About MTR
Our Results
Effectiveness
Statewide
From the 2024 TN Teacher Preparation Report Card
Published by the TN State Board of Education | February 14, 2025
Overall
Exceeds Expectations
Earning 95% of Points Possible
(Most points awarded of any TN program)
Assessments
Exceeds Expectations
Licensure & Exam Passage Rates
Impact
Exceeds Expectations
Observation Scores & Student Growth
Employment
Exceeds Expectations
Placement & Retention Rates
Teachers
Exceeds Expectations
Demographics & High-Need Subject Areas
Consistent Results
Top Program in 2024
Out of 42 teacher preparation programs in the state, Memphis Teacher Residency was the top scoring program in 2024 and has been the top program five of the last six years, as measured by points earned. MTR is the only program exceeding state expectations in all four scoring domains.
Most Satisfied, Well-Prepared Graduates
Over 2x More Prepared
This report also includes survey data from graduates around the central question of preparedness for the classroom after graduation. Over the last six years, MTR graduates were the most likely to strongly agree that their teacher preparation program prepared them well overall: 64% felt very well prepared vs. a state average of 31%.
Effectiveness
District-wide
From the 2022-23 Research Brief on MTR
by Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Dependably achieving its primary mission:
… effective teachers.
“The analyses presented here show that in 2022–23, MTR teachers with 1–3 years of MSCS teaching experience outperformed their non-MTR counterparts on three of the four measures analyzed and performed on par with their non-MTR peers on the fourth measure.”
“Taken as a whole, the empirical record on MTR’s program effectiveness indicates that MTR has been dependably achieving its primary mission since its establishment: that is, to provide Memphis high-need schools with effective teachers.”
Prior year results
Consistently Preparing Teachers for Partner Schools
MTR has been working with external evaluators to track program and graduate effectiveness since our founding in 2009. Consistent and effective teacher recruitment and teacher preparation has helped lead to the consistent outcomes outlined below comparing MTR teachers in their first three years to other new teachers in Memphis and across the state.
Student Growth during Residency Year
Resident Impact on Mentor Classrooms
This 2019 research study analyzes three residency programs looking for residency-year effects on student growth. The study shows that MTR residents have residency-year impacts on student growth even before they graduate and have their own classroom.
In this study, the average MTR mentor TVAAS index showed significant and sizable improvements during the year they host a resident when compared to a baseline of their own prior-year TVAAS. As is illustrated in the graphic, MTR recruits mentors with a baseline of higher than average student growth (1.0 units higher than average) and this student growth typically improves significantly during the year they have a resident in their classroom (0.65 to 0.83 units).
As demonstrated here, a student in a classroom served by an MTR mentor and resident typically grows more than they would have in the same mentor teacher’s classroom if no resident had been present. Rather than being slowed down by the training happening in their classroom, they are propelled forward by the addition of a second teacher in their classroom!
Retention
89%
of residents complete residency year and graduate
(Class of 2010-2023)
90%
of graduates complete 3-year teaching commitment
(Classes of 2010-2020, as of May 2023)
5 years
median graduate career in Memphis high-need education
(About half of graduates serve longer)
This compares favorably to published retention rates of new teachers in Memphis-Shelby County Schools. While 90% of MTR graduates complete their 3-year commitment, less than 60% of district hires teach in the district for a full 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 5 years, over 50% of MTR graduates are still working in Memphis high-need classrooms and leadership positions in their 5th year after graduation.
Impact this year
9,000
estimated students will have at least one MTR teacher
Just under 8% of the public school students in Memphis
287
MTR residents and graduates are working in high-need Memphis education
51 in leadership or administrative positions
$90 million+
in additional future income for the students served
Above-average growth seen by the 9,000 students served this year
Distinction in Licensure Assessments
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 to take edTPA have passed.
Average Score: 49.7
Graduate Preparedness
Highly Rated by Graduates
From the 2020 Teach901 Partner School Survey
Conducted by Teach901
98%
MTR graduates agreeing they were prepared for current position
Compared to 83% overall
In a survey conducted by Teach901, over 2,000 teachers in Memphis priority schools were asked about perceived effectiveness of their teacher preparation programs. Of the MTR graduates who responded, 98% agreed with the statement,
“My teacher preparation program prepared me for my current teaching position.”
This compares positively to the 83% of respondents overall who agreed with the statement. This is the 8th year in a row that MTR has had the highest percent of graduates agreeing they were adequately prepared by their teacher preparation program compared to other preparation routes on the survey.