Tori Parker ’25 has already landed a full-time teaching job before completing her elementary education degree at Thomas College. As part of the pilot residency program called the Thomas Teaching Cooperative, Tori is teaching fifth grade at Line Elementary School in West Newfield, Maine and will complete her degree in December.
“I’ve really enjoyed completing my program under the residency model. It gave me the opportunity to be paid while taking my classes and, at the same time, gain authentic classroom experience. Instead of just learning through lectures, I’ve been hands-on with students, teaching daily, and truly experiencing what it’s like to run a classroom. That real-life practice has been invaluable,” said Tori.
This fall, Thomas College announced the Thomas Teaching Cooperative, a bold new residency program from the Lunder School of Education that aims to prepare the next generation of educators while directly addressing Maine’s critical teacher shortage.
This four-year, earn-while-you-learn model is designed to give students the tools, experience, and support they need to step confidently into the classroom—while they are still completing their degrees.
The program begins with two years of immersive, face-to-face coursework on Thomas College’s Waterville campus, including foundational studies in psychology, child development, and education. In their third and fourth years, students transition into paid roles in Maine schools while completing their degrees in a flexible, blended format. Throughout the experience, students are paired with expert Thomas College faculty mentors for weekly support and guidance.
Applications are now open, and the program will officially launch in Fall 2026.
“I think other students would benefit greatly from this model because it allows you to experience the full reality of being a teacher—attending IEP meetings, learning how to create those forms, and practicing everything you’ll need to do in your own classroom one day. Plus, being paid while taking your classes is such a huge benefit. It makes the program more accessible and realistic for students who might not have thought this path was possible for them,” said Tori.
“Honestly, I never imagined I’d be able to complete my degree this way, and I don’t think it would have happened for me if it weren’t for Thomas College and this residency model,” she said.