SPRINGFIELD — Teach Western Mass Executive Director Pema Latshang has been selected to serve on the Healey-Driscoll Thriving Youth and Young Adults Transition Committee.

Transition committees aim to guide Gov.-elect Maura Healey and Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Driscoll on important work as they prepare to take office in January. Each committee is composed of a diverse group of community members, advocates, subject-matter experts, and business and nonprofit leaders.

Latshang’s participation gives voice to the education community of Western Mass. Her expertise in reducing barriers to entry to the profession, maintaining performance standards, and increasing retention supports for new teachers will help her advocate for a high-quality, diverse teacher workforce.

“I am honored to have been selected and to represent the needs of our quality teachers in Western Mass.,” Latshang said. “We know that teachers who reflect our students’ experience and identity can help them to attain educational success. Our residency program provides adults in our community, who may not have considered or been able to afford a career in teaching, an accessible pathway to pursue their license and make a real difference in the lives of students in Springfield and Holyoke.”

SPRINGFIELD — Teach Western Mass (TWM) recently hosted a party to recruit diverse, quality educators to Springfield and Holyoke. Local school partners, elected officials, fellow nonprofits, and aspiring teachers gathered at Level 5 restaurant in Springfield to learn more about how to become a part of what Teach Western Mass is calling a teacher-recruitment movement.

The event showcased the Teach Western Mass residency program as a pathway to teaching within one of the 30-plus Teach Western Mass partner schools. The residency is a customized, state-approved credentialing program training new teachers to be effective in the classroom while building strong relationships in their school communities and developing standards-based and culturally relevant curriculum steeped in anti-racism for students in the region’s highest-need schools.

The residency program reduces barriers to entry into the teaching profession for career changers as well as aspiring educators of color. The program offers a one-year, accelerated certification route for aspiring educators, with the specific goal of increasing the diversity of the teacher workforce in Western Mass. The application (click here) is now open for anyone interested to enter the profession by next fall. The residency program is recruiting its sixth cohort and begins training in June 2023.

“Our residency program has created a much-needed option for future teachers who are looking for a supportive environment in the region that focuses on practical skills and culturally responsive teaching practices that will make first-year teachers have an impact on learning on day one in their classroom,” said Lisa Doherty, dean of the residency program.

Pema Latshang, founding executive director of Teach Western Mass, added that “I am grateful to our community and funders for supporting this important work. We know that teachers who reflect our students’ experience and identity can help them to attain educational success. Our residency program provides adults in our community, who may not have considered or been able to afford a career in teaching, an accessible pathway to pursue their license and make a real difference in the lives of students in Springfield and Holyoke.”

Teach Western Mass will be hosting informational sessions about the residency program on the first and third Wednesday of every month starting Wednesday, Nov. 2 at varying times to accommodate interested teaching candidates. Individuals looking to learn more about the residency program can pre-register for these events online through the Teach Western Mass website by clicking here. Anyone interested in joining the teacher-recruitment movement can refer eligible candidates by clicking here.