The National Center for Teacher Residencies (NCTR) is a left-of-center nonprofit that promotes teacher residency programs that aim to match experienced teachers to act as mentors for aspiring teachers. NCTR runs a Black Educators Initiative (BEI) funded by the Ballmer Group. The aim of the initiative is to eventually hire and retain 2,400 teachers through the program; the Ballmer Group has committed $40 million from between 2024 to 2029 for the initiative. ^{1 2 3}

In 2022, NCTR received a $6.26 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education; the description included with the grant was “Centering Equity: Building and Scaling Teachers Residencies.” As of early April 2025, over $4 million of the grant had been paid out. ⁴

Background

The National Center for Teacher Residencies is a left-of-center education group that organizes teacher residency programs, a process through which aspiring teachers are matched with experienced teachers to serve as mentors. ¹

NCTR works on behalf of the critical race theory-influenced concept of equity. In 2022, the group received a $6.26 million award from the U.S. Department of Education with the description “Centering Equity: Building and Scaling Teachers Residencies.” Additionally, NCTR claims that equity is central in its work to change systems that “perpetuate inequity.” ⁵

Activities

The National Center for Teacher Residencies runs a national network of teacher residency programs. NCTR claims to have 62 network members, 77 network member programs, and 2,225 teachers enrolled in the program, and claims that over 500,000 students have been taught by teachers affiliated with the program as of 2024. ⁶

In 2024, NCTR announced that it would be funding 29 teacher residency programs in the amount of nearly $6 million through its Black Educators Initiative. The BEI program was initially funded by a $20 million grant in 2019 by the Ballmer Group. NCTR’s BEI program is intended to play “a crucial role in fostering diversity and inclusion within schools” with the aim to eventually hire and retain 2,400 teachers. NCTR stated in 2024 that the program would be funded for the next five years through a $40 million grant from the Ballmer Group. ^{7 3}

Funding

In 2023, the National Center for Teacher Residencies reported revenue of $9,501,441, its expenses were $9,705,703, and its total assets were $7,766,347.  ⁸

The Ballmer Group has scheduled a commitment of $40 million for the NCTR’s Black Educators Initiative over the 2024-2029 period. NCTR also claims that in 2019 the Ballmer Group gave $20 million over five years to help start the initiative. ^{3 2}

In 2022, NCTR received a $6.26 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education; the description included with the grant was “Centering Equity: Building and Scaling Teachers Residencies.” As of early April 2025, over $4 million of the grant had been paid out. ⁴

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation gave NCTR $227,865 in 2023, $227,865 in 2022 and $500,304 in 2020. ⁹

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation gave NCTR $369,587 in 2023, $100,000 in 2021, $570,922 in 2020, and $358,027 in 2018. ¹⁰

Leadership

Kathlene Campbell is the CEO of the National Center for Teacher Residencies. Campbell has previously worked as the dean of education at the University of St. Thomas and as a consultant at the National Urban Alliance for Effective Education. ¹¹

1. “Our Residency Model.” National Center for Teacher Residencies, February 20, 2025. https://nctresidencies.org/our-residency-model/.
2. “NCTR Awards Grants to 29 Teacher Residency Programs to Support Recruitment, Preparation, and Retention of Educators.” National Center for Teacher Residencies, November 14, 2024. https://nctresidencies.org/resource/nctr-awards-grants-to-29-teacher-residency-programs-to-support-recruitment-preparation-and-retention-of-educators/.
3. “Ballmer Group: Grant Recipients.” Ballmer Group: Grant Recipients. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.ballmergroup.org/grants
4. “NATIONAL CENTER FOR TEACHER RESIDENCIES, INC.” USAspending.gov. Accessed April 4, 2025. https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_S423A220008_9100
5. “NCTR Strategic Plan.” National Center for Teacher Residencies, February 20, 2025. https://nctresidencies.org/about-nctr/strategic-plan/.
6. “Impact Results.” National Center for Teacher Residencies, January 30, 2025. https://nctresidencies.org/impact-results/.
7. ^[1] “NCTR Awards Grants to 29 Teacher Residency Programs to Support Recruitment, Preparation, and Retention of Educators.” National Center for Teacher Residencies, November 14, 2024. https://nctresidencies.org/resource/nctr-awards-grants-to-29-teacher-residency-programs-to-support-recruitment-preparation-and-retention-of-educators/.
8. “National Center for Teacher Residencies,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Page 1 Part 1 Lines 12, 18, 20.
9. “William and Flora Hewlett Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990PF) 2023, 2022 and 2020. Page 11 Part XIV.
10. “W.K. Kellogg Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990PF) 2023, 2021, 2020, and 2018. Page 11 Part XIV.
11. “Kathlene (Holmes) Campbell.” LinkedIn. Accessed April 4, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathlene-campbell-88438675.