UNM teacher residency program earns national award for teacher education excellence

The University of New Mexico's District Partner Teacher Residency (DPTR), housed in the UNM College of Education & Human Sciences, has received the 2026 Billy G. Dixon Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award, marking the second time UNM's teacher residency model has earned the national honor.

Presented by the Association of Teacher Educators, the award recognizes exemplary teacher preparation programs that demonstrate strong collaboration between institutions of higher education and local education agencies while producing measurable impact for schools and communities.

DPTR was recognized for its innovative residency model, which integrates yearlong classroom experience with academic coursework while building sustained partnerships across New Mexico.

"The UNM DPTR exemplifies the very best of collaborative teacher education," the award committee noted in its announcement. "Through strong, sustained partnerships among the university, school districts, charter schools, teachers' unions, state agencies and community organizations, DPTR prepares teachers through a yearlong, mentored residency model that tightly integrates coursework and clinical practice."

This marks the second time the University of New Mexico's teacher residency model has received the Billy G. Dixon Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award.

In 2022, the Association of Teacher Educators honored the Albuquerque Teacher Residency Partnership (ATRP), a collaboration among the UNM College of Education & Human Sciences, Albuquerque Public Schools and the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, for its innovative approach to preparing and retaining teachers in high-need schools.

The current District Partner Teacher Residency (DPTR) builds on that foundation, expanding the residency model to school districts and charter schools across New Mexico while maintaining the same partnership-driven approach to teacher preparation.

The program prepares future educators through a full-year residency in partner schools, where teacher residents work alongside experienced mentor teachers while completing licensure coursework. Residents gradually assume increasing responsibility in the classroom and enter the profession with substantial real-world experience.

Originally launched in 2017 through a partnership among UNM, Albuquerque Public Schools and the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, the program has grown significantly. Today, the residency serves schools across New Mexico and continues expanding its network of district and charter partners.

The model is designed to address two of the state's most pressing educational challenges: teacher shortages and early-career teacher attrition. Residents receive financial support during their training and commit to teaching in their partner districts after completing the program. Residency funding is provided to the UNM College of Education & Human Sciences through the New Mexico Public Education Department.

As of the 2025-26 academic year, the program includes more than 100 teacher residents placed across 18 school districts and charter schools, with plans to continue expanding statewide.

Data collected through the National Center for Teacher Residencies shows strong outcomes for the program. School leaders consistently report that DPTR graduates are well prepared for the classroom and contribute positively to school culture and student learning.

"What sets DPTR apart is its demonstrated impact," the award committee noted. "The program has expanded statewide, strengthened teacher diversity and achieved impressive teacher retention rates-evidence that its graduates are making a lasting difference in New Mexico's schools and communities."

The program's collaborative structure is central to its success. University faculty work closely with district leaders, mentor teachers, unions and community partners to recruit, prepare and support teacher residents. Partners participate in the full process, from selecting residents and placing them in schools to mentoring them during their first year in the classroom.

"This recognition reflects the extraordinary partnerships that make educator preparation possible in New Mexico. Our faculty, school districts, mentor teachers and community partners are working together to prepare educators who understand the communities they serve and are ready to make an immediate difference for students."

- COEHS Dean Kristopher Goodrich

DPTR also reflects the diversity of New Mexico's communities. In recent cohorts, more than half of teacher residents identify as people of color, closely mirroring the state's student population.

For residents, the yearlong immersion offers an opportunity to bridge theory and practice while building confidence before leading their own classrooms.

"My program has supported me in becoming a teacher by giving me hands-on experience in the classroom while also helping me understand the deeper why behind what I teach," one resident shared in program survey data. "Seeing those strategies work showed me how the theory connects to real teaching."

School leaders say the residency model benefits students as well as teachers. With both a mentor teacher and a resident in the classroom, schools gain additional instructional support while building a pipeline of future educators who already understand the culture and needs of the district.

"This recognition reflects the extraordinary partnerships that make educator preparation possible in New Mexico," said COEHS Dean Kristopher Goodrich. "Our faculty, school districts, mentor teachers and community partners are working together to prepare educators who understand the communities they serve and are ready to make an immediate difference for students."

As the program continues to expand, leaders say the award affirms years of collaborative work among educators across the state.

By combining strong partnerships, intensive classroom experience and ongoing mentorship, the UNM District Partner Teacher Residency is helping prepare a new generation of teachers committed to serving New Mexico's schools and communities.