Residency

In accordance with initial licensure requirements for the state of Arkansas, all teacher candidates must complete a year-long residency alongside a highly qualified mentor teacher.

SAU offers various routes to complete your year-long residency including multiple paid pathways to help ensure every candidate has flexibility and access to high-quality field experiences.

Residency Options

Candidates will work closely with their education advisor to choose the best option and meet requirements.

SAU Rider Residency

Candidates apply to interview in the semester prior to their year-long residency.

Current Rider Residency Partner Districts

Ashdown School District
Camden Fairview School District
El Dorado School District
Hampton School District
Hope School District
Magnolia School District
Texarkana, AR School District

Candidates interview with districts of their choice and, if selected, are paid to co-teach daily with a highly-qualified mentor teacher. Candidates follow the district calendar, beginning on the first day teachers return and participate in all district professional development. In most districts, candidates also act as substitute teachers one day per week gaining valuable independent classroom experience. All districts give priority interviews for teaching positions to those who participated in Rider Residency.

Ashdown School District

Rider Residency Partner

Residency Highlights

Ashdown welcomes 2–3 Rider Residents each fall. Residents work full-time in classrooms with pay, often subbing on Fridays, and receive priority for teaching positions after completion.

CamdenFairview School District

Rider Residency Partner

Residency Highlights

Camden Fairview hosts 4–7 Rider Residents each year, with new cohorts in fall and spring. Residents are paid to teach 3 days their first semester, 5 days their second, subbing most Fridays, and receive priority interviews.

El Dorado School District

Rider Residency Partner

Residency Highlights

El Dorado hosts 15–20 Rider Residents each year, bringing in new cohorts every fall and spring. Residents work in classrooms full-time with pay, often subbing on Fridays, and receive priority for teaching positions after completion.

Hampton School District

Rider Residency Partner

Residency Highlights

Hampton welcomes 2–3 Rider Residents each fall. Residents work full-time in classrooms with pay, often subbing on Fridays, and receive priority for teaching positions after completion.

Hope School District

Rider Residency Partner

Residency Highlights

Hope hosts 3–5 Rider Residents each year, with new cohorts in fall and spring. Residents are paid to teach 3 days their first semester, 5 days their second, subbing most Fridays, and receive priority interviews.

Magnolia School District

Rider Residency Partner

Residency Highlights

Magnolia hosts 10 Rider Residents each year, bringing in new cohorts every fall and spring. Residents work in classrooms full-time with pay, often subbing on Fridays, and receive priority for teaching positions after completion.

Texarkana AR School District

Rider Residency Partner

Residency Highlights

TASD welcomes 3–5 Rider Residents each fall. Residents are paid to co-teach with their mentor 3 days a week in the first semester and 5 days in the second. No subbing is required, and they receive priority consideration for teaching positions after completion.

Texarkana AR School District

Rider Residency Partner

Residency