San Diego Teacher Residency
Teach to Transform
Are you ready to embark on a purpose-driven teaching career in California K-12 schools? Pursue your California Preliminary Teaching Credential and Master’s degree in Teaching & Learning through San Diego Teacher Residency (SDTR) and join us in transforming public school classrooms, one teacher at a time.
what sets us apart
Learn to Teach for Equity and Justice
900 Hours
Teaching residents gain 900+ hours of classroom experience in one of the 16 High Tech High K-12 schools during the first year—more than 1.5 times the average teaching credential program.
55% BIPOC
SDTR strives to diversify the teaching profession with nearly 55% of teaching residents identifying as people of color—3x the national average!
$35,000 Stipend
Take advantage of up to $35,000 available in living stipends for first-year students who commit to teaching within the HTH K-12 network (or another California school ) for 4+ years.
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ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Earn a California Preliminary Teaching Credential and Master’s Degree in Teaching & Learning in a two-year program.
Our residency program develops teachers who prioritize social justice, equity, and inclusive practices, creating classrooms where all students can grow as curious, critical, and creative individuals. We cultivate a strong community of support for both teachers and students, with a team of cooperating teachers, supervisors, and program staff who foster culturally sustaining mentorship. By prioritizing student-centered, anti-racist, and anti-bias pedagogies, we ensure that deeper learning guides every resident’s journey, helping them and their students thrive in meaningful and authentic educational experiences.
year 1
The Residency Year (Credential + Master’s Courses)
SDTR residents take courses with their cohort while spending four days a week as student teachers at one of High Tech High’s 16 K-12 schools. This mentorship allows them to work closely with a veteran teacher and gain valuable classroom experience. They meet one day and evening each week at the graduate school for coursework, peer collaboration, and intensive support from expert faculty. They also receive individualized coaching from a supervisor to support their career growth. Residents earn their California Preliminary Teaching Credential at the end of the first year and receive guidance in applying for teaching positions.
year 2
Complete Master’s Courses
The second year of SDTR provides critical support as candidates transition into their teaching careers. While working full-time in an educational setting, residents return to the graduate school one evening per week to complete their M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning. Using improvement science and lesson study design, students build on their first-year experiences and address challenges in their classrooms, work that culminates in a capstone project.
Alumni Outcomes
90% of alumni are employed as teachers.
School Leadership
School Principal/Director, Assistant Principal/Dean, Instructional Coach, Teacher Leader.
School District & CMO leadership
Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Program Manager, Program Director, Executive Director of Professional Development, Chief of Staff, Chief Operations Officer, Director of DEI
National Education Non-Profit
Executive Director, Deputy Director, Education Director, Managing Partner
Over 85% of alumni hold roles within schools as directors, principals, deans, or teacher-leaders. While about 60% of our alumni have plans to immediately pursue leadership roles, many are simply interested in deepening their teaching, pedagogy, and leadership skills in their districts.
1-on-1 Call
Meet with our Admissions Manager to discuss program details, application preparation, and personal questions.
Information Session
Join our email community to receive the full recording and slide deck from our most recent information session.
EXPLORE MORE
Dig into the Program Details
Read more about our application process, enrollment requirements, program costs, and curriculum.
We are still accepting applications for our Fall 2025 cohort which begins on July 31, as space allows. If you’re interested in joining us, we encourage you to review our application guide for more information about our Admissions process, and connect with our team to explore your next steps.
All SDTR applicants will submit the following materials to be considered for admission to the program:
- Professional Resume
- Statement of Purpose
- Self-Recorded Video Interview
- Letter of Recommendation
- Official Undergraduate Transcript
- Proof of Subject Matter Competency
Candidates who move forward in our application process will be invited to a virtual Bonanza, where you will conduct an interactive learning activity with our faculty and other applicants. Please reference our admissions guide for more information!
- Program Tuition is $25,000
- Year One Tuition: $15,000
- Year Two Tuition: $10,000
Available Aid
Living Stipends: All San Diego Teacher Residency students are guaranteed a living stipend of $8,000 total for year one of the program.
With a new grant to support the diversity of teachers in our own network of HTH K-12 schools, SDTR candidates may apply for up to $35,000 in living stipend funding with payments disbursed monthly for the residency year.
Candidates will be prioritized in the hiring process, and must be willing to commit to teaching within the HTH K-12 network (or another California school ) for 4+ years.
Candidates who would like to be considered for this grant must submit an additional response during the application process, and approximately 30 residents will be awarded this stipend.
Review our residency year funding pathways here:
Federal Student Aid: SDTR students are eligible to apply for federal financial aid. Aid consists primarily of William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans (Unsubsidized), Federal Graduate PLUS Loans, and Federal Work Study. Degree-seeking graduate students are eligible for federal financial aid if they:
- are enrolled in 4.5 or more units per term,
- meet the HTH GSE’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy,
- are in good standing with prior federal loans,
- are citizens of the United States (or eligible non-citizens)
Please review the Financial Aid FAQ’s for more information. To apply for aid, follow Steps to Apply for Financial Aid.
If applying as an international student, the HTH GSE is approved to offer F-1 visas and students may be eligible for a reduced tuition rate. You can find more information about studying in the U.S. and applying for the F-1 visa here.
Other helpful resources:
This program is designed to prepare California K-12 public school teachers. The requirements listed below are in compliance with the state education code and are in alignment with HTH GSE’s commitment to preparing high quality educators. In order to matriculate into the program, candidates will need to fulfill several prerequisites, including:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Earned BA/BS from a regionally accredited university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 are encouraged to include an explanation of their academic qualifications within the initial application form.
Candidates must hold a conferred undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution to begin our program. Candidates who are in their senior year of college may also apply.
If you are admitted, SDTR will require proof of passage for all required CSET Subtests by May 1, 2025.
Candidates must provide evidence of having:
- Passed the California Subjects Examination for Teachers (CSET)
- Successfully completed a Commission-approved Subject Matter Preparation Program
- Successfully completed coursework at one or more regionally accredited institutions of higher education that addresses each of the domains of the subject matter requirement
- Successfully completed a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with the following as applicable:
- For Single Subject credentials, a major aligned to the credential sought
- For Multiple Subjects credentials, a liberal studies, liberal arts, interdisciplinary studies, or elementary education major
*please review our CSET FAQ flyer for additional information and resources
- Fingerprint Clearance
Candidates must hold a valid CTC issued Certificate of Clearance or Substitute Teaching Permit
- Proof of Negative Tuberculosis
SDTR residents complete a 30-unit degree program that includes course-taking, clinical fieldwork, and the submission of a capstone Master’s Project featuring three cycles of lesson study. This is a cohort-based program by design. A sampling of coursework is as follows: Equity I: Self Schools, and Society; Foundations of Classroom Culture; Foundations of Student-Centered Teaching; Foundations of English Language Development; Inclusive Classrooms; Instruction and Assessment in the Disciplines; Foundations of Reading Instruction; Equity II: Culturally Responsive Pedagogy; Equity III: Critical Pedagogy; Design for Deeper Learning; and Inquiry into Practice.
SDTR is a participant in EdPrepLab, co-sponsored by Bank Street College and the Learning Policy Institute.
SDTR TEAM
Meet our faculty and staff
Our faculty are practicing teachers, instructional coaches, and scholars with an average of over 10 years of experience at schools around San Diego.
resources
Read, Watch, Listen
Curated content from our alumni.
Address
Office of Admissions
High Tech High
Graduate School of Education
2150 Cushing Road San Diego CA 92106
Contact
Contact us if you have questions about any of our programs.
admissions@hthgse.edu
(619) 398-4902
