Data Driven Collaboration in the Residency Model
Tarleton State University
The yearlong residency at Tarleton State has put special focus into several key areas related to strategic planning and continuous improvement: 1) shared data use across stakeholders, (2) redesigned gateways to better support candidate success, (3) governance structures that actively drive improvement, and (4) consistent documentation and tracking of progress. Across all four areas, a clear throughline emerges: intentional collaboration among faculty, district partners, site coordinators, and candidates.
Planning, Implementation, and Monitoring
One of Tarleton’s defining practices is ensuring that all stakeholders work from the same data. Faculty meetings, governance sessions with districts, leadership meetings, and candidate seminars all draw from shared performance data rather than summarized or siloed reports. This consistency has created a common language across roles and reduced misalignment between coursework, field experiences, and district expectations.
Rather than waiting for end-of-semester reviews, Tarleton uses data to make immediate adjustments. When trends emerge—such as candidates struggling with a particular T-TESS dimension—faculty revise seminar content in real time. Seminars function as flexible spaces where emerging needs can be addressed through targeted instruction, practice, and feedback. Field observation data also informs how cooperating teachers and site coordinators are supported.
Tarleton has established a clear expectation: residency partnerships require district decision-makers to participate in governance meetings. This requirement ensures that discussions lead to action rather than stalled recommendations. Governance meetings include district leaders, principals, site coordinators, and faculty. Participants jointly review candidate performance data, field observation trends, and curriculum alignment issues. Meetings conclude with specific action items, named individuals, and deadlines—followed by documented follow-up.
A key organizational shift involved bringing site coordinator leads into department meetings. This closed a longstanding feedback loop, allowing faculty to hear directly from the field and site coordinators to present their own data. The change has strengthened alignment between theory and practice, reduced site coordinator turnover, and fostered a culture of shared expertise and respect.
The residency leadership team meets weekly and uses the same improvement structure employed in governance and candidate support: data review, problem-solving, and documented next steps with assigned responsibilities and timelines. This consistency reinforces a shared improvement culture.
Documentation is shared broadly with faculty, site coordinators, district partners, cooperating teachers, and candidates. While there was initial resistance to this level of transparency, it has shifted the culture toward shared ownership and reduced defensiveness around data.
Progress is monitored through scheduled check-ins, clear deadlines, and ongoing data review. Gateways and governance meetings ensure that plans translate into action rather than remaining aspirational.
Impact on Teacher Preparation
Shared use of data has led to concrete improvements, including curriculum alignment with district literacy programs, strengthened early field experiences, and organizational changes to address disconnects between coursework and field realities. District partners consistently report that residency-prepared teachers are more classroom-ready and remain in the profession longer.
Tarleton’s residency model demonstrates how aligned structures can reinforce one another. Shared data informs governance decisions. Governance decisions shape candidate supports. Candidate supports generate new data. Documentation connects it all and creates institutional memory.
Aligned Resources
These resources support Tarleton State’s data-driven residency model by providing shared structures for collaboration, decision-making, and continuous improvement. Each tool helps ensure that faculty, district partners, site coordinators, and candidates are working from the same information, engaging in aligned processes, and taking coordinated action based on data.
Sample Governance Packet
Tarleton State Residency Requirements and Gateways
EPP Contact Information
For more information:
Tarleton State University
Dr. Crystal Rose, Assistant Professor