Expert in Residence

Write down your vision and identify student learning goals for the residency. Use the RWL Activity Planning Worksheet

Meet with your administration to get approval and support for the program. Determine if there is any funding available

Contact your school guidance counselors, college and career services at your district or a local college to help find organizations and individuals who could serve as the expert in residence

Research organization that provide experts for residencies and/or financial support

Work with your administrators to determine any security clearances, background checks, or paperwork needed for someone working in the school as a long term volunteer

Determine who to partner with on this experience

Obtain relevant information for the partners:

• Contact information
• Time commitment
• Their expertise, experience and interest
• Feedback from past participants
• Potential Cost to students

Schedule a 30-minute call or meeting with the partner to answer any initial questions and review expectations. Specifically, determine the deliverables that you will partner on:

• Co-teach lessons?
• Meet with students in small groups?
• Will the partner provide additional resources to enhance the lesson (materials, demonstrations, etc…)

Set a mutually agreeable date, time, location to meet and begin the preparation process (see Sample Planning Timeline)

Have the partner complete any necessary paperwork to volunteer in the school

Meet with the partner to co-design a plan for the residency, or share a plan that you have created for feedback (see Sample Residency Plan)

Discuss how the participants can be most efficient with each other’s time (location, timeline, working styles, systems)

Continue to meet with the partner as needed to plan, with clear goals and an agenda

Ensure any A/V, internet and computer access is set up and available

If you will be co-teaching the lessons, schedule at least one dry run and make sure to document “hand-off” points in the lesson

If the partner will be teaching lessons or presenting to the class, share these presenter tips with the partner and ensure they feel comfortable in front of the students

Prepare students for the partner by providing a bio and any additional background

Identify space for the expert in your classroom and for “office hours”

Obtain and organize the materials and resources you need to provide for the residency

Send school media waiver to the partner, so you can take photos and share the experience

Ensure administrators and front office staff are aware that there will be a visitor and there are directions on what to do when they arrive

Introduce the partner to the class

Execute on the plan, making adjustments as needed

Arrange materials and technology as needed

Check in with the partner throughout the residency to monitor the experience, student progress and goals

Take pictures and videos to document the experience

Conduct the culminating event to showcase student work and highlight the residency. Invite staff, students, administration and parents

Send thank you notes to the partner organization and the expert on behalf of yourself and the students

Reach out to anyone else who helped in arranging the partner or funding to update them on the experience and thank them for their assistance

Have students write personal thank you notes sharing how they benefited from the experience

Share partner surveys (see Partner Survey Questions)

Check in with the partner to reflect on the planning and implementation process

Debrief the experience with students in class

Reflect on the experience yourself (see Teacher Reflection)

Share your learning and experience at professional development with school staff