Partners in Teacher
Development:
EMBRACING EQUITY, ACCESS AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE IN A TEACHER RESIDENCY
Developing models where
STEM teachers are better
supported and prepared
to engage in Title 1 high
poverty spaces becomes
a critical endeavor.
26
Leadership
In this age of incredible teacher
turnover, where math and science teachers
in Title 1 schools are more likely to leave
the profession than any other subgroup of
teachers, developing models where STEM
teachers are better supported and prepared
to engage in Title 1 high poverty spaces be-
comes a critical endeavor (Carver-Thomas,
& Darling-Hammond, 2017). Preparing the
next generation of teachers is better when it
can be done through a concerted effort to
partner UCLA-IMPACT, an urban teacher
residency partnered with LAUSD school
communities to create structures supporting
STEM teachers.
UCL A-I M PAC T is a n 18-mont h
teacher residency program focused on pre-
paring math and science secondary teach-
ers and STEM-focused elementary teach-
ers for inner city, traditionally underserved
public schools. UCLA-IMPACT is housed
within its parent program, UCLA-TEP, a
two-year program where candidates work
towards a credential and Master of Educa-
tion. In the program, candidates earn both
their credential and Master’s in Education
degree. UCLA-IMPACT focuses on de-
veloping pre-service teachers with a frame
for equity, inquiry, collaboration and so-
cial justice who are committed to working
in urban public schools with traditionally
marginalized students. We are explicit
about our intention to work with inner city
public schools and only place student teach-
ers in urban minority-serving schools that
are classified as school-wide Title 1. Part-
nerships are critical to this work.
In reflecting on this partnership, one sec-
ondary school partner principal stated:
“So this is not hyperbole, our relationship
with UCLA-IMPACT has been nothing
short of transformative. If you look at our
math department and science department,
they are directly affected by IMPACT. I
think that there is a commitment to social
By Imelda L. Nava and
Annamarie François