Honoring and congratulating members of Drexel University's 2019 Philadelphia Teacher Residency Program cohort for their steadfast commitment to the teaching profession and Philadelphia public school students.

WHEREAS, The Drexel University School of Education Teacher Residency Program is a highly intensive teaching preparation program that trains educators to succeed in School District of Philadelphia classrooms; and

WHEREAS, This year, 15 Philadelphia teacher residents

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Ren Anton, Emerson Avery, Matthew Bartle, Donnie Crosby, Adam Davis, Paul Grieve, Ami Patel Hopkins, Brittany Jackson, Jonathan Kane, Nellie Kollar, Ray Leone, Jonnae McClain, Robin Van Lynch, Ronnell Wilson

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completed forty weeks of full-time teaching in seven Philadelphia public schools; and

WHEREAS, Each teacher resident worked side-by-side with an experienced mentor teacher and received daily, intensive coaching, and valuable advice on how to be an effective teacher; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia teacher residents completed a minimum of six hybrid courses, and nearly 90 additional professional development hours, through Drexel University’s School of Education to earn Instructional I teacher certification; and

WHEREAS, After completion of the program, teacher residents will teach middle and secondary grade STEM subjects in “high-need” Philadelphia schools; and

WHEREAS, Teacher residents have made a commitment to teach in Philadelphia schools for at least three years, after they complete their teacher preparation program; and

WHEREAS, Seven of the residents have also completed courses to earn add-on certificates in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), and six others have completed courses to add on the Social, Emotional and Behavior Wellness certificate (SEBW), to further deepen their preparation; and

WHEREAS, Drexel University faculty provide ongoing professional development in evaluation and coaching for mentor teachers in Philadelphia who work with PTR residents; and

WHEREAS, As the School District of Philadelphia continues to strive to address its chronic teaching shortage and high vacancy rates, opportunities such as Drexel’s Philadelphia Teacher Residency Program are essential in fueling a certified, enthusiastic, committed teaching force in the City of Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Honors and congratulates members of Drexel University’s 2019 Philadelphia Teacher Residency Program cohort for their steadfast commitment to the teaching profession and Philadelphia public school students.

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