Skip to main content
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
UNC School of Education
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Give
  • Current Students
  • Collaborators
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Research
  • People
  • About
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Research
  • People
  • About
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Give
  • Current Students
  • Collaborators
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff

DREAM

DREAM — the Diverse and Resilient Educators Advised through Mentorship teacher residency program — is a collaboration between the UNC School of Education and Durham Public Schools (DPS) to recruit, train, and support highly effective, responsive, transformative, and committed educators to serve the diverse DPS student population. Made possible by a $4.8 million U.S. Department of Education grant, DREAM prepares participating MAT students and provides them with three years of unique on-the-job guided mentorship to help ensure an effective and meaningful career as a DPS educator.

To date, DREAM consists of three cohorts, beginning in 2022-23. Currently, DREAM is not recruiting for future cohorts.
dream logo

Financial Aid and Career Opportunitites

For the duration of MAT program instruction, students admitted into the DREAM program — DREAM residents — will receive $45,000 in financial support, contingent upon completion of the MAT program and three years of full-time teaching in Durham Public Schools. In the MAT program, residents will complete coursework that includes a focus on transformational social and emotional learning and participate in fieldwork within Durham Public Schools.

After completing the MAT program, residents will earn initial North Carolina licensure in either Elementary Education (K-6), Secondary Education (6-12), or Special Education: General Curriculum (K-12). Upon graduation, they will begin their teaching careers in Durham Public Schools, where they will receive three years of mentorship in a unique teacher-induction program that includes workshops, trainings, and seminars on issues that face beginning teachers.

Curriculum & Courses

DREAM residents will spend their first year of the DREAM program completing our Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program.

Residents can select either the Elementary Education (K-6) or Special Education: General Curriculum (K-12) Track.

  • Elementary Education Track (K-6)
  • Secondary Education Track (6-12)
  • K-12 Special Education (General Curriculum) Track
  • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program
  • See the full program of study for the MAT program.

Recruit

Each year, we will bring a cohort of 10 DREAM residents to the UNC School of Education to begin the four-year residency program, beginning with the Master of Arts in Teaching program.

Educate

DREAM residents will learn to be effective educators who are well versed in Transformative Social Emotional Learning (SEL) through the one-year Master of Arts in Teaching program. You will graduate with certification in either elementary education (K-6), secondary education (6-12), or special education (K-12 General Curriculum).

Support

During their first three years as teachers within a DPS partner school, DREAM residents will participate in affinity groups and receive professional development to equip them with skills, dispositions, and knowledge necessary to effectively teach a racially and ethnically diverse student body.

Retain

DREAM residents will receive ongoing support as beginning teachers through mentorship, community-building activities, and affinity groups, with the goal of developing a strong foundation for their careers as educators.

Are you interested in the DREAM Program?

Learn more about DREAM by signing up at the link below.

Fill out this form to express your interest and stay updated on the future of DREAM!
Kristin Papoi cover image
Contact us

Kristin Papoi

Principal Investigator

Email: dream@unc.edu

Mailing Address:
CB 3500 Peabody Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3500

See all DREAM Faculty and Staff
UNC School of Education
CB 3500 Peabody Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3500
Maps & Directions

Copyright ©2025
  • A-Z Directory
  • News
  • Events
  • Employment
  • Contact Us
  • Accessibility
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn