Resident Educator Program

We are anxious to welcome our first year Resident Educators to our schools within the Diocese of Columbus.  For those of you beginning your second year, welcome back.  Since the Resident Educator Program is now a 2-Year Program, we have changed the design/implementation.  Principals should register Resident Educators and their mentors using this Link by Monday, August 28th.  On Tuesday, August 29th, Carrie Ramsay will email all mentors regarding mentor requirements/expectations.  The mentors will then share this information with their mentees.  

Below is information from the Ohio Department of Education regarding the new RE Program:

Program Overview

The Ohio Resident Educator (RE) Program began in 2011, and is a comprehensive, two-year initiative to assist beginning teachers with mentoring and professional development as they start their education careers. The RE Program is designed to improve teacher retention, enhance teacher quality, and result in improved student achievement. The RE Program can be envisioned as a professional pathway to continued professional learning, leading educators to more effective practices and excellence in teaching. 

Ohio Revised Code 3319.223 and Ohio Administrative Code 3301-24-04 provide the basis for the RE Program and the requirement to successfully pass the Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA). When teachers successfully complete program requirements, including the RESA component, they become eligible for a professional teaching license.

Changes to the RE Program beginning with the 2023-2024 school year:

• Local RE Programs must transition from a four-year program to a two-year program structure;
• Participants in the RE Program must successfully complete two program years;
• Previously registered REs are also only required to complete two program years, including years they’ve already completed;
• Credit for prior teaching experience is no longer available;
• Program Coordinators must register REs for the Resident Educator Summative Assessment (RESA) in Year 2 of the RE Program; and
• There is no longer a limit on attempts to successfully complete the RESA.

 The Principal’s Role in the Resident Educator Program

The principals’ role in the Resident Educator Program cannot be underestimated. Principals establish a positive culture of support for resident educators and coordinate efforts to help REs become actively engaged in their school community. They create school structures that support teachers, providing instructional leadership, a climate of trust and building policies and professional practices that ensure that REs have an opportunity to be successful as teachers and learners. Principals provide time and resources for the implementation of the RE Program and ensure clear and consistent communication with both mentors and Resident Educators. Principals value the RE Program and work collaboratively with mentors to support high quality instruction and create environments in which Resident Educators succeed.

For more information on the 2-Year Resident Educator Program, please click here.