such that the only Google account you’re logged into is your MTR Google account.

    Then: Come back to this page and click this link to add the resident calendar to your Google Calendar and open it. You only need to click this link once for initial setup of the calendar.

    Any time you wish to access the calendar in the future, go to calendar.google.com to open Google Calendar. You can turn the resident calendar on and off by selecting it in the left sidebar of the page. Alternately you can get to Google Calendar from your email by clicking on the 9 square dots in the upper right corner of your MTR email page.

    Consider downloading the Google Calendar app for iPhone or Android to enable calendar access from a smartphone.

  • Minimum computer requirements for evaluating your current computer:

    Recommended Device Type: Laptop running macOS or Windows with at least a 1-hour battery life. Windows 2-in-1 tablet / laptops are real Windows computers and should work just fine as long as you have a real keyboard for it.

    Can an Android tablet work? No. Android tablets are useful tools but are not appropriate as a primary computing device; you still do need a laptop.

    Can an iPad work? While the latest iPads (specifically iPad Pro) can work as a laptop replacement, it’s still not ideal so we still encourage you to get Mac or PC (anything running Windows) if you’re going shopping for a computer. If you already own an iPad Pro, it’s okay to start the year with it and see if you can make it work! If you don’t already have one, don’t buy one. Use your money on a laptop instead. One of the more significant shortcomings is their general incompatibility with smartboard software.

    Can a Chromebook work? It is technically possible to get through the residency year with a Chromebook, but they do have shortcomings. One of the more significant shortcomings is their general incompatibility with smartboard software. You can get by with a Chromebook, but be prepared to encounter occasional things that you want to do but cannot do. Certainly don’t pay more than $350 for a new Chromebook when a bit more would get you a more capable Windows laptop without these limitations.

    RAM: 4GB minimum (it may be possible to cheaply upgrade your computer’s RAM if you have a tech-savvy friend or family member) Less than 4GB of RAM will likely critically handicap your ability to successfully complete coursework and lesson planning in a timely manner. It is very important you look into upgrading before arrival. If buying a new computer, you should insist on 8GB minimum!

    Is it strong and fast enough? Ask yourself if you can have a web browser with 6-10 tabs open, and at least one more application all running at once without it feeling slow. If the answer is no, you should probably consider upgrading.


    If purchasing a new laptop:

    Our recommendation is that you not spend money on something that will be slow or out-of-date quickly. Consider the following recommendations which we provide as a favor to help you not waste money one something you’ll be frustrated with:

    Device Type: Laptop (not an iPad, not an Android tablet)

    RAM: 8GB minimum

    Hard Drive: SSD strongly recommended instead of HDD so that your computer doesn’t feel slow right from day one

    Operating System: Windows or macOS. Chrome OS (Chromebooks) can be considered but see the details above on their shortcomings.

    As always, read reviews and consult tech-savvy friends before making a purchase. Most teachers do receive a laptop from their school once they are hired (after residency year), so you only need to consider getting through residency year when deciding if your current computer is good enough. That said, if purchasing a new one, you probably do want to get something that won’t be slow and frustrating on day one, and that usually requires a minimum investment of $450 and considerable research to ensure you aren’t getting a lemon. Some $400-650 computers are frustratingly slow out of the box, so make sure you do your research before buying!

Summer Calendar

We have included below a TENTATIVE calendar of what you will experience during the summer of your residency. The Summer Calendar covers your arrival, orientation schedule, and summer MAT coursework. Class schedules and community life events will be added in late spring to the MTR Resident Calendar, accessible in your MTR email account.

ARRIVAL
Incoming residents will move into the Parcels between May 20 — May 29. Move-in is coordinated with the Parcels leasing office.

WELCOME DINNER
May 29, 2025

ORIENTATION
May 30, 2025

GRAD CLASSES BEGIN
Week of June 2, 2025

SUMMER CALENDAR
The Resident Calendar (Google) lists tentative courses, times, and activities. All class and event times are subject to change.

Housing

All single and married residents are required to live in MTR-arranged housing in The Parcels at Concourse, unless you have been approved to live off campus. Single residents will be paired with a same-gender roommate using information from the housing survey. If you will be getting married during the residency year, please contact bridget@memphistr.org to discuss arrangements.

Apartment lease assignments and roommate pairings will be distributed in May.

  • All incoming residents will be required to provide their MTR contract, an application fee, the security deposit, and proof of renter’s insurance to The Parcels at Concourse prior to move-in. Residents will also need to provide proof of prior year income as a part of The Parcels application process. All questions related to this can be directed to The Parcels.

    MTR provides each resident the monthly housing stipend that will be due to The Parcels. The first housing stipends will be distributed via direct deposit to residents on May 31st, and the June rent will be due to The Parcels by June 5th.

    Thereafter, each resident will receive the housing allowance plus the monthly living stipend from MTR on the 1st of each month through May at the end of the residency year. Residents are required to pay The Parcels rent by the 5th of each month.

    Residents are not required to set up their own utility accounts. The Parcels will bill residents for utilities each month. There is wireless internet available in the MTR offices and the common areas of the Crosstown Building such as the plaza and atria. Residents desiring internet and/or television in their apartment can set this up with AT&T.

    Residents will have their security deposit returned at check-out, assuming the apartment is in order.

  • Per the MTR contract, for married residents whose spouse is not also an MTR resident, MTR will arrange an apartment for the couple and will provide 50% of the monthly rent. The married resident is responsible for the remaining 50% of the rent. Depending upon the couple’s income last calendar year, the spouse’s portion (50%) of the rent may range from $600/month to $950/month. Exact numbers will be provided during the application process with the Parcels.

Connect With Us on Social Media

We want to connect with you and help you get connected with one another! You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (all @MemphisTR). We invite you to tag us when posting about your MTR experiences on social media.

Anticipated Costs and Fees

Please see the list below of anticipated costs and fees that MTR does not cover and residents will be required to pay at the appropriate time of the year. This can be useful in making a residency year budget.

Required:

Spring, Before Start of Residency Year

Background Check: $25
Parcels Application Fee: $25 per person
Parcels Reservation Fee: $125 per person
Security Deposit: $150 per person
Final Transcripts: Per undergraduate college/university fee structure
Praxis Subject Assessment: Approx. $120-$170

Summer, Beginning of Residency Year

Moving Costs: MTR does not provide moving expenses
Renter’s Insurance: $12 and up/month

Fall

EdTPA Certification (unless already certified): $300
(Elementary Only) Additional Praxis Tests: $150

If Applicable / Needed:

Spring, Before Start of Residency Year

Laptop
Professional Attire
Apartment Furniture

Ongoing

Utilities: $75-$100 per resident ($150-200 per apartment per month)
Internet Access (apartment, optional but recommended): Starts at about $50 per apartment per month from AT&T

No Costs Involved:

Tuition and Books: Free, covered by MTR
Rent: Covered by MTR each month through housing stipend

Whew! You made it all the way through. We cannot wait to see you in Memphis so soon!