WMTC Pre-Residents Connect with Local Experts

The West Michigan Teacher Collaborative (WMTC) Pre-Residents have been hard at work researching a variety of communities historically underserved in educational systems. Recently, WMTC offered them a unique opportunity to engage with local community experts to gain firsthand insights from those with deep experience supporting these communities.

The goal of this experience was to provide future educators with a deeper understanding of the knowledge and expertise that can be applied when supporting underserved students. Experts from diverse fields—including disability advocacy, multilingual education, marginalized identifies, homelessness, refugee support, and services for students with special needs—shared valuable resources, challenges, cultural considerations, and best practices for creating inclusive learning environments.

Through small group discussions and Q&A sessions, participants gained insights into successful initiatives and strategies that directly benefit K-12 educators. The event left participants feeling empowered and appreciative of the experts' generous contributions to their learning journey.

This experience underscores WMTC’s commitment to strengthening community connections, serving with humility, and fostering continuous learning for future educators. Pre-Residents currently work in various school districts within the Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa Area ISDs, where the expert advice and local resources shared will have a meaningful impact.