164 New Resident Teachers Begin Training with the AUSL Teacher Residency

Fast facts

Publish date: June 24, 2025
Categories: News from the Network
Post author: Sal Navarro

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As the AUSL Teacher Residency alumni network welcomed a new cohort of resident teachers across Chicago, the AUSL team kicked off orientation week to begin  onboarding the Chicago Teacher Residency Class of 2026.

“We will give you all of the tools to be successful,” said Adam Case, AUSL Executive Director, addressing the incoming resident teachers.

“Be a learner, ask questions, be engaged and most of all, act with urgency. Students need all of our greatness right now. We want to help you bring that greatness into your classrooms.”

The goal for orientation is to set a foundation of success for incoming resident teachers – helping them build connections with their cohort, understand expectations from DePaul University and the AUSL Teacher Residency, explore the values and key voices that will shape their learning and identify the purpose and use of key tools and resources.

Carina Kearley, Interim Director of the AUSL Teacher Residency, welcomed resident teachers to orientation with a focus on their responsibility to students as educators.

“Choosing to teach in this present moment is bold. It is a radical act of love, hope, change, and it means committing to making a difference in students’ lives by any means necessary,” said Carina. 

“This is a profound responsibility you are taking on. You have the opportunity to change someone’s day, mood, sense of self, and more. You will make the impact. Because to a student, you may be their world.” 

Resident teachers were introduced to the program’s core values –  student-centered, community focused and tenacious service – as guiding principles for their training year. These values call on resident teachers to center  students at the heart of their work, partner authentically with communities, and embrace growth with accountability.

“Looking ahead, I’m excited to see my potential unfold and where all of this knowledge will take me,” said Lake County resident teacher Alison Linane. 

AUSL Teacher Residency staff and team members and DePaul University faculty and staff all welcomed residents throughout the week in Chicago and Grayslake, Illinois.

Orientation programming helped establish high expectations for the year ahead while introducing the resources available to support their academic, personal, and professional growth.

DePaul University’s College of Education Office of Advising and Academic Success, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, University Counseling and Psychological Services and Center for Students with Disabilities helped resident teachers navigate any onboarding questions as they prepare to be full-time master’s students.

Orientation week successfully prepared 164 resident teachers from the 26th cohort of the Chicago Teacher Residency and the inaugural cohort of the Lake County Teacher Residency.

The week concluded on a high note with a social event on DePaul’s campus in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. When asked what was one word that described how resident teachers were feeling at the end of the week, the most common responses were “excited” and “ready!”

We’re looking forward to all of the fulfilling experiences our resident teachers will have as they lead the upcoming school year with demonstrating tenacious service, building community, and uplifting the needs of their students.

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