- Recruit, prepare and support 60 pre-service candidates (Teacher Residents),
particularly from underserved populations, to serve in high-need rural districts. - Prepare Teacher Residents to meet students’ social, emotional, and educational
needs by developing their expertise in inclusive pedagogy, social emotional
learning, trauma informed practices, and healing centered engagement. - Improve the abilities of Mentor Teachers to support candidates to effectively use
inclusive pedagogy, social emotional learning, trauma informed practices, and
healing centered engagement in high need schools. - Provide ongoing support that complements Teacher Residents’ induction
experiences during their first three years.
Partners & Collaboration
Primary Goals & Objectives
Chico State Organizations
The following departments & colleges on-campus are partners in the BEST Program:
Rural Public School Districts
The following Rural Public School Districts are partners in the BEST Program:
Additional Partners
- Bellwether Education Partners(opens in new window)
- Butte County Office of Education(opens in new window)
- Butte-Glenn Community College District(opens in new window)
- California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)(opens in new window)
- Flourish Agenda(opens in new window)
- Tehama County Department of Education(opens in new window)
- U.S. Department of Education | Teacher Quality Partnership Program (TQP)(opens in new window)
Mentor Teachers
BEST Mentor Teachers are dedicated, supportive professionals who work closely with university partners to help Residents become successful, equitable educators through supervision, guidance, co-planning, co-teaching and coaching. Each BEST Mentor Teacher is carefully selected and referred by district leadership to participate in the grant.
University Supervisors
Each BEST University Supervisor has expertise and extensive teaching experience in elementary education. As representatives of Chico State in the schools, University Supervisors provide close and continuing contact for instruction and guidance of credential Residents and make every attempt to be consistent, supportive, equitable and objective. Each BEST University Supervisor is carefully selected through an interview and application process with adequate references to participate in the grant.