Through a variety of initiatives EDUCA NORCAL aims to recruit, support, and retain diverse teachers. These initiatives include: supporting existing teacher residency programs; expanding to a new residency program; creating and implementing an online bilingual authorization program (not to replace the existing in-person BILA program); providing scholarships; and, creating affinity/identity groups.
 

WIDER (Windsor Initiative to Diversify Educators Residency) Program is designed to provide support to teaching credential students in the WIDER Program and their mentor teachers through in-kind and financial support. In-kind support includes professional development opportunities, cohort-based meetings, one-on-one feedback, and high-quality mentoring. Financial support includes stipends.

To meet the demand for bilingual teachers that represent their diverse communities and special education (SPED) teachers in California public schools, Petaluma City Schools, Old Adobe Unified School District, and South County Consortium in partnership with Sonoma State University’s (SSU) School of Education (SOE), will develop a collaborative partnership, the Petaluma Regional Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Residency (PRDEIR).

To meet the increasing demand for bilingual teachers in California public schools, Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD) and Santa Rosa City Schools (SRCS), in partnership with Sonoma State University’s (SSU) School of Education (SOE), will expand the existing North Bay Bilingual Teacher Residency Program (NBBTRP) to include future bilingual teachers of grades tk-12.

SSU will train 6 students as "Reading Rescue Tutors". These students will be tutoring elementary-aged children in local elementary schools. Tutors will enroll in EDUC 295 and receive 1 unit credit for 45 hours of in-person tutoring. They will also be paid for the 10 hours of tutor training. This project is being support by the Benedict Silverman Foundation (BSF) who will provide funding for faculty time, tutor training, travel/mileage, supplies, etc.

To meet the increasing demand for bilingual teachers in California public schools, NVUSD and SRCS, in partnership with SSU's School of Education, will expand the existing NBTR Consortium to include multiple- and multiple plus single-subject credentials (both w/added bilingual authorization) to support the growth of dual language TK-8 programs in both districts.

SSU will train 15 students as "Reading Rescue Tutors". These students will be tutoring elementary-aged children in local elementary schools. Tutors will enroll in EDUC 295 and receive 1 unit credit for 45 hours of in-person tutoring. They will also be paid for the 10 hours of tutor training. This project is being support by the Benedict Silverman Foundation (BSF) who will provide funding for faculty time, tutor training, travel/mileage, supplies, etc.

To meet the need of the ever-increasing need for teachers in California public schools, particularly in the areas of bilingual education, special education, and STEM education, SSU has partnered with Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD) and Santa Rosa City Schools (SRCS) to prepare teacher candidates in the North Bay Teacher Residency Program (NBTRP).