DeKalb continues work to IGNITE interest in teacher residency program

DeKalb County IGNITE Teacher Residency Program director Carina Harrigan used the metaphor of a family cookout while talking to participants about how they should progress through the experience.

Initially, the participants, referred to as residents, are amateur cooks. Their role is to help.

The goal is for them to build enough confidence to eventually grill on their own.

“Even though we use the analogy of the grill... this is the way we want to think about how, in partnership, we’re going to support each other,” she said. “Our hope is that through the gradual release model, you can work in partnerships, so that come the end of May, you all will be ready to be teachers of record on your own.”

Harrigan shared this message during the second day of IGNITE’s Resident Summer Experience at Stone Mountain High School, a time for mentors and residents to discuss program expectations and participate in team-building activities.

The program was announced in 2023 as a response to the teacher shortage in DeKalb County. Teacher recruitment and retention are issues school districts in metro Atlanta and across the nation are trying to address. For instance, Cobb County created a program a few years ago to pay teachers to get advanced degrees through the University of West Georgia.

DeKalb’s yearlong program is completely free for participants, who receive a $30,000 living stipend and finish with a Master of Arts in Teaching, as well as eligibility for Georgia educator certification.

The fourth IGNITE cohort started with the 2026-27 school year. This year’s cohort has 40 students, Harrigan said, a similar number to past years.

Residents receive the stipend and training in exchange for their commitment to teaching in the district for at least five years.

“Our hope is that they stay even longer, and they go into either other teacher leader roles, or leadership roles within the district,” Harrigan said.

The IGNITE learning process is broken down into five phases: immersion, initiation, emerging teacher, demonstration, and ownership. Residents start off as engaged observers, shadowing their mentor teachers and leading smaller activities. By the final phase, they are expected to be comfortable planning lessons and teaching a full instructional day, in addition to managing classroom tasks.

Filling areas of need

Applications this year increased in volume, officials said. The program received more than 250 applications each year for both the 2025-26 and 2026-27 application cycles, officials said.

For the 2026-27 school year, the district granted IGNITE a budget of approximately $1 million. Residents can earn certifications in special education, and secondary math and science (biology, chemistry and physics) through Kennesaw State University, as well as elementary education through Clayton State University. These certification options reflect the areas in which DeKalb has the greatest need for teachers.

The program has a 95.4% retention rate, DeKalb officials say. IGNITE was also just awarded a $130,000 grant as part of the National Center for Teacher Residencies’ Boundless Educators Initiative.

Read the rest at ajc.com!