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SPRINGFIELD — Teach Western Mass (TWM) has won a $950,000, two-year grant from the Barr Foundation. This generous award will enable TWM to implement a new strategic vision and focus on strengthening and diversifying the local education workforce by licensing, supporting, and retaining powerful teachers reflective of their students’ life experiences and identities. Launched in 2016, Teach Western Mass is a nonprofit organization running a post-baccalaureate residency licensure program, approved by the state.

“We have thoughtfully spent the last six months redesigning our organization and our programming to better meet the needs of the 850+ teachers working in Western Mass. classrooms whose emergency licenses are set to expire this year,” said Pema Latshang, founding executive director of Teach Western Mass. “Now is the time to invest in the teachers who want to stay and are making a positive impact on our students using a culturally responsive approach.

“To do that, we need to create and implement pathways like the Teach Western Mass residency for our educators to move from emergency to more permanent licensure,” she went on. “If we don’t, we risk losing these teachers. Change can be expensive, and we are so appreciative of the Barr Foundation’s trust and support in our vision and leadership on this important issue at this pivotal time.”

This month, Teach Western Mass welcomed its first cohort of emergency licensed teachers to the newly redesigned residency program. Over the next 18 months, residents will earn their initial license in either English learner education or moderate disabilities ­– special education. Residents currently teach in Holyoke Public Schools, the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership, or Libertas Academy Charter School. They were selected by both TWM and their school leaders.

“The Barr Foundation is excited to continue to learn alongside Teach Western Mass as they work with partner schools to support, develop, and license diverse early-career educators ready to equip students to lead the life they dream,” said John Travis, senior program officer at the Barr Foundation.

Daily News

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.”

Daily News

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.