Two Resident Teachers Recognized for Mentorship and Commitment to Students

Teachers Nick Bua and Cate Dayan received the School of Education’s Resident Teacher Mentorship Award for their outstanding guidance during the 2024-25 school year. Dayan serves as a kindergarten/first-grade teacher at Fairfield Elementary School and mentored Riya Kumar, a multiple-subject credential student, in her classroom. Bua is a Chemistry teacher at Monterey Trail High School, and hosted Megan Yu, a single subject credential student.

The Resident Teacher Mentorship Award winners are selected annually from nominations submitted by credential students. The students submit a short letter that describes how their resident teacher has demonstrated a commitment to mentorship throughout the school year. The program faculty then selects two teachers, one multiple-subject and one single-subject mentor, who receive an award and $100 gift card for their work.

“Good mentors are invaluable,” wrote lecturer Lacey Boatman about the award winners. “Nick and Cate have provided extraordinary support and mentorship to their student teachers this year. Congratulations and thank you!”

Supporting the Next Generation of Educators Through Collaboration and Care

Resident teachers play an important role in credential students’ success. They host student teachers in their classrooms for one school year, helping them strengthen their leadership skills, support diverse learning styles, and advocate for themselves and their fellow teachers. Oftentimes, resident teachers are one of the first professional connections student teachers make in the education field, becoming a close ally—and in many cases, a good friend.

Credential students have shared that School of Education resident teachers’ commitment to collaboration sets them apart, supporting mentees’ growth and learning by:

• Making their thinking on teaching explicit
• Co-teaching with their student teacher
• Analyzing student work together
• Modeling the work of teaching
• Pre-briefing and de-briefing
• Co-planning with opportunities for feedback

In addition to their expertise and guidance, some student teachers appreciate that their mentors talk to them about self-care and reflection, an important facet of building resilience as an educator. “My resident teacher has seen me through several rough patches,” said one student. “From doubts about whether I should be a teacher to doubts about whether I’m ready to submit my edTPA or how I handled classroom management struggles. For every step of every rough patch, my mentor has prioritized understanding my situation above all else, and making it known that I am not alone in any of these difficulties.”

Resident teachers like Bua and Dayan aren’t just hosting student teachers, they’re modeling what it means to lead, collaborate, and care deeply about both students and colleagues. Their dedication helps shape confident, capable teachers who are ready to step into their own classrooms with purpose—and transforms the School of Education’s teacher education program into an inclusive and welcoming community.