Trojan Teacher Residency Launches Third Year with Inspiring Panel

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Education launched the 2025-26 cohort of the Trojan Teacher Residency Program with an engaging panel discussion on July 28, 2025. The event took place at the Bailey Alumni Center and aimed to inspire new residents and mentors as the program enters its third year. The residency program offers year-long, paid placements for teacher candidates, pairing them with experienced mentors in schools across central Arkansas.

This immersive program, supported by a grant from Forward Arkansas, allows aspiring educators to gain practical classroom experience throughout the academic year. By the end of the program, graduates are expected to be fully prepared for their teaching careers. This year, residents will be placed in the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District and the Little Rock School District.

Panelist Insights and Experiences

The orientation day featured a panel of current educators who have successfully completed the residency program, as well as a partner from a local school district who has contributed to the program’s success. Dr. Rachel Eells, the Windgate endowed director of the School of Education, moderated the discussion, which included panelists such as Chadwick Comer, a seventh-grade English teacher from the program’s inaugural year, and Tinaya Brown, a recent graduate who will be teaching kindergarten at J.A. Fair K-8 Preparatory Academy.

Eells emphasized the importance of learning from those who have navigated the residency path. “Our panelists are examples of what this program can do to prepare teachers to succeed,” she stated.

Comer shared his experience of transitioning from an observer to an active co-teacher during his residency. “I quickly realized this was a shared classroom,” he recalled. “My mentor made me feel welcomed, and I adapted fast. That support allowed me to grow and eventually lead the class with confidence.”

Brown highlighted the crucial need for organization and proactive planning. “If you start doing things at the last minute, it won’t work,” she advised. “You have to think about the performance of your students and stay ahead.”

The Program’s Impact on Educators and Schools

Dr. Janice Walker, assistant superintendent at the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, discussed the positive impact of the residency program on her district. She noted that having residents in schools has enhanced the educational landscape. “When I walk into classrooms, it can be hard to tell who is the resident and who is the teacher. They’re contributing so much,” Walker remarked. “This is a journey, and it’s about building trust and empowering future teachers.”

Throughout the discussion, the speakers emphasized the importance of reflection, constructive feedback, and the cultivation of strong relationships between residents and their mentors. Brown recalled, “I needed brute honesty. Even if it hurt my feelings, I wanted to improve. I made actionable steps and implemented them.”

Comer echoed her sentiments on reflection, stating, “Daily reflection helped me improve and build a template for my first year of teaching. It gave me a foundation.”

Eells encouraged new residents to take advantage of the supportive environment the program offers. “This experience gives you the freedom to try new things while having someone there to guide you,” she explained. “That’s rare in education.”

Panelists also shared strategies for building connections with students and the broader school community. “Build bonds with your mentor teacher, your students, and your school,” Comer suggested. “Those are the people you’ll work with for the year and maybe for many years to come.”

Walker pointed out that the residency program serves as an effective recruitment tool for school districts. “With the training that’s given here at UA Little Rock, you are coming in with a great skill set,” she stated. “The benefit that we get is a year-long interview process. The goal of our district is to hire every resident to be a part of our district. I call it our family. If we instill the very best in you, you will serve the students with excellence.”

As the Trojan Teacher Residency Program embarks on another year, the insights shared during the panel highlight its commitment to fostering skilled educators ready to make a meaningful impact in the classroom.