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Do you have something to say about teacher quality, diversity, or retention in WNY?  Do you have something to say about recent changes at the US Dept. of Ed?  Ideas for action?  Sign up for a 1-2 minute speaking slot here.​

 

 

 

 

This is What We Built & Why - UBTR

 

Students deserve excellent teachers who reflect the diversity of our local community.  To improve students' learning experiences, we must address the interconnected challenges of teacher quality, diversity, retention, and thriving.  Since 2018, UBTR has been recruiting and preparing excellent teachers who better reflect the diversity of our community and who, very often, are from our community.  Through grants from local philanthropic organizations, namely the Cullen Foundation and the John R. Oishei Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education, we have been funding teacher residents and engaging in innovations designed to improve teacher quality, diversity, retention, and thriving for the benefit of children in Western New York.  

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Since 2022, more than $7million in grant funding has been awarded to support teacher preparation and development for in-service teachers.
 

2022-September 2025 - USDE Supporting Effective Educator Development  (SEED) to  increase the number of highly effective educators for under-resourced schools and districts by supporting the implementation of evidence-based practices.

• Funding for 40 teacher residents (living stipends of $20,000 each) & 40 mentor teachers

• Professional learning for more than 200 in-service teachers

• Support for early-career teachers

• Support for 6 early-career teachers seeking bilingual extension

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2023 - 2028 USDE Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) Program to improve student achievement by improving teacher and leader preparation for under-resourced schools and districts.

• Funding for 60 teacher residents (living stipends of $20,000 each) & 60 mentor teachers

• Funding for 8 leadership residents

• Support for early-career teachers

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This is What the Current Administration & the US Department of Education Have Done

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​In the evenings on Feb. 10th and 12th, we received notification that our grants were terminated.  ​With termination, WNY loses a $7 million investment in our children, teachers, and broader community.

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We lost funding that would have provided:

• Stipend support for 45 funded teacher residency positions in BPS, Buffalo charters, and first-ring suburban districts

• Stipend support for 6 leadership residency positions

• Stipend and professional learning support for 45 expert mentor teachers

• Scholarship and stipend support for teachers who are pursuing their bilingual extension certification

• Stipend and professional learning support for teacher-leaders who support early-career teachers

• Stipend support for residency alumni leaders and fellows who engage in ongoing, evidence-based professional learning

• 6 Full Time and 1 Part Time staff positions that support the development and success of excellent, learner-ready teachers

 

 

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​​Take Action!

• Share this Impact Document with people you know. 

• Contact elected officials &  https://5calls.org/ 

• Call or visit the offices of local elected officials.  Ask to meet with staffers who work on education. Congress appropriates funds for USDE Discretionary grants, and funds appropriated by Congress have been rescinded by the USDE. Look for opportunities to attend Town Halls.

• WNY Congressman Nick Langworthy (R) https://langworthy.house.gov/ 

• WNY Congressman Tim Kennedy (D): https://kennedy.house.gov/ 

• WNY Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (R) : https://tenney.house.gov/ 

• NYS Senator Chuck Schumer: https://www.schumer.senate.gov/contact 

• NYS Senator Kristin Gillibrand: https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/office-locations/ 

• Write Letters to the Editor and Op-Eds to local and national news outlets.

• Share information through your own personal, professional, and social media networks.  Tell others why this program and funding matters.  

• If you’re able, contribute funding to directly support residency and any emergency expenses incurred by current residents: https://ubfoundation.buffalo.edu/giving/index.php?gift_allocation=01-3-0-08962  

• Reach out to us to find out about more advocacy events.