Become a Teacher

Ready to join the Cougar family? Don’t have a teaching license yet? No problem! Come learn about how we can help you in becoming a certified teacher. Check out out pathways below and take the first step toward the classroom.

Richmond Teacher Residency Program (RTR)

Richmond Teacher Residency Program (RTR) - Virginia Commonwealth University

  • What is RTR? RTR is a school-based teacher preparation program that integrates research and practice to equip residents with the knowledge, skills, and experience to be effective in high-needs and hard-to-staff classrooms. Pre-service teachers (called residents) spend the entire school year working alongside a mentor teacher, gradually taking on more teaching responsibility. In exchange for RTR paying for the VCU academic degree, residents agree to teach for three years in a high-needs school after graduation from the program.

More information about the Richmond Teacher Residency Program (RTR)

"What do you want to teach?" to learn about each pathway

iTeach

  • What is iTeach? The Road to Teacher Certification in

    Virginia is has never been easier.

    You can become a teacher without a traditional education degree through our Virginia alternative route to licensure program. iTeach offers a CAEP-accredited educator preparation program for individuals with a bachelor's degree in any subject. You can be ready to teach with full pay in as little as eight weeks.

Why iTeach? A brief comparison of Teaching routes

iTeach overview

ParaProfessional

Highly Qualified Paraprofessionals

Paraprofessionals have the following options to meet the designation of highly qualified:

  • Have an Associate's (or higher) Degree; OR

  • Meet a rigorous standard of quality and be able to demonstrate through a formal state or local academic assessment (ParaPro Assessment) knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics (or, as appropriate, reading readiness, writing, readiness, and mathematics readiness).

 Paraprofessionals are not required to take a specified course of study.

The Board of Education has approved the Parapro Assessment as the formal state academic Paraprofessional assessment. The established qualifying score for the test approved by the board is 455. School boards also have the option of approving a local assessment.

Link to Parapro Assessment 

Questions?

If you have questions regarding working in Surry, the RTR program, or iTeach, please reach out to Ms. Renita Bailey. She's out HR Coordinator and can be reached at 757-294-5229 or via email at renita_bailey@surryschools.net