Residency Opportunities

The KAT Academy (Kingsport Academy for Teachers), offers an internship position in the Kingsport City School System (KCS) at the following schools for PreK-3, K-5 and Special Education candidates:

• Andrew Johnson Elementary

KAT Academy Internship opportunity provides students with experiences that strengthen their residency placement throughout the academic year. The program is designed to provide students with more time in the classroom, extensive co-teaching strategies and experience with classroom management.

The KAT Internship begins with students attending district and school based in-service opportunities and continues into Pre-residency and Residency I with candidates completing additional hours with their mentor teacher. KAT Academy’s expanded internship hours and responsibilities include teaching reading, as well as, the opportunity to work as a substitute or an assistant teacher in different classrooms.

Along with additional hours in the classroom, teacher candidates selected for KAT Academy will have the option to participate in professional development offered by KCS throughout the year. As a participant in the KAT Academy in Kingsport City Schools, candidates will also receive professional development focused on a specialized school mission.

• Andrew Johnson Elementary- Leader in Me

Participants will also receive a $2,000 stipend (upon the successful completion of Pre-residency and Residency I) through Clemmer College of Education and Human Development of Education and Human Development for participation in the KAT internship program. Not only does the KAT internship provide you with an exceptional residency experience and a stipend,  you are also eligible to receive one full year of teaching experience for this internship if approved by school district policy.

• Qualifications

  • Composite score of 21 or higher on ACT
  • Completed application and interview process
  • All other residency requirements (background check package and liability insurance)
• Expectations

  Pre-Residency

  • Attend new Teacher Orientation district office (2-3 days in July)
  • Begin full-time, 8:00-3:30 at their assigned school the first days teachers report to work (July or August) and continue until the fall semester begins at ETSU.

  Residency I

  • Monday and Friday 8:00-3:30 at assigned school (begin when fall semester starts at ETSU)
  • Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:00-11:30 at assigned school
  • Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and evenings coursework at ETSU.
  • End Residency I on last day of classes for ETSU. (Candidates may elect to continue to follow school schedule until the end of the fall semester).

  Residency II

  • Candidates report to their assigned school when teachers report to school during January of the Spring semester. Monday through Friday, entire teacher workday (hours vary by school)
  • Follow assigned school schedule and attend all before and after school duties, faculty meetings, and required after school programs.
• Applying for KAT

  The 2024-2025 KAT Application is now closed. If you need assistance, please email edprep@etsu.edu.

  **You will want to compose your responses to the following questions and obtain these additional requirements, so you can copy and paste them into the application above.

  • What is your highest ACT/SAT/Praxis Core (super score is accepted)? See Chelsey Mitchell (mitchellcb@mail.etsu.edu) if you need your super score.
  • Why do you want to be a teacher? (Respond in 100 words or less)
  • How do you think this experience will make you a better teacher? (Respond 200 words or less)

  **Opportunities to visit Johnson Elementary School is open to all applicants. This allows applicants the chance to tour the school and meet with the principal, teachers, and current KAT candidates. These visits will occur in April 2024 (specific dates are to be determined). 

• Acceptance to KAT

  • After the interview process is complete, candidates will receive an acceptance letter if they have been accepted into the program.
  • Candidates must sign an acceptance contract and complete required ETSU direct deposit paperwork before students can begin their assignment. 
• Year at a Glance Compared to Typical Clinical Residency Year

  Typical Residency Year	KAT Academy Year
  Pre-Residency (50 hours)	Pre-Residency (approximately 120-150 Hours) Candidates begin when schools begin and work with their mentor teacher until Fall Semester begins (3x the amount of typical students) Early connection to Mentor teacher Begin teaching following the co-teaching model
  Residency I (135 hours)	Residency I (approximately 375 hours) Teacher Candidates are in a school setting on Mondays and Fridays working as a substitute, assisting in classrooms, or engaged in other project work as determined by the principal Continued support from Mentor Residency I experience concludes the last day of classes for ETSU
  Residency II (15 weeks of full time teaching)	Residency II (15 weeks of full time teaching) Teacher Candidates return to assigned school when teachers report in early January Continue Residency II work identical to all Residency II Candidates Work collaboratively with other teacher candidates in the academy to plan and execute a leadership event at the school Continued support from Mentor Five days serving as a substitute at assigned school Residency II experience concludes the last day of classes for ETSU

   

  Candidates receive a total of 3 sick days between Pre-Residency and Residency 1.

The RITE (Rural Initiative for Talented Educators), offers an internship position in Hawkins County School System at the following schools:

• Carter's Valley Elementary

The RITE Program Internship opportunity provides students with experiences that strengthen their residency placement throughout the academic year. The program is designed to provide students with more time in the classroom, extensive co-teaching strategies, and experience with classroom management in a rural setting.

The RITE Internship begins with students attending district and school based in-service opportunities and continues into Pre-residency and Residency I with candidates completing additional hours with their mentor teacher. The RITE Program expanded internship hours and responsibilities include teaching reading, as well as, the opportunity to work as a substitute or an assistant teacher in different classrooms.

Along with additional hours in the classroom, teacher candidates selected for the RITE Program will have the option to participate in professional development offered by Hawkins County Schools throughout the year. As a participant in the RITE Program in Hawkins County Schools, candidates will also receive professional development focused on teaching in a rural setting.

Participants will also receive a $4,000 stipend (upon the successful completion of Pre-residency and Residency I) through Clemmer College of Education and Human Development of Education and Human Development for participation in the RITE internship program. Not only does the RITE internship provide you with an exceptional residency experience and a stipend,  you are also eligible to receive one full year of teaching experience for this internship if approved by school district policy. 

• Qualifications

  • Composite score of 21 on ACT
  • Completed application and interview process
  • All other residency requirements (background check package and liability insurance)
• Expectations

  Pre-Residency

  • Attend new Teacher Orientation district office (2-3 days in July.)
  • Begin full-time, 8:00-3:30 at their assigned school the first days teachers report to work (July or August) and continue until the fall semester begins at ETSU.

  Residency I

  • Monday and Friday 8:00-3:30 at assigned school (begin when fall semester starts at ETSU)
  • Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:00-11:30 at assigned school
  • Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and evenings coursework at ETSU.
  • End Residency I on last day of classes for ETSU. (Candidates may elect to continue to follow school schedule until the end of the fall semester).

  Residency II

  • Candidates report to their assigned school when teachers report to school during January of the Spring semester.
  • Monday through Friday, entire teacher workday (hours vary by school)
  • Follow assigned school schedule and attend all before and after school duties, faculty meetings, and required after school programs.
• Applying for RITE

  The 2024-2025 RITE Application is now closed. If you need assistance, please email edprep@etsu.edu.

  • You will want to compose your responses to the following questions, so you can copy and paste them into the application above.
  • Why do you want to be a teacher? (Respond in 100 words or less)
  • What goals would you have for yourself if chosen to participate in the RITE program? (Respond in 100 words or less)

  
  **Opportunities to visit Carter's Valley Elementary School is open to all applicants. This allows applicants the chance to tour the school and meet with the principal, teachers, and current RITE candidates. These visits will occur in April 2024 (specific dates are to be determined).

• Acceptance to RITE

  • After the interview process is complete, candidates will receive an acceptance letter if they have been accepted into the program.
  • Candidates must sign an acceptance contract and complete required ETSU direct deposit paperwork before students can begin their assignment. 
• Year at a Glance Compared to Typical Clinical Residency Year

  Typical Resiency Year	RITE Academy Year
  Pre-Residency (50 hours)	Pre-Residency (approximately 120-150 Hours) Candidates begin when schools begin and work with their mentor teacher until Fall Semester begins (3x the amount of typical students) Early connection to Mentor teacher Begin teaching following the co-teaching model
  Residency I (135 hours)	Residency I (approximately 375 hours) Teacher Candidates are in a school setting on Mondays and Fridays working as a substitute, assisting in classrooms, or engaged in other project work as determined by the principal Continued support from Mentor Residency I experience concludes the last day of classes for ETSU
  Residency II (15 weeks of full time teaching)	Residency II (15 weeks of full time teaching) Teacher Candidates return to assigned school when teachers report in early January Continue Residency II work identical to allResidency II Candidates Work collaboratively with other teacher candidates in the academy to plan and execute a leadership event at the school Continued support from Mentor Five days serving as a substitute at assigned school Residency II experience concludes the last day of classes for ETSU

  Candidates receive a total of 3 sick days between Pre-Residency and Residency 1.

Residency II Substituting Guidelines

• Candidates are eligible to substitute up to 5 days during their Residency II term as defined by ETSU. Candidates are NOT allowed to substitute before they have complete edTPA filming in Residency II.

In order for residency candidates to become eligible for substitute teaching during Residency II, they will need to complete the following protocol:

1. Candidate will need to attend substitute training offered through the school district where they are completing their residency.
2. Once training is complete, the candidate will need to complete the Candidate to Substitute Agreement which requires approval signatures from their mentor teacher, school principal, ETSU supervisor, and ETSU seminar leader.
3. After the agreement is complete with signatures, the candidate should email the contract to their ETSU supervisor and upload into Watermark.
4. Candidates are responsible for recording dates, locations, subject and/or grade level of their substitute experience on the Watermark time log.

Additional Substituting Guidelines

Click here to view the Candidate to Substitute Agreement.

Candidates are allowed to substitute in three settings but the preference must be in the following order:

• Classroom of mentor teacher
• Another classroom in the school they are assigned-this requires mentor teacher and ETSU supervisor approval
• A classroom in another school within the district- this requires advance notice and must be approved by the mentor teacher and ETSU supervisor

**When substituting, the candidate is acting as a substitute for the school system rather than as a teacher candidate for ETSU. Candidates will abide by all policies, rules and regulations of the school system while performing the duties of a substitute teacher. 

**Candidates may be removed from eligibility for substitute teaching at any time, for any reason or for no reason, by the principal of the school, mentor teacher, and/or ETSU supervisor or seminar leader.

**Long term substituting must receive prior approval through the Office of Educator Preparation.