District-level Effectiveness

From the 2017-18 Research Brief on MTR
by Shelby County Schools

“Succeeding at its primary mission:

… effective teachers.”

“The analyses presented here show that in 2017–18, MTR teachers in their first three years of SCS teaching outperformed their non-MTR counterparts by significant margins on four very different measures of teaching effectiveness: student growth on achievement tests, observation of practice, professionalism, and student perceptions. This provides robust evidence that MTR is succeeding at its primary mission: to provide Memphis high-need schools with effective teachers.“

Student Growth

In First 3 Years of Teaching

Evaluation Scores

In First 3 Years of Teaching

While there is significant variation in student growth among MTR-trained new teachers and similar variation among other new teachers, the student growth (TVAAS) average across all new MTR-trained teachers has consistently been about 1/2 standard deviations higher than the average for other SCS new hires. This difference is not only statistically significant but also meaningful in terms of students’ lifetime outcomes. This year’s results are consistent with the higher student growth shown in each of the prior SCS reports on MTR.

Statewide Effectiveness

From the 2018 Tennessee Teacher Preparation Report Card
Published by the TN State Board of Education

Overall

4

Earning 95% of Points Possible
(Top Performance Category)

Impact

4

Observation Scores & Student Growth
(Top Performance Category)

Employment

4

Placement & Retention Rates
(Top Performance Category)

Teachers

4

Diversity & High-Need Subject Areas
(Top Performance Category)

One of Six Top Programs

Out of 38 teacher preparation programs in the state, Memphis Teacher Residency is one of six in the top overall performance category (4) in each area evaluated. Our university partner, Union University, is also among these six programs.

Early Career Effectiveness and Retention

MTR is one of six teacher preparation programs in the state with more new teachers having above-average student growth (TVAAS 4 or 5) than below-average student growth (TVAAS 1 or 2). Statewide, however, new teachers are more likely to see below-average student growth than above-average student growth.

MTR graduates are also likely to be highly rated by their administrations during classroom observations and among the most likely to stay in the classroom for at least three years.

MTR

Retention

Residents Graduating & Completing Residency Year

(Classes of 2010-2018)

Graduates Completing 3-Year Teaching Commitment

(Classes of 2010-2015)

8.2 yrs.

Median Graduate Career in Memphis High-Need Education

Serving in a teacher, school leader or other K-12 role.

This compares favorably to published retention rates of new teachers in Memphis:

“Twenty percent of new teachers leave [the district] after their first year, and more than 40% leave within three years. This three-year teacher attrition rate is particularly high for middle and high schools (42% and 52% respectively).”
Source: Memphis City Schools Teacher Effectiveness Proposal submitted July 31, 2009

Over 90% of MTR graduates complete their 3-year commitment where historically less than 60% of district hires teach for at least three years. Ultimately, principals who hire MTR graduates are significantly less likely to need to rehire that same position over the next several years. With a median career in Memphis education of 8.2 years, over 50% of graduates are still working in Memphis high-need classrooms and leadership positions in their 8th year after graduation.

Earning Licensure

Consistent Performance on edTPA

edTPA is a performance-based, subject-specific assessment used by teacher preparation programs throughout the United States to emphasize, measure and support the skills and knowledge that all teachers need from Day 1 in the classroom. Tennessee requires a passing edTPA score in order to earn initial teacher licensure, and MTR residents had a significantly higher edTPA average than the national average. 100% of residents taking edTPA so far have passed on their first submission.

49.8

Average edTPA Score, First Two Cohorts
All residents submit a 15-rubric handbook for which the TN passing score is 38. The national average is 44.

Graduate Preparedness

From the 2015 Priority School Teacher Survey
Published by Teach901

Highly Rated By Graduates

In a survey conducted by Teach901, over 1,200 teachers in Memphis priority schools were asked about perceived effectiveness of their teacher preparation programs. 436 respondents answered the question, “How effective was your teacher preparation program in developing the skills you needed to become an effective teacher?” The Memphis Teacher Residency had the highest effectiveness rating of all the teacher preparation programs represented.

4.9

Average Rating of MTR From Grads Surveyed
(on a five point scale)

Resident Demographics and Placement (2010 - Present)

Race

Asian
Hispanic/Latino
Multiracial
African American
White
Other

Gender

Male
Female

Undergrad GPA Average

3.49

Graduate Placement Rate

100

Growth of MTR

Number of Residents and Graduates Serving in Memphis by School Year

MTR Camp Results, Summer 2018

Reduce summer
learning regression

+1.7 mo.

average months of growth in Reading A-Z level

+77

average growth in sight words recognized

Promote a love
for learning

of campers believed they were learning at MTR Camp

of campers want to come back to camp next year

Expose college students to mission of equal education

100

of 2018 camp interns had more clarified career plans after internship

of last two residency classes are previous camp interns

“MTR is the first place I look when I have teaching positions open.”
-Principal, Shelby County Schools