There’s no one path to becoming a teacher.
For some, the journey begins with a career change. For others, it means returning to the same school system that helped shape them. Some are continuing a path in education they already know is right for them.
Throughout the 2026–27 school year, we’ll be sharing the stories of residents across the AUSL Teacher Residency Class of 2027 as they take the next step toward becoming educators and making a lasting difference in the lives of students.
To kick off the year, meet T’Darra Quinn, Jenny Vazquez Torres, Radu Radulescu, and Maya Jenkins, Resident Ambassadors representing both the Chicago Teacher Residency (CTR) and Lake County Teacher Residency (LCTR).
Through their stories, and those of other residents we’ll meet along the way, we’ll offer a firsthand look at the residency experience: learning alongside mentor teachers, building relationships with students, developing their teaching practice, and preparing to lead classrooms of their own.
And their paths to the classroom have already begun!
T’Darra Quinn: Starting a New Chapter
After more than two decades as a cosmetologist and 14 years as a salon owner, T’Darra Quinn knew she was ready for something new.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and began thinking seriously about what the next chapter of her career could look like. Working with young people wasn’t entirely new to her. T’Darra had previously worked as a reading specialist and remained involved with youth through her church, experiences that helped her recognize a passion that had been there all along.
Then, while riding in the car with her husband and father-in-law, she saw an advertisement for the AUSL Teacher Residency.
She went home and started researching.
“I talked to my aunt, who’s in the school system up here, and she was like, ‘I think you should do it,’” T’Darra recalled. “I feel like it’s the best thing I’ve done.”
Now part of the Lake County Teacher Residency, T’Darra is beginning her residency in special education, working with fifth- and sixth-grade students.
While changing careers after more than 20 years comes with some nerves, she’s even more excited about what lies ahead.
She’s particularly looking forward to building relationships with her students and seeing their growth throughout the school year.
At the beginning of her residency, T’Darra already sees her new career aligning with something much bigger.
“I can truly see it aligning with the passion that I already had,” she said.
Jenny Vazquez Torres: Coming Full Circle
For Jenny Vazquez Torres, becoming a teacher is a homecoming.
Jenny was born and raised in Chicago and attended Chicago Public Schools from kindergarten through high school. After leaving Illinois for college, she returned home and began working with high school and college students.
She also returned to a familiar place: her former high school, Solorio Academy, where she began coaching debate.
Working with students helped Jenny realize she wanted education to become an even bigger part of her life.
AUSL was already familiar to her, too. As a Solorio student, Jenny remembers having teachers who had completed the AUSL Teacher Residency and hearing about their experiences in the program.
Years later, she decided to follow a similar path.
Now part of the Chicago Teacher Residency (CTR), Jenny is stepping into a first-grade classroom, a new experience after primarily working with older students.
“I think the flexibility and the joy that younger kids have really is something that I’m interested in,” Jenny said. “I think that vibes well with my personality.”
As she begins the year, one of the things she’s most excited – and nervous– to learn is how to establish effective classroom routines.
It will take experimentation, practice, and plenty of learning along the way. That’s exactly what she’s looking forward to.
From CPS student to future teacher, Jenny’s residency journey is bringing her story full circle.
Radu Radulescu: Ready to Learn
For Radu Radulescu, the path to teaching has been decades in the making.
Originally from Romania, Radu spent approximately 30 years working in information technology, 10 years in Romania and another 20 in the United States. He later worked as an optometric technician, but education was never entirely unfamiliar territory.
Years ago in Romania, Radu taught computer labs to high school students. More recently, he found himself back in schools working in IT support. And through it all, there was another connection to the classroom: his mother, who was a high school math teacher in Romania.
Radu remembers his mother once asking whether he would consider becoming a teacher himself.
At the time, Radu was certain technology was the path for him. Teaching wasn’t part of the plan.
Years later, he’s finding his own way back to the classroom.
With a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and decades of experience in technology, Radu is now bringing his analytical background to the Lake County Teacher Residency, where he is working in special education and supporting ninth- and tenth-grade math students.
While math comes naturally to him, Radu knows that knowing a subject and teaching it effectively are two different skills.
“I want to become better at explaining math in a way that makes sense to students,” he said, recognizing that every student enters the classroom with different strengths, needs, and ways of learning.
As he begins his residency, Radu is approaching the experience with equal parts excitement and humility. He knows that managing instruction, classroom routines, communication, and individual student needs will be a major transition.
He also knows he isn’t expected to master everything on his first day.
“I know I have a lot to learn, but I am ready to learn,” Radu said. “That is exactly why I’m here.”
During his first weeks, he’s looking forward to observing, learning from his mentor teacher, getting to know his students, and beginning to build relationships with them.
And there’s one goal in particular that Radu hopes to accomplish by the end of the year:
“Hopefully, I will become someone they feel comfortable asking for help.”
Maya Jenkins: Putting Learning Into Practice
For Maya Jenkins, the AUSL Teacher Residency is an opportunity to build on a path she’s already chosen.
After recently earning her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Maya knew she wanted to pursue a master’s degree. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to return to school immediately, but after a family member introduced her to the AUSL Teacher Residency, she decided to take a chance and apply.
Now part of the Chicago Teacher Residency (CTR), Maya is continuing her education while beginning her residency in a first-grade general education classroom at CICS Wrightwood.
For Maya, first grade offers the right combination of the joy of working with young students and the opportunity to help them take an important step forward in their learning.
“I just enjoy the little ones,” Maya said. “First grade is fun. It’s like one step up from kindergarten.”
As she begins the school year, Maya is most excited to get to know her students, meet other educators, experience new curriculum, and continue developing her teaching practice.
Her undergraduate program gave her opportunities to learn and practice different teaching strategies. Now, she sees the residency as an opportunity to strengthen those skills through daily experience in the classroom.
One part of the residency model has already stood out to Maya: the connection between what she learns through her coursework at DePaul University and what she experiences in the classroom.
“You’re learning about it, and then you’re seeing it, and then being able to apply it,” Maya said.
For Maya, the residency is an opportunity to turn what she’s learned about teaching into daily practice and continue growing into the educator she hopes to become.
Follow Their Residency Journey
T’Darra, Jenny, Radu, and Maya are entering the residency from different backgrounds, with different experiences and different goals.
But this August, they’re part of a larger Class of 2027 community beginning the same transformative year.
Over the coming months, we’ll continue sharing stories from residents as they navigate their first weeks with students, learn alongside mentor teachers, reach important milestones, overcome challenges, and discover what it means to become the educators they hope to be.
For T’Darra, that means seeing the relationships she builds with students grow over the course of the year. Jenny is ready to find the classroom routines that work for her and her students. Radu hopes to become someone his students trust when they need help. Maya is looking forward to strengthening her teaching strategies by putting what she’s learning into practice.
These are just a few of the stories we’ll be following throughout the year.
For now, the Class of 2027’s journey is just beginning.
We can’t wait to see where the year takes them.
Could Your Journey Be Next?
T’Darra, Jenny, Radu, and Maya each took a different path to the classroom. Yours could be next.
If you, or someone you know, would make a great teacher, the AUSL Teacher Residency offers a pathway to earn a master’s degree and teaching license while gaining hands-on experience alongside an experienced mentor teacher.
Take the first step toward making a difference in the lives of students. Learn more about the AUSL Teacher Residency and apply today.
