Real World Experience, Rigorously Examined
The residency experience is a cornerstone of the M.A. in Educational Transformation, combining the study of educational research and theory with hands-on, experiential learning in schools, nonprofits, school districts, and public agencies. Through their residency placement, students are immersed in the complex educational contexts of DC, a center of education policymaking and innovation, which offers a vivid perspective on the rewards and challenges of a career in the field.
As part of their residency, Educational Transformation students work in a setting that aligns with their learning objectives, whether classroom instruction or policy advocacy. The residency experience if complemented by Residency I & II courses, which are taken in the fall and spring semesters of the program. Students in the M.A. in Educational Transformation work at their residency experiences during the day, and attend full-time academic coursework in the evening.
Advocacy & Policy Residency
Students in the Advocacy & Policy concentration are guided through a facilitated matching process to connect them with educational reform organizations, local public and charter boards, federal government offices, teachers unions, child parent advocacy organizations and more. Through the residency experience, Advocacy & Policy students gain hands-on experience in the mechanics of interest representation and mobilization, efforts at agenda setting, the legislative process, rule-making, media relations, public awareness campaigns, and policy development and implementation.
Throughout the year, coursework in Policy Residency I and Policy Residency II will connect students’ daily experiences with theoretical frameworks of organizational, policy and political change in order to highlight the challenges and opportunities of policy and advocacy work in the field of education. In the interest of equity for our students, all of our residency experiences for Advocacy & Policy students are paid.
Learning & Teaching Residency
Students in the Learning & Teaching concentration are employed in a K-12 classroom in DC public or public charter schools as a paid instructional aide, working full-time as a co-teacher while engaging coursework on pedagogy, culturally-relevant education and child adolescent development.
Throughout the program, students gradually assume greater responsibilities in the classroom, and receive direct, specific evaluation and feedback on their developing instructional practice through their coursework in Teaching Residency I and Teaching Residency II. The goal of working with a dedicated mentor teacher is to gradually ramp up skills, confidence, and efficacy by integrating on a daily basis the skills of teaching and running a classroom with the specific knowledge of how to guide aspiring learners on a daily basis. As full-time employees of DC public or public charter schools, Learning & Teaching students are paid and receive benefits through their schools.