San Bernardino News Daily Local news for San Bernardino, about San Bernardino.
UC Riverside has partnered with the San Bernardino City Unified School District to launch a new teacher residency program to address a severe teacher shortage.
The program covers tuition, provides living stipends, and guarantees teaching jobs for successful participants. Open to candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree, the residency offers an expedited one-year credentialing program coupled with intensive mentoring. In exchange, participants commit to teach in the San Bernardino school district after completing the program.
San Bernardino City Unified School District expects to have nearly 200 teacher retirements and resignations in 2025 alone.
“Across California and the nation, we are facing a shortage of qualified teachers, especially in critical areas like special education, dual language instruction, math, and science,” said Frances Valdovinos, assistant dean and director of teacher education at UCR’s School of Education. “This partnership gives future teachers an unprecedented level of support while helping San Bernardino schools meet urgent staffing needs.”
The initiative, funded through a grant from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, also supports San Bernardino’s broader goal of diversifying its educator workforce. The district and UCR are actively recruiting candidates who reflect the community’s demographics, including future teachers from underrepresented backgrounds.
The residency is currently recruiting its first cohort, with up to 35 participants expected to start in Summer 2025. Another cohort will follow in 2026, for a total of 70 candidates over the next two years. Students admitted into UCR’s teacher education program are eligible to apply for the residency, and the selection process gives preference to candidates who have ties to the San Bernardino area, whether as residents, graduates, or paraprofessionals currently working in district schools.
For more information about the residency program or to apply, prospective candidates should contact UCR’s School of Education or visit its website.
