Connecticut Teacher Residency Program

Future Educator Spotlight: Damani ⭐

"I feel very ready to take this on."

Damani is a current resident in our Elementary cohort whose confidence, dedication, and passion for teaching are helping her move forward every day. As she completes her residency in Bristol, CT, she's embracing each opportunity to grow, learn, and prepare for a successful career in the classroom. Join us in cheering her on as she continues toward becoming the teacher every student deserves!

Ready to start your own path in education?
Apply here: https://www.ct-trp.org/resident-application/

Honoring our heroes, inspiring our future.

This Memorial Day, the Connecticut Teacher Residency Program remembers the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We are proud to cultivate a new generation of educators who embody their spirit of service.

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK 💙📝

To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we asked residents and alumni to share the story of an educator who made a lasting difference in their lives. For Sarah Hart of Cohort 7, one teacher continues to stand out.

Yolanda Norris (Ms. Grant): More Than a Teacher

"For me it would be my high school Hairdressing, Barbering, and Cosmetology instructor Yolanda Norris (Ms. Grant). She will forever be one of the best teachers I’ve ever had! She not only taught me so much about cosmetology but was there for me and that meant the world to me. Her dedication encouraged me so much. She showed me how important it is to have meaningful relationships with your students because I can say for a fact that her students looked to her as more than a teacher. I still remember so many things she’s taught me till this day, that’s how you know how much of an impact she’s made on me."

The connections teachers build go far beyond the classroom—and can last a lifetime.

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK 💙📝

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, we invited residents and alumni to highlight an educator who helped shape their journey. For Kiana Beamon of Cohort 3, one teacher’s impact stands out.

Dwight Sharpe: Inspiring What’s Possible

"Dwight Sharpe was my middle school math teacher—and the first educator I ever had who looked like me at the front of the classroom. Until then, I knew I wanted to teach; seeing him made me believe I actually could.

Mr. Sharpe had a rare ability to connect with students in ways others didn’t. He made math feel engaging and genuinely fun for the first time. Even now, we cross paths at local education events, and those moments remind me how lasting his influence has been. I carry that example with me every day, pushing myself to be the kind of teacher he was for me—for my own students."

Moments like these show how representation and connection can leave a lifelong impact.

Picture 1: Kiana Beamon, Picture 2: Dwight Sharpe