Statewide Residency Technical Assistance Center Hosts Kickoff Events 

Photo caption: From left to right at the SRTAC kickoff event in Sacramento: Rhianna Caesea, Sonoma State; Karin Compise, Teachers College of San Joaquin; Kate Herman, The Residency Lab; Jeanna Perry, Santa Clara County Office of Education; Sheila Rocker Heppe, Humboldt County Office of Education; Amy Bennett, Santa Clara County Office of Education; Tina Tranzor, Sacramento County Office of Education. 

Events to kick off the Statewide Residency Technical Assistance Center (SRTAC) in September officially launched its efforts to provide high-quality support for California’s teacher and school counselor residency programs.

Four regional events were held across the state on Sept. 9 and 23, 2024, and featured workshops on best practices in residency programs, discussions with experts on innovative residency models and workforce development, and networking opportunities. 

“We are providing not just program supports, but candidate supports through SRTAC, so we are making sure we are getting candidates into these programs and then making sure program leads have what they need,” said SRTAC Director Jeanna Perry.

 
Efrain Mercado, director of California policy at the Learning Policy Institute, appreciated conversations around accomplishing work in a way that meets the needs of communities and is sustainable.

“Once the grants are over, how do you continue this work, whether it’s local funding, other grant opportunities through foundations. I think as a state, we need to think about how we are going to find more funding to do this great work,” Mercado said. 

The Commission in July 2023 awarded the Santa Clara County Office of Education with a $20 million grant to establish the SRTAC as allocated in the 2022-23 state budget. Partners include Humboldt, Sacramento, San Diego, and Tulare County Offices of Education as regional hubs, as well as The Residency Lab, WestEd, and UCLA Teacher Education Program.

Learn more on the SRTAC website including a list of planned 2024-25 events and supports.