Teacher Residency Instructional Program (TRIP)

Virgin Islands Alternative Routes to Teacher certification program is defined as a

system through which individuals who possess an earned bachelor’s degree from

an accredited post-secondary institution and have a major or a graduate degree

in the field of specialization in which he or she will teach, may become certified to

teach. This approach is designed to address local teacher shortages in specific

grade levels, in subject areas, and in order to expand the pool of underrepresented teacher Candidates to promote diversity of culture and gender.

Individuals become certified by the successful completion of required coursework

and supervised practical experience offered under conditions which vary from the

traditional teacher preparation program. This alternative route may also be used

to enable currently certified teachers to acquire additional endorsements in areas

of critical needs.

The TRIP offers non-education majors holding at least a bachelor's degree and meeting the state

requirements, for which a professional teaching certificate may be issued, the opportunity to be

trained as educators. After TRIP completion, the Candidate may seek a professional teaching

certificate in the Virgin Islands.

Note: Candidate must be a paid instructional employee of the Virgin Islands Department of Education and be classified as the teacher of record for the assigned teaching position or be a paraprofessional of the Virgin Islands Department of Education and assigned to a

classroom.

Candidates in the Virgin Islands Department of Education’s TRIP are provided with two layers

of support. School-based support comes from the support team (administrator and an assigned

mentor teacher). The Instructional Mentor will guide the Candidate through TRIP and ensure all

components are met. Instructional Mentors meet regularly with TRIP Staff to ensure they are up

to date on program requirements. Candidates without a District Instructional Mentor will be

assigned a site-based staff member (mentor) to support them.

All documentation related to the Candidate’s demonstration of required competencies will be

included in the portfolio maintained by the Candidate’s administrator and mentor at the site of

their residency. Successful completion of the Virgin Islands Department of Education’s Teacher

Residency Instructional Program will be based on all of the following:

-Submission of complete site-based competency portfolio including:

-Written verification from the TRIP support team of successful comprehensive

competency demonstration on the Documentation of Accomplished Practices

form (Portfolio Checklist).

-Written verification of successful completion of teaching experience to include

pre-planning, post-planning and a minimum of 180 days of teaching under the

supervision of the TRIP support team as evidenced by the principal’s signature on

the Documentation of Accomplished Practices form.

-Verification of successful completion of required professional development courses by

course instructors.

-Completion and instructor approval of portfolio activities demonstrating mastery of the

VITES.

-Submission of a passing score on the appropriate PRAXIS exams to the PD office.